“Ever a showman, Virgin Atlantic Airlines President Richard Branson opened a vial of jet fuel made with oil from coconuts and Brazilian babassu nuts and drank it, forcing a stiff smile...
“On Sunday, Virgin flew a Boeing 747 from London's Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam with one of the four engines burning a mixture of 80% jet fuel and 20% oil from naturally grown plants. The first commercial airline test of biofuel came off without a hitch… demonstrating that someday planes may not fly on petroleum alone.
“Virgin, and the handful of other companies involved in the project, are hopeful that in three to six years, passengers may be riding on jets at least partially powered by naturally grown oil. The project's participants believe this could lead to a 20% reduction in total emissions.
“Airlines are under mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, even though aviation's pollutants amount to less than 3% of all emissions...
“As a result, airlines are now realizing that environmental issues, more than economic slowdowns or airspace congestion, may be the greatest threat to the future growth of air travel...
“Biofuel doesn't burn any cleaner in jet engines than kerosene, the basis for jet fuel today. Emissions are actually about the same, fuel experts say. But proponents say biofuel can reduce total environmental damage by 20% because it is less harmful to produce...
“Technology can make biojet fuel out of just about any renewable crop, and the substance that may hold the most promise for air travel is algae -- pond scum. Sewage-treatment plants offer an ample source, and algae-produced fuel wouldn't use up food crops like corn, soybeans or even coconuts.
“A fuel that is made completely from renewable sources and has the same energy output as kerosene is possible within five years... But before any biofuel starts getting pumped into airplanes, manufacturing plants have to be built, fuels have to win regulatory approval and customers have to be interested. It will be a long process.”
(“The Middle Seat: Virgin Puts Biofuels On Maiden Voyage.” Scott McCartney. Wall Street Journal: February 26, 2008. pg. D.1)
IT IS WHAT IT IS? Or, it is what we make it to be? Do we take our world as a given, or as the construction that we make it to be? Do we take our perceptions as a given , or as the enactment of what we see, hear, think and feel?
As we define and construct our threats, let us be sure to build a world of opportunities as well.
Threats? Opportunities?
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There is an inherent threat when one looks at the "green" mentality of society and the food supply/growing capacity of the world. If society continues to turn to bio-fuels derived from food sources, there may be a time when we cannot feed ourselves. There are enough resources around the world to produce adequate food for every person on the planet. However as the population grows and an increasing amount of pressure is placed on using food-derived fuels (ethanol, jet-fuel, bio-diesel, etc.), there will come a time when we will have to choose between eating and producing energy. How far will the "green" hysteria go? Or more importantly, how far will we let it go?
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