Comments roncastle has made

  • Hello, Steve, I am not a demographer or a scientist, just an old dog who has been interested in sustainability, land conservation and agriculture for over 40 years. I am not likely to be around in 2050 and I don't think we will ever reach 9 billion. There are too many negative trends in play that are likely to be short term irrevisible. Read Lester Brown's "Plan B 4.0" and his post here at Grist last week about environmental refugeeism. The coming scenarios are what I have been referring to as depeopling (a good 10 letter Scrabble word), the results of overpopulation, habitat destruction, declining fossil fuel dependent agriculture, rising sea level and the changes in weather and rainfall as the result of global warming. The point is that the Earth cannot sustain human life as we know it. But I don't see that a species as adaptable as humans will be made extinct by this evolutionary process. I heard on NPR last night an interesting previously recorded interview with Robert Thurman about his book "Why the Dahli Lama Matters" which reinforces my belief that it is the evolution of the human spirit that is most needed to create true sustainability.On Dispassion as the world ends: The absent heart of the great climate affair posted 1 month ago 112 Responses
  • Hi, Lester, The good news is that depeopling is a legitimate 10 letter Scrabble word. The bad news is that we are going to be using this word more often. For bees, we call it colony collapse. For frogs, we call it amphibian decline. For salmon, we don't really have a unique descriptor. For predators like the large cats, extinction. Since the publication of the first Plan B you have been writing about dealing with environmental refugeeism during this century. I think we should be talking about the next decade. The show is going to have to go on the road before some people realize that depeopling could happen to them.On The rising tide of environmental refugees posted 1 month ago 2 Responses
  • GMO = Give Monsanto Ownership These are without a doubt some of the most evil folks on the planet. They cross pollinate their neighbors crops with their evil seeds and then sue their neighbors for patent violation. If a small farmer cannot save his own seed for next year he is doomed to failure. There are plenty of these folks in India already caught in the GMO trap who are committing suicide every day.On Bill Gates reveals support for GMO ag posted 1 month, 1 week ago 44 Responses
  • Here's mine, written in 2001: The Speech President Bush Should Deliver by Ron Castle My fellow Americans: I apologize to you for interrupting the final game of the Final Four but I figured this would be the best way to catch most of you in front of the tube. This evening I want to talk to you about an issue that is critical for the survival of the planet. Our way of life and the way of life of many of our allies and the other G8 members has the environment running in reverse. In the past hundred years we have combusted most of the World's fossil fuels that took almost a billion years to create. Actually, substances like oil and coal have resulted from plant life that detoxified our planet home so that other forms of life might flourish, including human life, and by combusting these fuels at record rates, we are putting back into the atmosphere carbon and other toxic substances that have been locked away in safe storage beneath the surface of the earth for a billion years. As you know from your high school physics class, matter does not go away - it simply changes state - petroleum and coal, when combusted, create energy and visible and invisible garbage, which we have named pollution. It is hard for us to imagine how human existence really fits in to the history of the World. David Brower, founder of the Sierra Club who passed away last fall, said it this way, comparing 4.5 billion years of creation to the six days of creation from Genesis: 'Sunday at midnight, the Earth is created. There is no life until Tuesday noon. Millions upon millions of species come during the week, and millions of species go. By Saturday morning at seven, there's been enough chlorophyll manufactured for the fossil fuels to begin to form. Around four in the afternoon, the giant reptiles come on stage. They hang around for a long time, as species go, until nine-thirty, a five-hour run. The Grand Canyon begins taking shape eighteen minutes before midnight. Nothing like us shows up for another fifteen minutes. No homo sapiens until 30 seconds ago. Let the party begin! A second and a half back, we throw the habits of hunting and gathering to the winds, and learn to change the environment to suit our appetites. We get rid of everything we can't eat as fast we possibly can, and that's the beginning of agriculture. A third of a second before midnight, Buddha; a quarter of a second, Jesus Christ: a fortieth of a second, the industrial revolution; an eightieth of a second, we discover oil; a two-hundredth of a second, how to split atoms.' Using Mr. Brower's example, during the past eightieth of a second humans have put back into the ecosphere trillions of tons of visible and invisible garbage that were locked away two, three or maybe four days ago. Unlike any species in the history of the planet, humans have become an evolutionary force and we are evolving in reverse. In the course of a mere century we have undone the work that took Nature billions of years to do. If we compare the ten-mile deep atmosphere that surrounds our planet to one of those basket balls the players are handling this evening, the atmosphere would be about as thick as tissue paper – and, about as fragile. At the same time, human population has expanded to more than six-billion people and our numbers are predicted to reach ten-billion by perhaps as soon as the year 