Letters to the Editor
ELYDOG
Published Letters: 487 Editor's Choice: 43
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Leverage Science
[Read the article: Is there enough pig manure to feed the world?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Kuntsler is great. Odd his first book was on the failure of the suburbs, and it was about community and architecture. But the books fit well.
Yes, we have to leverage the scientific discoveries we have, which gives us an advantage over 400 years ago or 100 years ago. But that will still mean returning to some older methodologies. I don't see a contradiction. I don't think science will be able to solve all our problems, or provide the incredible energy of oil. When I bicycle to work, am I returning to the "past?" That way of looking at things is just plain lame.
For instance, the World Bank has made Bangledesh an export economy that sends shrimp to London, while Bangledeshi's stave. This will have to be overthrown. The Bangledeshi's will get to eat ... shrimp, if the hurricaines don't get them first. They live below sea level and they have ruined the protective mangroves to raise ... shrimp.
I again point to Cuba as a laboratory in the real world of a whole country dealing with peak oil ... now. And they don't have solar powered tractors yet. Of course, in the U.S. we would hope to have more assets than poor countries - after all we raped them for it.
How about this, we can raise fresh water Tilapia fish in tanks ... in the basement. I understand they are vegetarian, and produce 1.8 output to every 1 input. They are not endangered. Science!
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Dual Citizens
[Read the article: So long, Canada]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]One of our cross-border events in Minnesota is the Winnipeg Folk Festival, held for more than 40 years in Birds Hill Park, just northeast of Winnipeg. This festival attracts people from all over the state of Minnesota because of the beautiful venue and the variety of music. People have been going for many years. Now, long hairs crossing the border have their cars torn apart on a regular basis by the U.S. cops, because there is nothing closer to a terrorist than a hippie. Trust me, BC Bud does not need to be run through a car crossing. I think perhaps 'terrorism' is only an excuse.
Here in Minnesota we think of ourselves as 'near' Canadians. And it is true, we are closer sociologically and politically to Manitoba than Texas. Perhaps we can join with Canada and move the border south, lets say right around Vicksburg. Secede from Texas!
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NY Shooter
[Read the article: 500,000 new jobs -- are we supposed to be impressed?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The only thing we have is imperialism. Our international financial connections, through brands, banking, 'aid', oil on the dollar standard, military exports, our military role, etc. That is our strong point right now ... almost our only one.
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Agriculture Bill
[Read the article: Farming wiser, not poorer]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The fear of mass starvation is not the same thing as advocating masss starvation. No one is advocating mass starvation. If anything, people who are unaware that peak oil can lead to mass starvation without moving towards sustainable agriculture are actually ... encouraging mass starvation. Another poster, of course, has already pointed this out.
And another poster has also pointed out that none of these things will happen until the conservatives, neo-cons and Big Agriculture capitalists are defeated politically. And both parties, to this day, have signed on to most of the new "agriculture' bill, including Clinton and Obama. Correct me if I'm wrong, but again, it seems it is the 'trickle-up' effect that will change this country's agriculture...certainly not the Democrats yet.
So, sign a distribution agreement with a local farmer producing organic food. I just did.
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Test of a theory
[Read the article: A paltry $11 billion profit for Exxon]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Theories are tested by their congruence with the facts. If Exxon is having trouble 'increasing' production, that might indcate that peak oil - now - is not a wacko 'theory' but matches what is happening.
The question is, how much did the "loss" of control of the field in Venezuela contribute to this? If the amount is less than the shortfall, then we have something.
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Profits of Exxon Mobil
[Read the article: A paltry $11 billion profit for Exxon]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]5-Year Averages, for Exxon Mobil, per Forbes:
Return on Equity 30.2%
Return on Assets 15.6%
Return on Invested Capital 28.6%
Pretty good return, what? By the way, Bloomberg reports that Exxon Mobil production, after you deduct Venezuela and national increases in profit-taking, declined by 3% for oil/natural gas.
Since my home is heated by natural gas, and we have long winters, the fact that natural gas is also going to hit a 'peak gas' point is also disquieting.
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Backwards? Forwards?
[Read the article: Farming wiser, not poorer]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't know if it is probably the relative 'youth' of Salon readers, but the allergy to 'going backward' and 'the past' is a bit hilarious.
Using human shit as a compost is an old method. Planting multiple plants in one area to rejuvenate the soil is an old method. Recycling everything is an old method. Solar and wind are both 'old' technologies, though hopefully we can harness much better than the Dutch. Buying direct from local farmers is an 'old method.' Replacing cows with bison on the Plains would be a return to the past. Selecting animals and plants that co-exist biologically is an old method. Breaking the hold of agricultural factory farms and returning to smaller scale agriculture is returning to an old paradigm. Reducing the 'mega' cities and balancing the city and the countryside is actually returning to the past. Reducing fossil fuels and returning to organice agriculture is an old method.
I could go on by you get the idea. Sometimes the past, believe it or not, had better ideas on how to do things. That is not going 'backwards.' The only going backwards there is is starvation and malnutrition. And physcial labor is, unfortunately, perhaps going to be more required ... maybe this is the dirty, sweaty, ugly thing every white collar worker really fears... and the essence of 'backwards.'
Combining the best of the past and the best of the present/future, is what can succeed in a truly sustainable agriculture.