Cuban President Fidel Castro slams the U.S. for their use of ethanol
So, it turns out that the debate on whether ethanol is a good or bad alternative fuel stretches not just across our readership, the the whole world. That is the argument being made by Cuban President Fidel Castro. Castro writes in an article published in Cuban state media on Thursday that the use of food crops for fuel use is robbing many developing countries of nourishment. Instead of using corn, sugar cane or any other food crop for fuel use, Castro would rather see the U.S. and the rest of the world reduce their use of energy in general, for instance, he suggests stopping the use of incandescent light bulbs in favor of fluorescent.
Castro does not like the U.S. using its own corn or foodstocks for ethanol, but he also does not like the U.S. paying other countries for theirs either. He would rather see the corn or sugarcane that the U.S. or Brazil may use for fuel used for food for smaller developing countries. Comments, questions or snide remarks are, as always, welcome.
[Source: Monsters and Critics]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fabio 11:29AM (3/30/2007)
Fluorescent lamps do save energy but also pose an environmental hazard for they contain mercury vapour and need to be disposed in a special way, meaning you can't just throw then in the trashbin when they've finished their (as long as it is) life. And if they get broken, they pose a health risk for whoever happens to be close to them.
Reply
Nick 3:00PM (3/30/2007)
THough I typically wouldf not tend to agree with a communist dictator, he does bring up a few good points. A few countries across the globe have mangated that florescent lighting be faded out over the next few years to save energy costs.
Reply
Tim 12:41PM (3/30/2007)
I can't believe that I agree with the fruitcake Castro, but it makes no sense to use food for automobile fuel when people are starving to death. Switchgrass for butanol (not ethanol) and Algae for biodiesel seem to be the most promising non-foodstock renewable carbohydrate sources for liquid fuels. These along with being CONSERVITIVE with our existing resources are our greatest short-term hope for energy independence. Renewable electricity EVs & PHEV are where we are heading. Hydrogen is the goal of fools, dreamers and scam artists.
Reply
Tony Belding 1:14PM (3/30/2007)
I'd normally be the last to support Castro's views on anything, but I think in this case he has (for his own cynical reasons) latched onto a valid point. As long as biofuels are made from food crops, there will be economic competition between food and fuel. I can't see that being anything but a negative.
The only good argument for food-derived biofuels is that they can jump-start the biofuels industry while other sources of biomass are being developed -- jathropha, hemp, algae, celluosic sources, etc.
As a Texan, I'm hoping for a process to turn mesquite trees into biofuel. :)
Reply
jg3 1:30PM (3/30/2007)
Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and it's a legitimate concern. Already families in Mexico are having a more difficult time buying the corn they need (corn's a MAJOR staple there) because of higher prices.
Reply
Rick 1:33PM (3/30/2007)
Screw Castro. He runs a socialist system where people are still driving 1955 Chevy's that they stole from us. Why would we possibly care what he thinks?
If he had a free market, his citizens could participate by getting out there and growing sugarcane for their own interest, make a profit and buy a new home and car and tractor and actually do some good for their economy. But no, he thinks he knows best. And he's kept his people in total ignorance for almost 50 years now.
The free market works. Today, the Agriculture Dept released the projected farm acreage for this year and corn acreage went up 15% far surpassing their estimates. Farmers are going after that high priced commodity and will, in a few years grow acreage to meet demand. In the meantime "Trash to Ethanol" as proposed by MIT and many others, and is now being developed, will grow and grow and grow.
High commodity prices are great for farmers worldwide. It creates jobs, develops economies and opportunity for millions.
Today after the Ag Dept released their numbers, corn fell lock limit down $.20/bshl and that means more selling on Monday. The free market works if you give it a chance.
I think Economics should be core curriculum in this country and required of journalists who influence others with their own misunderstanding of the market system.
Reply
Steve 1:57PM (3/30/2007)
The obvious answer is CONSERVATION which in my opinion in our land of waste and excess there is plenty of room for reduction. Everyone wants government and technology to solve this national security issue (dependence on foreign oil) without doing their part. Is it that much to ask to drive a car with reasonable mileage (25mpg+), use public transit, not run your A/C all day long, turn off electronics when not in use, use energy efficient appliances ...etc for the sake of national security?
