We need the Rain Forest

The cost of biofuels is very, very high. It takes bushels of corn to make ethynol, corn that could feed people. I didn't know that the rain forest was being harvested for biofuels! That's immoral, the forest has so many wonderful animals, insects and plants. To destroy that for our own convenience is a sin. I don't agree with using biofuels. India has run vehicles on compressed air since 2000, why can't we over here? We have plenty of sun, why not solar?! There are so many other fuel sources, we don't need oil or biofuels if our countries will just get our heads out of our butts and tell the big corporations and the politicians they own to stick it where the sun don't shine!

I, for one, have never felt biofuels were the way to go. Mind you, taking corn out of the food supply would make me happy - but I realize that for most people it isn't poison. Although, I stand by my theory that corn consumption increases, Type 2 diabeties, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. I've even seen some articals that agree.

i'm trying to be 'green' already. Do a small thing everyday and i'm sure i had made some changes to our universe. Starting is easy, making it our habit is a bit tricky. As with ethanol, i'm not sure i'm using it now. But whether it's ethanol or not, try to be as green as possible.

Has anyone here been to Brazil? People seem to talk of the Rain Forest of the Amazon as though it was the size of Yellowstone NP when it is not far short of the USA! In years of good harvest there is a 'grain mountain' - a huge surplus, so why not turn it into biofuels rather than let it rot. Give it to the hungry of the world, you say. A good thing for the hungry if in fact it really gets to them. Too often it is distributed amongst the corrupt governments and they use it to 'buy' support. Under colonial rule these 'poor' countries grew their own crops and fed themselves for decades without any handouts from the first world. And on the subject of alternative fuels for transport - Don't think in terms of a little car, think in terms of a 40 ton truck. How many solar powered batteries would you need to get that up a hill? Please. It would fill the truck with no room for cargo. Are we prepared to have are main cross country roads covered with overhead power lines like electric trains use? That would be the best way to use electricity on roads. And finally, brazil nuts are grown like any other crop. And like any crop, they have good and bad years. Ok, it is an indiginous tree but so is an apple tree but you don't go miles into a forest to harvest apples.

We need them; they are very important for our survival and for the balance of nature in our world. Rain forests are the homes to several species of both flora and fauna. With that, we should protect our rain forests and conserve those that are still existing.

Good point. At least we know we need the rain forest. Not only we need the rain forest, but also we need the sea, we need the fresh water, we need the nature. The closer u stay to nature, the more u will appreciate it. Let's try our best to protect the nature.

thanks for this insight i really appreciated..and yeah i agree with you we must think of other ways perhaps before using bio fuel..and make some steps to prevent further destruction of our environment..

I am not a driver, suspenseful, but I really don't think that the move towards biofuels is going to solve environmental problems. As you said, this only contributes to the rising cost of food, in general, and there are other viable methods that should be considered in cutting fuel costs. I don't believe that most people are truly aware of how dire the situation is regarding the rain forests. To see such natural beauty being destroyed little by little is a crime.

I have no real problem with biofuels myself. However, biofuel can be manufactured from other sources, such as algae. I think using the easy way out (corn, etc.) is the wrong approach to biofuel production. We need to learn to play with our inventions responsibily before we destroy our own planet.

Biofuels are the result of a lack of control of what resources we use and the inexorable greed to the people in the fuel business who need to make more and more money. Sensible use of the earth's resources will solve this problem and cutting down all the forests is not a solution. We obviously need these forests for the planet's survival.

Good day.. I think the people of the world should make a voice and tell the world on what's their take regarding this global issue. For me it's just a matter of choices and sacrifices. If we choose to drive, alone in a car instead of car pooling, or if we choose to drive even in just some short distances away rather than bike or hike, or use a ridiculously fuel hog vehicle rather the smaller more efficient ones then either the oil depots run out soon and the rain forest depletion follows later on. It's the consumption and not the source. We could sacrifice a little bit of farm land for production of ethanol for a limited but renewable ethanol fuel for all to use but of a well calculated rational use. I mean we should also make sacrifice for the sake of our world. If not we're just delaying the inevitable of both fuel and food shortages. I think it's about time that we make the use of fuel not for privacy, privilege, luxury and such but also for efficacy and conservation. If not then nuclear vehicle anyone?

hi suspenseful...what got my attention is you mentioned brazil nuts. i really like them. i agree we need the vital rain forest.it's sure isn't easy solveing the problems though. my bro-in-law is working on a water fuel pump. others have made their cars to run on garbage.