2040. Natural resources are shrinking and plant and animal species are being made extinct at a rate faster than any time in human history. If all of these people are to have the same energy wasting and over-consuming lifestyles as the worst of us on the planet - that is, living like you and me as Americans - then we will have to have at least three more planets and perhaps a fourth one, which should appropriately be named "Dumpster", since total annual waste in the U. S. alone now exceeds 50 trillion pounds. Somehow, I do not foresee having any additional planets, despite the fact that I am the most powerful man in the world. Instead, the future that we face is for ten billion people to figure out how to live adequately on 25 percent or less of the natural resources per capita that Americans presently consume. Most of you probably think that this is surprising news. You don’t see much about the big picture in the press. And, many of you are probably wondering why no President has told you this before. The handwriting has been on the wall for at least forty years. No President has told you this before because they have lacked the courage and the will to tell it like it is. I am keeping my campaign promise that I will be compassionate, conservative and will work cooperatively on both sides of the aisle to make our Federal government work responsibly for ALL Americans. And, so I am. After all, conservation and conservative both come from the same root word. Beginning tomorrow morning, I am establishing a new cabinet position, the Department of Natural Capitalism. We will begin laying the groundwork immediately to establish a master plan to get the environment out of reverse and into fifth gear by the year 2016. Our implementation policies will be divided into five each three-year spans, which we will name First Gear through Fifth Gear. We will work with the other members of the G8 and all nations and peoples in the world to transfer our planning ideas, implementation strategies and renewable technologies to all parts of the globe. This will be a huge undertaking unlike any in the history of man (including World War Two) and, to use my transmission analogy that I know ALL Americans can relate to, we may not have synchro-mesh but we will shift gears in a decidedly accelerating fashion until we restructure all human activities to be in harmony with the rest of life on the planet. Unemployment will be eliminated. Every person can have a job restoring habitat, working in organic agriculture or working in the new industries that will emerge: public transportation; renewable energy; fuel cell manufacturing; zero emissions vehicles; watershed restoration; recyclable manufacturing; just to name a few. Making this transition will create new challenges and new opportunities for all of us. Within the next 30 days I will submit two bills to Congress. The first is an Ecology Tax (ET) that will be evenly implemented over the next 15 years. ET will “phone home” by progressively raising the costs of all sources of energy production, transportation, consumer goods, chemical fertilizers and biocides and all forms of consumption that are harmful to the environment. Thus, for example, the costs of all fossil fuels and fossil fuel generated electricity will increase in a graduated manner so that all forms of renewable energy will become the least cost alternative. Organic farming, which values the life of microbes in the soil, will become the defacto method of agriculture. We will have clean water and clean air. These policies will both free us from a need for imported oil by the time we are at our shift point from Second to Third Gear but will also begin significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time our full employment policy will have millions of Americans planting millions of trees every day to restore denuded habitat, brown fields and riparian areas to protect our watersheds. In honor of my parents, we will call this our Planet Campaign for Bushes (PCB’s) - bushes are trees, too, you know. In fact they are the only "trees" in West Texas. This will also help to clean up the atmosphere in the same manner that petroleum and coal were formed billions of years ago. This is a true recycling effort. And, finally, PCB’s will become a good thing. The second part of our economic program will be our End All The Income Tax Bill (EAT-IT). The government has been eating out of your pocketbook for decades – now it’s your turn. At the same time that taxes are increasing on eco-damaging activities we will begin an incremental phase out of all personal income taxes. So, when coal fired electricity goes up in price every family will have a reduction in personal taxes that will allow you to continue your current consumption. But, if renewable electricity is cheaper - and it will be very soon - you can buy renewable and use your tax cut for whatever you wish. Organic produce may be a little more expensive at first but will soon become significantly cheaper than food grown with chemicals that harm our bodies, our soils and our water. Freedom of choice is a basic tenet of our economy and our way of life. It’s your money – you earned it – and you are entitled to spend it how you wish. These economic adjustments will provide every family with more disposable income and the freedom to direct your personal spending in ways that will help rather than harm the planet. America is not backing up on the environment any more. We are moving full speed ahead while reducing our emissions. I believe that if the rest of the world will immediately implement similar standards we will not need the Kyoto Treaty. There are many more exciting things that I could tell you this evening but I believe it is sound cooperative policy to allow the Congress an opportunity to work with my administration to put the