Reply
Owen 3:07PM (3/30/2007)
Castro is also buddy buddy with Chavez, the "president" of Venezuela. Aka Chevron. Duh! Of course he wants us to use gasoline in cars. That said, I still think Biofuels are a bad idea when produced from feedstock, no matter the biofuel; ethanol, biodiesel, etc... Eventually it's going to be hydrogen, and them someday it'll be electric, but in the mean time, the best we can do is conserve, buy smaller cars with better mileage and support superior technologies where you can (hybrid, diesel, etc).
Reply
Desiree 4:05PM (3/30/2007)
About the food issue...People are dying from starvation and people are dying from obesity. These corn and sugar crops are simply wasted anyway to be a cheap sweetener for soft drinks and processed foods. So if 3rd world countries can survive on soft drinks...
2nd, about the actual fuel. We can used sugar cane proccessed effluent, the trash that we would normally have to treat, to make ethanol, methanol, biodiesel and hydrogen gas.
Reply
Desiree 4:02PM (3/30/2007)
It also is more energy efficient to run the AC all day long but to keep it at a lower temperature setting on thermostat
Reply
Desiree 4:05PM (3/30/2007)
The effluent from sugar cane plants (the trash being disposed of) can be used to make hydrogen gas, biodiesel, ethanol, and methanol. I am currently researching it for production of hydrogen gas which is looking very promising if you did any experiements with it.
Reply
Joseph 2:43PM (3/31/2007)
I'm surprised everyone is saying how much they dislike Castro. As a Cuban from Miami, I'v ealso read some of a book about the histroy of Cuba, I can deduce that Castro is a socialist greedy old man who seems to magically live when he is "dying." I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he was already dead.
But yes, I do agree with Castro here, even if Castro's true reason has nothing to do with ethics. I think ethanol should only be a smaller portion of our future energy picture.
Reply
Jankdc 9:27PM (3/30/2007)
When the Soviet Union collapes, Cuba ran out of oil. The people and government rapidly adopted bicycles and local growing of organic food. It is amazing what they did. It is documented in "The Power of Community - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil." Much of their success was turning the decision making power to the local communities.
Truthfully, I don't think that our government would survive (let alone make such a successful comback) a similar crisis here.
Reply
Der Alte 3:23AM (3/31/2007)
#5 The US likes to think of itself as a free market, but in fact it is a highly protectionist hyprocrite. The US only believes in the free market so long as they are in the winning end of the competition. Whenever somebody else seems to be getting the better deal, up go the trade barriers. Time from private enterprise to go suck from the great tit in Washington to ensure its survival. Perhaps if the US dropped all trade barriers and really learned to compete in the free market, then perhaps they might have an idea of what real competition is all about.
Right now biofuels don't have much of a case. There is way too much government subsidy going into biofuels to say their success has anything to do with the free market. That is not to say that research shouldn't continue. If somebody can find an economically viable way to make biofuels work without government subsidy I wish them all the best. Unfortunately, oil is still too cheap to make much of a case out of biofuels. Hydrogen is even worse. Eventually however as demand increases and the supplies of oil wane, the price will determine which route we should go. Conservation and the availablility of alternate fuels would soon follow....all without government intervention.
Will we roast to death on greenhouse gases by the time that happens? Who knows. Finding a way to effectively factor in the environment in a world based on true free market principles has always been a weak spot in the arguments put forth by those who support unrestrained free markets. Right now the amount of damage done to the environment does not factor into the price one pays for a product.
Reply
Don 2:37PM (4/02/2007)
"If he had a free market, his citizens could participate by getting out there and growing sugarcane for their own interest, make a profit and buy a new home and car and tractor and actually do some good for their economy. But no, he thinks he knows best. And he's kept his people in total ignorance for almost 50 years now.
The free market works. "
Except for the tariff we have on Sugar, which together with the subsidy we have on Corn and Corn Ethanol is why we use corn rather than sugar cane to make ethanol. But go ahead, don't let the facts get in the way of your tripe.
Reply
Tim 7:50PM (4/02/2007)
America is a socialist nation. True freedom died a long time ago right along with self reliance and personal responsibility. It died the second people realized they could vote for themselves the contents of the public coffers. It was buried when American decided to use a privately owned “Federal Reserve” system which is in fact no more federal than “federal express.” The nails in the coffin were made of “federal reserve” (I.O.U Nothing) notes that have no gold or silver backing.
"The American public will never knowingly accept socialism, but under the name of Liberalism they will accept every plank of the communist manifesto."
Welcome to the New Deal… comrade. I hope you enjoyed the game. Now it’s time to pay the dealer.
Reply