Going Green In A Brave New World
Category Earth & Environment
I WANT TO SEE A BRAVE NEW WORLD in the coming years, or more practically in the next few decades and if possibly not farther than within this present century. This is not a world of nanotechnology and super-advanced genetic engineering where microscopic robots could one day replicate themselves and multiply exorbitantly like mice with rampaging hormones; where through inevitable evolutions, robots may someday find independent thought and by way of natural elimination, may just render human existence to be futile and pointless as intelligent machines might just decide to rule us out completely. This is sort of a hell situation for us. No, I wish scientist should stop developing independent thought and artificial intelligence if possible. Ahora Mismo.
Neither would I prefer a ‘brave new world’ where the world’s superpower like America and China could excessively widen further their military supremacy, developing superweapons that can zap a target located even a continent away. This reminds me of Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars ambition and for me, it is just autocratic nonsense. This is not a world our children and children’s children would like to inhabit. Highly destructive weapons, even in the hands of the so-called non-rogue countries means that ultimately, human existence would always be hanging on the tightrope, that just like in those James Bond movies we all had loved before, one single push of that red button (it always had to be red) could trigger mass annihilation.
What I was thinking is a brand new world where human beings correlate with the environment on a friendlier basis, or on a more personal level; recognizing that there is a very patent equation to be had in mind constantly; where the desecration of the environment---our air, our seas, our lands---would ultimately result to the destruction of life here on earth. This is a world where as we breathe air, we understand that we need to take care of it and not let it be smudged with industrial fumes and hazardous gasses. It is a world where every drop of water we sip in through our lips or that passes our throat is one that needs to be clean and pure from toxic elements.
It’s time the world embrace the so-called Green Technology, a terminology that generally refers to modes and methods that are aimed at minimizing or if possibly, eliminating the hazards posed by human activity on our environment. This technology is not as formal as it sounds; it is in some way more of a philosophy rather than a group of formulas and equations as other science are consist of. In Green Technology, a brave new world can be ushered slowly but surely, where we can use alternative forms of activity in substitute to the ones that have been found to be harsh to our surroundings. For example, solar power can be harnessed further that one day, power plants won’t burn as much bunker oil in order to light up our houses and run our computers, thus minimizing the emission of black and noxious fumes into the atmosphere. Wind power can be more prevalent where windmills could be installed on more and more locations. Possibly, cars that run on hydrogen may render the present problem on carbon dioxide emissions a thing of the past. In places like India and Sweden, waste products are delivered into a especially designed power plants that turns them into methane, a very usable fuel for moving vehicles. There is even this train that runs purely on methane that was sourced from cows innards pressured in giant canisters that simulates the temperature inside a cow’s stomach.
At home, we can apply the principles of Green Technology on a more day-to-day basis like recycling our waste materials to the full, using eco-friendly household items, changing that energy-guzzling light bulbs in our kitchen ceiling with those that uses minimal power.
Environmentalism is now slowly becoming widespread worldwide. Our country need not be left behind on this. It is time for us to go green and be truly environment-friendly.
Sources:
Green Technology, Wikipedia / Newsweek's "Green America: Why Environmentalism Is Hot?" / The Global Directory For Environment Technology/ CNN’s "Heaven or Hell"
Until this government sets aside a huge budget for the development and use of cleaner power sources (Solar, wind, geothermal) we will forever be at the mercy of the oil cartels and Meralco.
It's not that we don't have the necessary know-how and technology. What is lacking is political will. It's obvious that these conglomerates have this government by the neck, and balls. Just look at how easily they can raise power and gas prices without even a peep from the government.
Comment by snglguy — July 12, 2006 @ 8:05 am
I tend to agree with Snglguy -- we need our government's aggressive participation in these matters. However, to spur the government into such action, we need to have our entire citizenry's participation as well. An arduous task but doable. Perhaps, we should start a concerted effort beginning with our public school system -- from elementary to high school. And have those kids, in turn, spread the awareness to their families and pressure their parents into participating, too. Once the parents become a part of this movement, they can, in turn, use their voting power to further advance this particular agenda.
Comment by eric — July 12, 2006 @ 1:25 pm
hmmm...wonder what happens when the world's oil supply dwindles to trickles. wonder which country will survive? i'm guessing it will be those that have shifted to more nature-friendly energy source. and we're not one of them.
i like the picture of "robots (that)...replicate themselves and multiply exorbitantly like mice with rampaging hormones." you have a very childlike imagination, major tom.
Comment by atticus — July 12, 2006 @ 2:07 pm
The government should play a large role in demanding clean energy for Americn taxpayers. A renewable portfolio standard was included in the first energy bill, but to successfully pass it had to be removed. So we can not expect the government to drive the demand, that is the job for consumers. The majority of Americans believe America should be less reliant upon foreign and fossil fuels, and also support the development and generation of clean domestic energy, not to mention the environmental benefits.