finishing touches on these exciting new changes. I encourage each of you to contact your Senators and Congressman and tell them you want them behind these programs. Finally, there are three things I want to say to you. First, special interest politics are dead. The Republican Party received over $558 million dollars in campaign contributions during the 1999 elections and we appreciate the support of our friends. The Democrats received over $382 million. But the health of the environment is more important than the special interests of any industry, corporation or individual. Imagine what almost a billion dollars could do to help the environment rather than politicians. We will all work cooperatively to make this transition happen and industries with invested capital will be treated fairly to rescue stranded costs. Second, as of today, by my Executive Order we are ALL environmentalists. To all of you who have been environmentalists for all of these years without an Executive Order, I salute you. Third, to all of you SUV drivers out there and especially all yall SUV drivers in the great state of Texas, I am sorry that the value of your vehicles will undoubtedly plummet. But, as my mom Barbara has always told me, if you would have put some thought into it you never should have bought such inefficient vehicles to begin with. In fact, I sold my Suburban last week. In closing, I quote the words of one of America’s greatest conservationists, Teddy Roosevelt who said in 1907: Here is your country. Do not let anyone take it or its glory away from you. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its bounty, its beauty, its riches, or its romance. The World and the Future and your very children shall judge you according to [the way] you deal with this Sacred Trust. Today is the day that we begin taking these words to heart. Working together, my fellow Americans, we can save the planet. Thank you, God bless you, God bless American and God bless planet earth. Good night. ### March 29, 2001On Dispassion as the world ends: The absent heart of the great climate affair posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago 112 Responses
  • What's the radioactive half life of a solar panel?On Stewart Brand's nuclear enthusiasm falls short on facts and logic posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago 197 Responses
  • If NASCAR wants to improve their chances of sustainability as a motorized recreation then make a commitment rat naow as we say down south to race only electric vehicles powered by solar and wind energy captured on site at the track. Let's start next season and let the racing community lead the way on what makes great electric vehicles. Speed will not be the only issue. Racing will include strategies for conserving battery power. Pit crews will develop the best techniques for changing batteries and operating recharging equipment. Imagine being at the race and hearing the birds singing. If you have to make yourself deaf you could always listen to a recording of one of the old fashioned races on your iPod.On NASCAR and the high-octane American dream posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago 11 Responses
  • 75% of the antibiotics used worldwide are fed to livestock, which is why we have all these superbugs.On Warning: This product may cause sickness, paralysis, and death posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago 51 Responses
  • A decade ago, the Institute of Medicine estimated that antibiotic resistant bacteria generated an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion per year in extra costs to the U.S. health-care system, and costs have skyrocketed from there. Apparently, the drug companies and their allies in the animal agriculture industry were only too happy to lean on friends and quietly preserve a system that, for them, is incredibly profitable - never mind the growing threat to the health of the public. Read the rest of this essay by former Governor of Kansas and chairman of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production, Mr. John Carlin. http://www.byebyebeef.com/2008/12/cattle-on-drugs.htmlOn Warning: This product may cause sickness, paralysis, and death posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago 51 Responses
  • Visit www.byebyebeef.com and download our Salmonella Burger recipe. Take the pledge while you are there.On Warning: This product may cause sickness, paralysis, and death posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago 51 Responses
  • Our corporate controlled government cannot solve even the most simple problems, what makes you think they will come up with a workable plan for climate change? We will when the Fortune 1000 thinks it's in their financial interests. Until then nothing's happening. Then all we have to do is get 7 billion other folks around the world to get with the program? I am highly optimistic about pessimism.On ‘No compromise’ faction attacks climate bill posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago 104 Responses
  • Hello, Tom, where's your editor when you need her? "I don’t agree with everything Lester Brown says, but the man generally talks good sense" is a lousy way to open this story and you never do say what you disagree with. Are you now trying to be a marginalizer? I have been a student of Lester's work since the beginning and Plan B 4.0 was clearly spelled out in the original work if we did not start making changes this is where we would end up, only we are ending up here sooner than projected.On Lester Brown speaks sense on the food/climate crisis posted 1 month, 4 weeks ago 12 Responses
  • The Age of Stupid is really stupid, we all know the correct date is 2056.On Climate doomsday film 'The Age of Stupid' still hopeful, says director in video interview posted 2 months, 1 week ago 9 Responses

