|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
From: Jack in OH (dial-bu-184-041.wcnet.org)
In Reply to: It's getting worse here too posted by Cornelius Garbanzo on February 4, 2005 at 7:50 pm:
That's too bad for them, and the planet. As their economy expands, they'll be burning more fossil fuel, as you know. What you may not know, is that in the USA, about 17% of our total energy use is for the production, distribution, and storage of our mainly animal-based foods. As recently as 1970, according to an article in Science, it was 10%. This all worsens the already critical problem of global warming. The one aspect of that problem is the sulfate aerosols that result from the burning of fossil fuels, which are now reflecting maybe 17% of the incoming solar radiation back into outer space. If we cut back, or stop burning those fuels, the sulfate "protection" disappears, and we cook. So it looks like we'd better prepare for a much hotter world. And instead of riding bicycles, the new obese generation will have to ride in their cars, because riding a bicycle in pretty much out of the question for them. Maybe we'll need sturdier bikes, and really big seats. And they're not getting that way eating rice and beans, as you also know.
|