It is the role of all American consumers to demand clean energy and one way for you to do that is with OurEnergy.US. We need an energy change, and it is up to the American consumer to demand it.
Learn more about this resource here: http://www.ourenergy.us
Comment by OurEnergy Team — July 12, 2006 @ 5:55 pm
To snglguy: What I know is that most of this alternative form of energy that has been instituted thru the help of foreign-government aids. In fact, electrification in the rural areas, especially in the far-flung island municipalities, are built primarily thru World Bank or IBRD( International Bank for Rural Development) funding. Lack of funds must be the real hurdle that this country has to overcome. Yet, we can start being eco-friendly in our own personal and small ways, like waste recycling, water conservation, non-use of household products that are found to contain hazardous chemicals. Maybe, the government may just lack that political will as you said, maybe our Congress should start thinking of proportioning some sizable money to environmental concerns.
To eric: That is one very bright idea eric---citizen participation is the most palpable and doable action that can be had at this time when funds is not that sufficient to pursue a widespread use of environmental friendly energy. Just like in consumer awareness that we often discuss in your blog. When I was in the elementary, I could remember our teachers teaching us about the environment and how to help protect it but it was so minimal and just passing, like those Bagong Lipunan bread that comes to our school once in a while. I am sure that if we scour throughout the net, there’d be existing movement like this already in our country but it is just not as popular. I think the government should help and assist spur these organizations; maybe one of them can have representation as party-list in Congress in the next elections.
To atticus: There is this Chevron advertisement in magazines that says that in a hundred years, ever since the Industrial Revolution in America, mankind had probably spended nearly half of the world’s estimated oil resources. And they say it was based on scientific studies. And to this day, year after year, as global economy expands on a staggering rate, use of oil continues to exponentially increase. That scenario where oil resources dwindles to a minimum is not that far-off; although some other veritable scientific study showed that oil resources that are yet siphoned-off could still last for tens of centuries to go. Surely, there are conflicting studies on this we just can’t easily believe any of em.
But what is true right now is that many countries like Brazil and Sweden are fast-changing towards the use of alternative sources of energy. Large forest area in the amazon are being crop-out in order for corn plantations to be placed there, where corn produce are processed in very large amounts to produce ethanol. Nearly 80% of cars now running in Brazil are using fuel that are mixed with ethanol, and the government there saves a sizable amount from not buying crude oil as much as before.
Oh, about the robots---it’s kind of imaginative and thanks for the good note. But in my mind, that could be fearful since like in one movie that I have seen years ago, “Rats” had this very menacing end scene where huge rats multiplied excessively and terrorized humans to no end. I couldn’t sleep for days after watching that movie.
To OurEnergy Team: Your project is very veritable. Any American should be wise to join it. In President Bush last State of The Nation Address, concerns for decreasing dependence on oil-imports have been patently put forward. I think right now your government is starting to put into motion a widespread campaign to pursue this objective---the use of more eco-friendly source of energy. Maybe Al Gore or any of his cohorts could use this platform to run in the next US presidential election and if more and more Americans realize the importance of protecting our environment, in a world where numerous environmental hazards are already felt, like smogs in the cities and increasing tenacity of ultraviolet rays, as well as radical increase in general temperature all over the world, then the next government could be more focused on this campaign.
Comment by Major Tom — July 13, 2006 @ 5:57 am
ive read somewhere, i totally forgot, talkig about how we humans in a couple of hundred years will face total annihilation if we fail to live or sustain our own existence or something like that... scary what modern technologies are actually capable of.
Comment by rudyman — July 14, 2006 @ 2:38 am
To rudyman: To think, some realities today were just fiction just half a century ago. These articles that bespeaks of future deteoriation of human life may just be purely speculations by now but we must start to take heed especially that now, some serious hazards to our environment are already felt.
Comment by Major Tom — July 14, 2006 @ 5:53 am
Conservation and preserving the environment should be paramount in our government policy and even our way of thinking. I replaced my fridge, washing machine and dyer
( all of them about 15 years old ) last fall and shocked to find out that the new models consume half as much electricity! Pollution is another thing that govts must tackle head on. THey should fine those companies that pollute the environment!
Comment by bw — July 14, 2006 @ 2:56 pm
To bw: Oh yeah, old model appliances--especially the fridge--are guzzlers for power; I could even hear them tremble and shake from too much energy they use. Newer models are often more energy efficient since it had become a sales pitch for electronuic companies on whose products are more efficient. I guess improved conductivity and wiring technology allows such cost-saving mechanisms.
Comment by Major Tom — July 14, 2006 @ 4:06 pm
I agree on this...we can all do our share. Recycling is as easy as 1-2-3.
Comment by jane — July 14, 2006 @ 6:07 pm
Thanks for coming Jane. We all can have something to do about protecting our environment coz we need it more than it need us.
Comment by Major Tom — July 15, 2006 @ 2:12 am