  • Fruit Loops is PEOPLE!!!!

    At least the greens one are.

     

    On An open letter to the dean who promoted Froot Loops as a "smart choice" posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago 2 Responses

  • Chicken CAFOs aren't any different than CAFOs for beef or pork.  Antibiotic laden food and manure.  There are a number of chicken houses and laying houses in our part of the world having a hard time getting rid of the manure contaminated with antibiotics.

    Visit www.byebyebeef.com where are have a great recipe for salmonella burgers.  I guess you could use CAFO eggs as a binder and it might enhance the bacteric count?

    On UPDATED: The cruelty of industrial egg-riculture -- plus a tasty recipe for your local pastured eggs posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago 10 Responses

  • Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed, well, maybe not fixable in this case.

    On Chuck Grassley does not believe in the threat of anthropogenic climate change posted 3 months ago 11 Responses

  • I think this is a misdirected argument.  We are approaching the end of the fossil fuel age and using 10 calories of fossil fuels to grow and deliver 1 calorie of food is not sustainable.  Why argue about something that has no long term future?

    The annual growth in the output of goods and services in recent years has exceeded the total output of the world economy in the year 1900.  The increase in agricultural output is based largely on a one time prolonged consumption of fossil fuels.  The supply is now heading into decline.

    Fossil fuels are a major contributor to global warming.  Global warming shows all indications of negatively impacting agriculture and rainfall.

    The earth’s natural capacities to supply fresh water, overpumping of aquifers, production of forest products, and seafood are in decline and headed for collapse.

    Human population growth continues unabated.

    As the earth’s natural capacities at the local level are exceeded, the declining economic possibilities create environmental refugees who will overcrowd sustainable areas making them progressively unsustainable. Wars will result.

    Many countries around the world today are facing these and other negative environmental trends simultaneously, some of which negatively reinforce each other.

    We will either mobilize together to save our global civilization, or we will all be potential victims of its disintegration.

    Getting agriculture off the fossil fuel junkie is a place we can start now while we still have the resources to design a sustainable future.

    On A debate about soil, organics, and nutrition posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago 24 Responses

  • Based on my experience of dining in the UK perhaps 120 days since the early 1980s, Brits would be among the last folks I would ask about the nutritional value of food.  Pass the kidney pie and bangers and mash, please.

    Perhaps the UK Food Standards Agency is askew because of political or chemical ag industry influence.  I have no clue.

    But what I do know is that 60 plus years of chemical laden agriculture has severly surpressed the natural systems in soil to improve mineralization. A 1997 USDA report showed an 80% decline in calcium, magnesium and iron in cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes and spinach since 1917.

    Loss of minerals is so prominent in most soils that the use of natural ag mineral supplements like Eco-Min causes plants to react like they have received a boost of fertilizer.

    The final point is that we are using 11 calories of fossil fuel to product 1 calorie of food.  Even using new math that seems unsustainable.

    The folks in the UK should come over to the USA and try our antibiotic resistant salmonella burgers.  We can show them a thing or two about the nutritional value of food.

    On The obvious advantage of organic food over conventional posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago 16 Responses

  • Catfish aka river possum.

    On What's the dish on farm-raised catfish? posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago 9 Responses
  • Quoting from a Cargill advertisement running back in January 2009:
     
    “WE ARE BRINGING RANCH QUALITY BEEF TO GROCERY STORES.”
     
    Then in smaller type: “Supermarkets know that shoppers will judge the quality of an entire store with what they see in the fresh meat department. So savvy grocery chains have turned to Cargill’s branded beef programs to provide their fresh meat departments with products that bring back customers. This is how Cargill works with customers. – collaborate – create – succeed.”
     
    If this is in fact how shoppers judge grocery stores then everybody in California and surrounding states will be on a hunger strike for a while.
    Ranch quality beef = confinement raised standing in cow pies antitiotic laden. 
    Do they make ranch style beans the same way?
    On Cargill plant recalls nearly a million pounds of tainted beef posted 3 months, 3 weeks ago 4 Responses

  • Liars in Washington, DC?  I can't believe it.

    On Forged climate bill letters spark uproar over 'astroturfing' posted 3 months, 3 weeks ago 16 Responses

  • Always drink upstream from the herd, said Will Rogers.

    On Boss Hog's attempted regulatory coup in North Carolina posted 3 months, 3 weeks ago 1 Response

  • As my Great Uncle Lee Howison from Mount Vernon, Texas used to say about beer, pour it back in the horse and give me a whisky.

    On Unsolicited advice about organic beer for the Obama Beer Summit posted 4 months ago 7 Responses

  • I went to the sexy meat blog at the National Corn Growers Association yesterday and posted a comment, asking if they meant sexy like salmonella contaminated King Sooper ground beef or sexy like the MRSA contaminated meat discovered by researchers in Louisiana.

