Apr 07 2009
Relocated:What Ishmael Can Tell Us About Environmentalism
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
What Ishmael Can Tell Us About Environmentalism
Alright. I’m reading Ishmael for like the 15thish time since I was 10. And I realized again why I love the book. Every time I read it, it sparks my thoughts on the current situation in the battle between modern “Taker” civilization and the world at large.
This time, it was an analogy. Ishmael, at one point, compares our culture to the early aeronaut who was pushed off a cliff in his wing-flapping device. All goes well for a while, but as he starts to descend, he thinks, “it’s gotten me this far, all I have to do is pedal harder.” He pedals harder, flapping his wings faster, only to continue on his downward path.
I see this as quite relevant, ironically enough, to some environmental situations. What comes to mind first is ethanol.
We’ve gotten ourselves into a situation. We’re depleting a resource that we depend on in every way in modern life. We are emitting gasses which do irrepairable damage to the environment we depend on. So, what do we do?
We come up with a new, “eco-friendly” fuel. Is this really helping us? I have my doubts. First of all, from a strictly environmental perspective, is the energy saved and pollution avoided by burning biofuels really worth it? How does it compare to the energy and resource use and pollution used to raise the crops turned into ethanol? Okay, probably still doing alright. Now, add in the energy used to process the fuels. Approaching a balance, yet? What about the fact that we burn more fuel, because ethanol is not as efficient as traditional gasoline? Now add in the transportation of the corn to the processing facilities, and the biofuel from the processing facilities to the pump. We’re at, or near, a push on this one.
Now let’s look at the bigger picture. Is it morally acceptable to create fuel from a resource which could be feeding the world’s poor? Yes, I’m aware that most of the corn used to produce ethanol is not what we would consider consumable in the U.S. But, there are three valid counter-arguments to this. First, many things that by U.S. standards are not “fit for human consumption,” are, in fact, quite safe for human consumption. And, in the poorest parts of the world, the corn we don’t eat here is a step up from what, if anything, they are currently eating. Second, the corn is still fit for animal consumption. Animals which then can be eaten by humans. Finally, the land which is being used to produce non-consumption grade corn could be used to produce either consumption grade corn, or other crops, or perhaps even for other economic activity.
Finally, let’s look at the economic, class, and political implications of this. While the world’s richest governments are subsidizing corn production for use in ethanol, the world’s richest people are using the ethanol to save 3 cents a gallon. Meanwhile, we have already seen several food shortages related to a decreased supply of corn (a staple in many countries). We’ve seen riots and protests related to those food shortages. We’ve seen political situations and elections affected by this situation (as in Mexico). Countries where routine elections can actually hugely affect peoples quality of life have had their politics shaken by food shortages. Meanwhile, rich countries, where the issues which shape our politics include questions like whether gay couples can marry, continue to increase production and consumption of ethanol.
Doesn’t it seem like perhaps we’re just continuing to pedal, instead of looking at the real issue here?
We look for ways that individuals can feel like they’re helping the world be a better place instead of looking at the reality, that becuase of the way in which the modern world works, even the production of “green” products has a huge environmental impact.
Or perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps the real issue is that governments and corporations trying to look “responsible,” “green,” and “politically correct,” are pushing to implement the technologies of the future today. Because let’s face it, hybrids and biofuels are the technology of a future. An ideal future. In which we have a way to dispose of car batteries which has less of an impact on our planet than the cars had in their entire lifespan. A future in which no part of the world is starving. A future in which the poorest parts of our world’s diets and economies are diversified enough that they don’t depend largely on a single resource. A future in which our agricultural and transportation system make it possible to actually produce biofuels in an eco-friendly manner. A future in which we have vehicles which are equipped to burn biofuels more efficiently than fossil fuels.
Either way, by putting these technologies out now, and hailing them as the saviors of our world, capable of cleaning up after years of human error, it seems like our culture is continuing to pedal.
Posted by Zach at 12:13 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: biofuel, corn, environment, ethanol, ishmael
