From today, all petrol forecourts will be required by law to sell only fuel which is blended with 2.5% agrofuel. The answer to climate chaos you ask? Hardly. Corporations like Tesco are already jumping on the new "green" bandwagon, speaking little of the greater emissions, displacement, poverty and hunger that will be left in its path.
People from Bristol Rising Tide and Espacio Bristol-Colombia were joined by others to inform the public about this issue at Tesco in Eastville this afternoon. There was some interest in the issue from a number of passersby who were surprised that such a big change had been virtually unspoken about, but there's little that consumers can do to avoid buying the product. The only answer to the energy crisis is a big shift in the way in which we live, travel and eat.
"The western appetite for biofuels is causing starvation in the poor world. Developing nations are being pushed to grow crops for ethanol, rather than food - all thanks to political expediency." http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/nov/06/com...fuels
As former secretary of state for Agriculture, Earl Butz, put it: "Hungry men listen only to those who have a piece of bread. Food is a tool. It is a weapon in the US negotiating kit."
To say the very least, it's disconcerting to hear that indigenous populations are being driven from their homes and their food crops destroyed to make room for biofuels to run our cars.
And their dwelling areas are being aerial sprayed with pesticides and defoliants like yankee used agent orange in Vietnam.
These crimes in the interest of maintaining our western lifestyle - when are we going to say enough is enough?
The usual pontificating establishment moralists on this site seem to have fallen strangely silent on this subject - perhaps they believe that this a price worth paying.
make this your indymedia front page
Tuesday April 15, 2008 19:12
by Bristol Rising Tider - Bristol Rising Tide
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6"The western appetite for biofuels is causing starvation in the poor world. Developing nations are being pushed to grow crops for ethanol, rather than food - all thanks to political expediency."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/nov/06/com...fuels
As former secretary of state for Agriculture, Earl Butz, put it: "Hungry men listen only to those who have a piece of bread. Food is a tool. It is a weapon in the US negotiating kit."
"ten things that we all can do to promote justice and food sovereignty"
http://stuffedandstarved.org/drupal/urgentactions
To say the very least, it's disconcerting to hear that indigenous populations are being driven from their homes and their food crops destroyed to make room for biofuels to run our cars.
And their dwelling areas are being aerial sprayed with pesticides and defoliants like yankee used agent orange in Vietnam.
These crimes in the interest of maintaining our western lifestyle - when are we going to say enough is enough?
The usual pontificating establishment moralists on this site seem to have fallen strangely silent on this subject - perhaps they believe that this a price worth paying.
Hey Tony, thanks for that, can you please provide some links for info on Indigenous land - spraying etc ?
http://www.yorkandryedalefoe.org.uk/Biofuels_lr.pdf
Any more info or links available please?
carbon trade watch have lots of links and info about agrofuels:
http://www.carbontradewatch.org/
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/