    Can you believe it?  They took my post offline.  I guess there is no truth in corn country unless it comes from consuming distilled spirits?

    On From "sexy meat" to fabulous ice cream, tasty morsels from around the web posted 4 months ago 2 Responses

  • The reality of the climate change game is it will continue to be all talk and no meaningful action until it is too late to prevent catastrophic results.  The planet is going to be de-people-ing itself at an ever increasing rate.  Party 'til.

    On "Historic consensus" at G8 on climate change, says Obama posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago 7 Responses

  • A hole in the ocean

    This is a suitable place for Dubya's legacy.

    The way Dubya and Shotgun Dick have treated the planet is like being one of Jeffrey Dahmer victims, but he was kind enough not to eat your nose.On Bush to create huge ocean sanctuary in Pacific posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago 2 Responses

  • Dubya is not an option?

    What has happened?  All the Grist staff has already sent their brains on Christmas holiday?

    Dubya wins hands down.

    Cheers.

    On Vote for the top eco-villain of 2008 posted 11 months, 1 week ago 14 Responses

  • Bushgeoisie

    I hear Crawford, Texas is a great place for hog farms.On Bush admin exempts farms from reporting toxic fumes posted 11 months, 2 weeks ago 4 Responses

  • Not Da Da Cider

    I can see Dubya and Shotgun Dick in the Offal Office in the Writhe House throwing darts at the Master Plan to Destroy the Planet to determine which new fruitcake rollback they will implement next.

    Darts Vaders, stars of Scar Wars.

    Follow the money.On Bush admin removes independent scientific reviews from Endangered Species Act posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 3 Responses

  • Oh Whoa to the Formerly Big Three

    In my past life I reluctantly admit that I was a manufacturing process equipment supplier to both General Motors and Chrysler - never did any work for Ford.

    Sometime about 1991 I received a letter from the then General Motors senior vice president of marketing offering me, as a valued supplier, a coveted employee level discount for any GM vehicles I wished to purchase for my company fleet.

    I wrote the veep back saying that unfortunately General Motors did not manufacture any vehicles I cared to purchase because my company had not owned any vehicles since we started business in 1984 that got less than 30 miles per gallon.

    I also did my little diatribe about fossil fuel consumption, peak oil, climate change and more.

    Did I receive a reply? Nope.

    The handwriting has been on the wall for almost two decades.  Rather than devoting resources to improved fuel efficiency the money has gone to marketing heavy vehicles that conquer the wilderness.

    Do we need automotive manufacturing in the USA? Yes.  Should we feel sorry for Ford, Chrysler and General Motors?  Only to the extent that we pity stupidity.On Big Three auto execs pledge to become greener, more profitable posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 4 Responses

  • Forum while dey hide

    No conspiracy here, just a little confusion among government agencies.  Let's move Tom Davis and family into a Katrina trailer and see how long the confusion lasts?On Companies knew about high formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers, Dems say posted 1 year, 4 months ago 4 Responses

  • The obstacle to nuke-clear is radioactivity

    Senator MyCane needs to read the work of Amory Lovins at the Rocky Mountain Institute.  Looking at lifetime costs, nuclear is the most expensive way to generate electricity.  And then you have the reactor contamination and waste fuel issues with a half life of 50,000 years.

    The folks with the "mindset of those who prefer to buy time and hope that our energy problems will somehow solve themselves" are those presently in office.

    Spend the $2 billion a year on pollution free renewables.  The only clean coal is what stays in the ground.On McCain calls for 45 new nuclear reactors in U.S. by 2030 posted 1 year, 5 months ago 5 Responses

  • Big Changes R Coming

    When the people are ready, the leader shall appear.

    Cheers.

    On Obama claims nomination, but Clinton says she's not going anywhere yet posted 1 year, 5 months ago 14 Responses

  • Roadblock

    The folks in the current administration and their right side of the aisle counterparts aren't Republicans.  Teddy Roosevelt asked me to make this post.On White House admits humans causing climate change posted 1 year, 6 months ago 9 Responses

  • Does this mean I don't have to floss?

