Comments rwkenn has made

Nanoparticles

While this article is quite interesting I think we should also have great concern for the nanoparticles which are being released into the air by, among other things, incinerators, which are generally located close to cities.

Two Italian scientists, Antonietta Gatti and Stefano Montanari, have been studying the health effects of nanoparticles since 1999 and the results are, at the least, alarming.  In fact Dr. Montanari has been spearheading attempts to inform the public of these effects and has been traveling all over Italy denouncing same.  Despite this the political cast in Italy sees incinerators as a solution to the growing problem of refuse (see naples) and are pushing for their construction all over the country, claiming that the energy produced from incinerating trash is a form of renewable energy.  The real reason behind this push for more incinerators is high profits and kickbacks.

It would appear to me that the research these scientists have done could also assist in understanding the effects of nanotubes on workers??????On Lessons from the asbestos crisis should guide the response to nanotechnology, but will they? posted 1 year, 6 months ago 6 Responses

The holed bucket

I found both the interview and comments all quite interesting, but believe to a certain extent that the main point of the problem is being overlooked, repeat to a certain extent.

In my humble opinion it would appear that conservation should be the first step.  As stated by one of my favorite authors Maurizio Pallante in his book "Un futuro senza Luce?" "A future without light" (yes I live abroad and unfortunately this book has not been translated into English):

Quote

I have a holed bucket and am trying to fill it with water from a bottle, but to no avail.  What can I do?

a) replace the bottle with a two-liter bottle
b) replace the bottle with a cup
c) patch the holes in the bucket so that afterwards all I need is a cup to fill it.

Unquote

In a nut shell, we have to stop wasting before we will be able to address our energy needs, if not all of our efforts are literally thrown out of the window.  Instead of patching the holes in the bucket the experts concentrate all of their efforts and argue about which source is better suitable to fill the bucket.

If we are really determined to solve our energy problems then we must first build houses, buildings, cars, etc. that are energy efficient.  We must then produce energy from renewable sources (without putting pressure on the world food supply as is happening with ethanol and the so called "no food" agriculture) such as wind, solar, tides, geothermal, etc.

Of course, I also understand that these topics are not so attractive during an election campaign.

Hopefully Obama will have the chance to lead our wonderful country and people into the future!!On Obama energy adviser Jason Grumet talks climate, coal, and transportation policy posted 1 year, 6 months ago 11 Responses