tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9028430.post1710387129983883878..comments2023-10-29T06:18:30.962-07:00Comments on READ MY OPINION (because you're entitled to it): PRIUS ENVYUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9028430.post-77149118472900761782008-02-03T19:37:00.000-08:002008-02-03T19:37:00.000-08:00Good points, PJ. A couple of points to add: 1) the...Good points, PJ. A couple of points to add: 1) the number of cars in India and China is increasing rapidly. Indian auto manufacturers are introducing very low-cost vehicles that will make cars much more accessible to the average Indian citizen; 2) I wrote a piece on Nov. 25, 2006 about air pollution from Chinese coal-fired power plants sending huge plumes of air pollution over the Pacific to Oregon and other NW states. Oregon researchers estimate that about 14% of the mercury in the Willamette River (runs through Portland) is from these Chinese power plants. Lots of particulates in the air, too (and we wonder why asthma is on the increase). This is an example of global air quality issues from local sources. <BR/><BR/>At issue here is really life style - the under-developed world wants to be like the developed world, with all our "stuff." I don't think it can happen without very dire consequences. And I don't think Americans are about to simplify our lives.<BR/><BR/>And, of course, many of the so-called "solutions" just add to the list of problems - example: U.S. use of corn to produce ethanol, drives the price of corn up, creates shortages for food supplies, food prices increase, etc. Why - ethanol production from corn is much more profitable than food production - the greed factor. <BR/><BR/>Many of us are trying to figure this out and do the right thing, but I guess it means a lot more than driving a hybrid.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16917823841264466153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9028430.post-26557906164665367052008-02-03T13:18:00.000-08:002008-02-03T13:18:00.000-08:00I agree 100%. At the BSR conference I attended a ...I agree 100%. At the BSR conference I attended a few months ago, we heard a keynote from a major "green" venture capitalist, a guy who made his gazillions with the primary investment in Sun Microsystems. He's a smart guy. And he's deeply, personally interested in carbon emissions and green technology.<BR/><BR/>He argued that hybrid technology is a good baby step, but we need to get off non-renewable fossil fuels. His big thing is some sort of bio fuel (not biodeisel but the next generation).<BR/><BR/>Regarding your thoughts on the parking and Prius stuff: I do know someone who added a Civic hybrid to their Tahoe and Jeep SUVs, but it's still better for the environment because he uses it for his longish commute.<BR/><BR/>If every country in the world had as many cars per capita as the USA does, the number of cars would go up by a factor of six. The USA is the largest carbon-emitting country in the world, per capita, yet many Americans think the biggest pollution occurs in the megacities in developing or third world countries. Not so. Local pollution perhaps in bad water and such, but not the global type of pollution we create.<BR/><BR/>It's a complicated problem, and the only viable long-term solution is to get off oil as our main energy source and to (a) find ways to use energy more efficiently and (b) develop economically viable renewable energy sources that don't lead to other unintended consequences such as deforestation.PJDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05028687955957107957noreply@blogger.com