    There are two kinds of folks in the world, those who wash their waste away with water and those who don't.  If you don't, you don't have to take the turds out?  But, if they ARE in there, then taking them out is probably a good idea.  I like my composting toilet.On Recycling sewer water into drinking water growing more popular posted 1 year, 6 months ago 3 Responses

  • Dim Bulbs at DOE

    We don't have until 2030.On U.S. could get 20 percent of energy from wind by 2030, says DOE posted 1 year, 6 months ago 4 Responses

  • We DO have an energy policy

    Senator Obama makes a good point about the war but is missing the bigger point that we have an energy policy, it's just not a good one for the American people. But, it's good for someone and whenever you wonder about why something as important as a sound energy policy has gone askew, follow the money.

    When we allow big energy to run our government by buying off the hearts and minds of elected and other government officials, the plan we have today is what we get.  Fossil fuel prices are at ever increasing record levels (including oil today) and the ExxonMobils of the world are raking in the profits.

    The first step to solving the problem is to get corporations out of government.

    An easy second step, which all renewable energy technology developers say will make a huge differnce in gaining more investment funding for development, is to put a price on carbon.  When carbon has a market price then the value of the developing technologies versus the risks can be more accurately determined.

    Then we can incentivize what we want by taxing what we don't want.  Transfer taxation has for many years been a sound and successful way to allow the market to make choices based on economics while using a graduated tax on coal, for example, to provide incentives to consumers to purchase renewable energy technologies, similar to the current solar energy tax credit (which I took advantage of in 2007) but with enough funding to make big changes in a hurry.

    We do need to hurry.On U.S. fails to be climate leader because of war, says Obama posted 1 year, 6 months ago 8 Responses

  • I'll have manure and pass on the triple 15

    In the good old USA we are presently using 10-11 calories of fossil fuels to put a calorie of food on your dinner table.  

    Diesel, herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers are mostly made from petroleum and natural gas feedstocks.  Prices of these are going up, worldwide demand is increasing, supplies are finite and decreasing.  Regardless of the number of new fertilizer plants in the works, we are looking at skyrocketing costs of inputs, which are the only costs most large scale agriculture can control.

    When soils are chemically fertilized and sprayed with poisons all the little micro organisms that create natural soil fertility disappear, organic matter decreases, natural mineralization declines.  We end up with dead dirt and lousy food.

    Organic farming, once the health of the soil has been restored from 50 years of being nuked with chemicals, can actually outperform "modern" practices.

    Read http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/nwl/2007/2007-2-leole ...

    It works in Iowa.  The spread between the cost of inputs and the market price of whatever farmers are growing is what makes profits, not just high yields.  On Nitrogen fertilizer is in short supply posted 1 year, 7 months ago 53 Responses

  • Food to Fuel Won't Work

    Jack Daniels figured it out a long time ago, if you are going to make ethanol you filter it through charcoal and put in an oak barrel for a while and sell it for $100 a gallon.

    They have been doing this in Lynchburg for over 100 years now without receiving a $10 billion plus taxpayer subsidy.

    Read http://www.earthpolicy.org/Updates/2008/Update69.htm On Food prices are high, and so are Big Ag's profits posted 1 year, 7 months ago 6 Responses

  • Starving People to Feed Food Based Fuel to Cars

    Lester Brown wrote a piece about this issue a couple of years ago, before Congress decided to hand out billion dollar subsidies to corn based ethanol producers.

    Making fuel from food won't work.  If you converted all of the corn grown in the USA to ethanol it won't offset 25% of our imported oil consumption.

    And if you do, what do the cows, chickens, hogs eat?  Not to mention the several billion folks around the world who rely on grains as their primary source of nutrition.

    Governor Perry has the right idea, even if it is for the wrong reasons.

    Regarding the words of wisdom from the Secretary of State, Rice is a grain not a brain.On U.S. should back off from biofuels to bring down food prices, says Texas guv posted 1 year, 7 months ago 8 Responses

  • How do you spell relief? Energy policy leadership

    McCain and Clinton are the perfect pair for gas pains. Let's give the little people a gas tax break so they can increase our global warming emissions this summer.

    Senator Obama is the only candidate who appears prepared to tell us what we need to hear.  The past and current lack of leadership in Washington is going to cost us much more than high gas prices.

    We need real leadership to make big changes in energy policy.  I want my electric car and solar panels to charge it up NOW.

    Clinton or McCain?  Doesn't make any difference.  Neither one of them are up to the job of making the real changes we need.  Perhaps they should run on the same ticket?

    Go, Barack, go,

    Ron CastleOn McCain, Clinton support summer gas-tax rollback posted 1 year, 7 months ago 17 Responses

  • Darth Nader

    I have a little sign on the wall in my office which reads:

    Stupid Is Forever - Ignorance Can Be Fixed

    Ralph should put this sign on the wall in his office and do nothing but read it outloud  continuously until after the election.

