Friday, December 11, 2009

Brazil Defends Biofuels

http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/40810

In Copenhagen climate conference, which is currently taking place, Brazil has backed using biofuels as the best way for developing countries to "move forward." They are suggesting that it is more productive and a better fuel source; however, many are arguing that biofuels are the reason why there is so much rapid land loss in the amazon and why there is significantly less land for agriculture than there was before. Brazil argues that that the land used for these biofuels is 3oo kilometers away from the amazon. They also said that just because biofuels has a downside, doesn't mean that they should discard it from feasible options because all fuel sources have a bad effect on the environment. 

I know from a project that i did in middle school that there isn't enough land to sustain the production of biofuels. We would run out of land for agriculture land which would lead to widespread famine. Brazil is really trying to push the idea of biofuels are the future but many are hesitating because Brazil has been in the hot seat for defending this energy source.  So, from my own point of view, i don't believe that biofuels are the way to go; especially not for developing countries because it would even further damage their already-in-bad-shape economy. It would lead to more famine in these countries. Biofuels  could be a small source of energy we use, but it could never become as universal as say coal or gasoline.
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2 comments:

  1. Daniel WebbDecember 11, 2009 at 9:02 PM

    As I mentioned in a different comment, biofuels are a good option to replace fossil fuels if used in conjunction with other sources of energy. I agree with you that they cannot be used exclusively as a suitable panacea without using other methods of energy production as well. I know that biofuels are a large part of Brazil's economy and so it is logical that they would try to defend it as an alternative source of energy and present it as more feasible than it really is.
    Biofuels in their current state cannot be an adequate alternative when used alone as long as people in the world are starving. The use of crop land that could be used for food to produce energy to help run the economies of developed countries is inexcusable.

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  2. dougdauerDecember 14, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    It is unfair to say that biofuels are completely "not the way to go,"because there is so much fuel needed and it is obvious that gas is not the most environmentally friendly. Biofuels (along with almost any other fuel) should be used effeciently around the world. Developing a clean fuel, such as water, would be the ideal action and should be involved in any plans for the future, but at this point we need to take steps more effeciency and cleaner fuels on the way to a more drastic overhaul of our fuels worldwide.

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