Questions... Questions....

If Tesco and Wal-Mart are friends of the earth, are there any enemies left?

of the various topics that are close to my heart, one is global warming.. and of late one is hearing an increased chatter regarding it & its consequences.. i sincerely believe that global warming is for real.. and the more inaction we show over it.. the closer we are at the point of no return.. for time may come when the global warming engine could sustain itself with even zero emission.. some say we have already crossed the Rubicon.. i 'm not going into the virtues of it.. but there are some serious questions that needs to be addressed and some of these concern include the way developing countries (including india & china..) are evolving..

Question#1: Bush in his SOU speech talked of renewable fuels that would be mixed with conventional fossil fuels.. these other fuel sources are primarily corn based like ethanol.. but there is a limit to how much corn can be grown as land is limited.. and it makes sense to mix ethanol when crude is $70.. if it drops to $40.. would corn or other fuels still make sense.. ?

Question#2: Why is Bush not taxing gasoline as prices at pumps have fallen to $2 levels.. we have seen that higher prices inflates the sale of hybrid cars and depresses gas guzzlers..

Question#3: Why are developed countries not doing enough research on alternative energy sources, looking at the seriousness of the situation.. tax gasoline to generate funds, if funds is an issue.. how can you expect developing nations to do expensive research on these, where even malnutrition or malaria are unresolved legacies of the past.. to be frank they don't have the pockets for research..

Question#4: Why are developed countries not cutting emissions more sharply before asking the developing countries to do the needful.. cut your emissions first.. set an example for others to emulate.. all they do is a piecemeal approach...

Question#5: 'What about consuming less ?'.. why doesn't developed countries tells their citizens that their consumptions levels are unsustainable.. why not tell them about conservation.. especially here in america.. 'conservation' seems to be a pariah.. some kind of mental sickness.. what happens if india & china attain the same lifestyles of an average american.. what happens then.. & this has to happen someday..

Question#6: We know US is the biggest emitter.. but of late, we are hearing a chorus of voices as to how india & china will be becoming bigger emitters then america... hmmmm... so is india & china the problem now.. seems by hearing the voices that are emanating... why are we being taken to the table.. as if india/china single handedly uncorked the global warming genie.. what happened to the unbridled emissions by america & others for last 200 years from industrial revolutions... todays warming is due to these emissions & not due to any projected release by india & china... it is US that matters most on global warming policy for it created this monster.. directing the blame to india & china won't help.. why should we sacrifice over growth and our future good (mind you, not luxurious..) lifestyle at the altar of some climate change.. don't we have the right for good living or is it the sole prerogative of developed economies... some say that you can't ignore the fact that we are contributing significantly to the greenhouse gases.. nobody is denying it.. but, to give you a perspective if a average US citizen is emits 200 pounds of carbon(including breathing,transportation,fuels and all other chores that involve carbon..) and an indian emits 10 pounds (all inclusive..) where do you see the major chances that a cut is possible... its all crystal clear.. and these figures( between US & india... ) are comparable.. we are on the list (of top emitters) because we have numbers on our side.. not because some goddamn people who love to drive gas guzzlers or waste like anything... there can be no per-nation limits on emissions, if it has to be it has to per-capita limits... do americans have some innate rights for endless carbon emissions, while preaching developing countries to curb there living standards...

Question#7: What are india & china doing to curb there emissions, because they are part of the problem now.. we have to face it, if not today.. because i think india & china will be facing the brunt of any future climate change.. we have to act & act fast.. and show it to US, and shame them into acting...

The best possible way forward is to have some kind of emission cut targets for developed countries only... for now.. spend heavily on new research of alternative energy sources.. sell the technology to developing countries.. and maybe in the next rounds of emission cuts, expect developing world to be among the countries cutting emissions.. use the wealth of developed countries to generate & use energy efficiently, so that citizens of nations with living standards that are 10% of americas can continue to improve their own living standards.

But, Is that so simple... ?

~Castles Made of Sand~