    Cheers,
    Ron CastleOn Ralph Nader jumps into the presidential race posted 1 year, 9 months ago 31 Responses

  • Planning for a hot time on Planet Earth

    Hi, Ross,

    Thanks for your views and I see Eban has posted, feels like homecoming at GreenHouseNet.org.

    Lester Brown's books Plan B 3.0 (just released) and Outgrowing the Earth are both sources of solid research and level headed ideas. Check Lester's work out at www.earthpolicy.org.

    For the past almost three years I have been working to promote EcoCover.  More information at www.roncastle.com/ecocover  The first manufacturing plant in North America will be coming to the USA Summer 2008.  A new plant is starting up in Australia next week.  The Czech Republic plant starts up in February.

    What we have discovered about EcoCover from two years of research is that in addition to the positive plant growth and water conservation properties of this family of organically certified paper mulch mats made mainly from waste paper, is that the use of EcoCover to muclh agricultural and horticultural crops has a siginficant carbon sequestration benefit.  When we replace 30 million acres of plastic used for mulch around the world every year, the carbon benefits will be quite large.  There will be other solutions coming.  We are a small part at this point but are going to be a major player in a couple of years.

    If you search on Google for agriculture future trends you will find a page in my website number one.  Localization is going to be essential.

    We are already working on our own localization plans along with a self-sufficiency plan for the kiddos and grand kiddos.  We have made in the past 10 years a very large change in lifestyle by choice.  Change by choice can be a fun adventure.  Check out www.nealcreekfarm.com, about 13 miles from your good friend Jack Daniels.

    I think the future is going to be very challenging, but I don't plan on sitting around and whining about it.  We will do the best with what we have and keep on innovating.  When Global Warming Bush leaves office, I expect a major change in politics that will finally make a difference.  Morons be gone.

    This may be the most creative time in man's history on the planet?  I think so.  Survival is a great motivator.

    Cheers.

    On It's too late to stop climate change, argues Ross Gelbspan -- so what do we do now? posted 1 year, 11 months ago 45 Responses

  • The Reverend Canon Peter Gwillim Kreitler

    You missed my good friend and colleague Peter Kreitler, the Environmental Priest for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, previously named as an environmental hero of the planet by National Geographic magazine, a prolific writer and speaker who has been on the environmental path to global salvation for at least 30 years.  Visit www.earthtalktoday.tv to see more information about Peter's environmental talk show public access television program.  Earth Talk Today programming is now online at www.joost.com.

    Cheers,

    Ron CastleOn 15 Green Religious Leaders posted 2 years, 4 months ago 28 Responses

  • A money making green business for the Bronx

    An EcoCover plant in the Bronx running 3 shifts 5 days a week could generate over $6 million in product sales, with a pretax net of over $2 million, employ over 20 folks at better than living wage jobs (even in da city) and take about 30 tons of waste paper a week out of the NYC landfill stream (much of which is being barged down the East Coast for disposal).  The EcoCover mulch mat could be sold to the City's 5 boroughs for community landscaping, to the remaining farms on Long Island, to Jersey, Connecticut, Eastern PA and beyond.

    An EcoCover plant emits no toxins, no pollutants, no VOCs and can be sited almost anywhere.

    Read more www.roncastle.com/ecocover/On An interview with Majora Carter, founder of Sustainable South Bronx posted 3 years, 2 months ago 10 Responses

  • Ag productivity hope without fossil fuels

    In a recent trial against black plastic mulch, EcoCover increased tomato yields 29.4 percent and green pepper yields 42.3 percent and the only difference is EcoCover.

    Read http://www.roncastle.com/ecocover/plastic-mulch-alternati...

    We have been in contact with the Gates Foundation regarding helping improve agricultural productivity in Africa.  EcoCover can be manufactured there locally, just as it can be manufactured anyplace in the world where you have electricity, water, and heating gas.

    Problem is, the bottom rung folks at the Gates Foundation, aka the Gate Keepers? don't know what they are evaluating.  They kindly declined our "request for a grant" which we did not request.  We were looking to provide another solution.  So far the Gates are closed.

    Cheers,On Why the new "Green Revolution" in Africa may be misguided posted 3 years, 2 months ago 5 Responses

  • Don't cry wolf - yell EcoCover

    We are doing it and you should be, too?

    http://www.roncastle.com/ecocover/

    CheersOn Sustainability visionaries see room for hope in our worry-filled world posted 3 years, 2 months ago 1 Response

  • It could be manure?

    Perhaps it is the manure of bad ideas that caused this problem, Alex?  If we would have nuked this spinach with one of Monsanto's products we could get cancer instead of bacterial infections?

    Good idea, cheers,

    Ron Castle

    Cheers.

    On E. Coli news is bad news, any way you cut it posted 3 years, 2 months ago 22 Responses

  • Industrial revolution without industry?

    Yo, Dan

    Part of the problem with Gen-X having a revolution is no meaningful industry.  I think iPods are cool but they won't solve world problems.

    Gen-X needs to think big and I have an idea for you.  Check out what I am working on www.roncastle.com/ecocover/

    We are going to replace 30 million acres of agricultural plastic worldwide with organically certified biodegradable mulch made mostly from waste paper.

    Gen-Xers can purchase one or more manufacturing plants and manufacture the patented products under license whereever they are.

    Take waste from landfills and make profitable products that benefit agriculture.  This is an idea for the next generation.

    Cheers,

    Ron Castle
    roncastle@roncastle.com

    Cheers.

    On Generation X can make a difference. posted 3 years, 2 months ago 8 Responses

  • Making small farms more productive

    Hey, Tom,

    Good story today, thanks.  One of the things that small farms and all farms can do to increase their growing season is look at EcoCover as a mulch for seasonal row crops.

    We have research in process at Trondheim University in far north and cold Norway that will affirm the other research we have done regarding EcoCover as an effective mulch to moderate soil temperatures against both cold and heat.

    Read more about EcoCover and the research in my web www.roncastle.com/ecocover/

    It looks like we might have a manufacturing plant in operation in the Carolinas in time for next planting season.  More to follow.

    Cheers,

    Ron Castle     roncastle@roncastle.comOn Could small farms provide fresh food year-round, even in northern climes? posted 3 years, 3 months ago 7 Responses

  • All agriculture will eventually be local

    Greetings,

    I sent Tom a kudu on his story today.

    Search on Google for agriculture future trends and you will find a page in my web # 1.  Eventually, almost all ag will be local - we are not going to be flying in 747s of strawberries from Chile and shipping meals 1,500 miles to your dinner table from Florida and California.

    Presently we are still eating under the influence (EUI rather than DUI) of still cheap oil and the corporate agribusiness model built over the past 56 years on cheap energy.

    Agriculture in the USA presently consumes 10 calories of fossil fuels for every calorie of food produced.  That's not long term sustainable.

    I have one idea that will help.  Read:

    www.roncastle.com/ecocover/

    We are planning on replacing plastic film used for agricultural mulch.  Over 3 million acres are mulched with plastic in the USA every year.

    The future is EcoCover.

    Cheers,

    Ron CastleOn Why "the market" alone can't save local agriculture posted 3 years, 3 months ago 9 Responses

  • A great use for clean office waste paper

    I just got back from New Zealand about a week ago where I visited EcoCover www.ecocover.com in Auckland.

    EcoCover takes clean office waste paper and makes an organically certified biodegradable paper mulch mat that takes the place of plastic film for agricultural, landscaping and gardening mulch.  The product is selling very well in New Zealand.

    Shipping waste paper around the world is not sustainable.  EcoCover is selling the manufacturing plants to make the mat, which is patented in 21 countries.  A plant will manufacture about 160 acres of mat in a year running one shift.  The market for plastic film, which is rising sharply in price as oil prices rise, is over 300,000 acres a year.

    Want to know more?  Visit www.ecocover-washington.com or ecocover-yourstatename.com.

    Cheers,

    Ron in TennesseeOn Taking the wrinkles out of paper recycling posted 3 years, 10 months ago 8 Responses

  • Oh, one other thing

    The good think about being shipped off to Guantanamo?  You have a better chance of getting a real Cuban cigar.

    Cheers.On Gore is transforming into fiery climate evangelist posted 4 years, 5 months ago 11 Responses

  • Good for you, Big Al

    In his previous roll as a tree trunk, fellow Tennessean Al Gore should be worried about immobility and global warming.

    I am glad to see him uprooted and moving around again.  Anyone who has a shot at the leadership ring needs to be doing something.  Good for you, Al, go for it.

    God knows the Bushzis won't.  They are too busy lying, breaking the law and paying off their friends with taxpayer dollars to be worried about global warming.On Gore is transforming into fiery climate evangelist posted 4 years, 5 months ago 11 Responses

  • First choice for a print mag

    Orion is excellent.  www.oriononline.org

    Cheers.

    On Tell us about your favorite eco-magazines made of paper posted 4 years, 9 months ago 53 Responses