<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Don’t throw out the biochar baby with the bathwater]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by jestbill http://www.grist.org/article/biochar-babies-and-bathwater/ Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:22:26 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/biochar-babies-and-bathwater/1 Seems to me that the "baby" here is the planetary atmosphere.  If the goal is to reduce the carbon content of that "baby" it might be irrelevant whether the means to that end is cost effective or even "efficient."

If today were 1/1/1909, it might be OK to quibble over details, but when the poles are melting and permafrost turning to soup, we may need a more aggressive attitude.

]]> Seems to me that the "baby" here is the planetary atmosphere.  If the goal is to reduce the carbon content of that "baby" it might be irrelevant whether the means to that end is cost effective or even "efficient."

If today were 1/1/1909, it might be OK to quibble over details, but when the poles are melting and permafrost turning to soup, we may need a more aggressive attitude.

]]> Comment #2 by Erik Hoffner http://www.grist.org/article/biochar-babies-and-bathwater/ Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:06:29 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/biochar-babies-and-bathwater/2 Amen, Gloria. I am positive that common sense non-industrial applications of biochar will make a difference for people and planet. I look forward to learning more about what you're learning in piloting this technique out West. Erik, Orion Grassroots Network

]]> Amen, Gloria. I am positive that common sense non-industrial applications of biochar will make a difference for people and planet. I look forward to learning more about what you're learning in piloting this technique out West. Erik, Orion Grassroots Network

]]> Comment #3 by teraniageoff http://www.grist.org/article/biochar-babies-and-bathwater/ Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:58:40 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/biochar-babies-and-bathwater/3 Thanks so much for that Gloria,

I'm thinking that you are feeling a lot hotter under the collar, and have seen fit to self-moderate this essay.

It certainly infuriated me.

Mr Cleverdrawers has such a high level of followers in the green left that to get it only half-right on biochar is a tragedy. Half-right is still half-wrong George.

As a biochar researcher and kiln experimenter, his thoughtless jump on the bandwagon of journo-kudos-envy was gut-wrenching. If he can get it this wrong what will the rabid media do?

He's been sucked in by a scam, which bears investigation, a faulty biofuel watch "declaration", supported by a few green groups that should have done their research, and known better. It percolated up to his desk, and the 'circulation' kudos did the rest.

Refutations from Lovelock and Hansen and others are really irrelevant here. When you have blown your credibility this badly, you can get a bump towards the oblivion of being a suspect commentator, or worse, ignored.

 

Thanks again.

Geoff Moxham

Coordinator Project 540

Small Biochar Kilns   

In case you missed the bogus declaration here's my nutshell of it:

 

 

It is the Murph'ys law version of the meme.

From my side I am appalled at the shallow reseach for such awfulising  acrimony.

It is scuttlebutt.

It appears to be written by an ignorant hired gun, totally disconnected from the

essence of the research. Or, in one sentence...

 

It is an obviously contrived, arrogantly awfulizing, intentionally

inflammatory, willfully ignorant, derisive and demeaning, incorrectly

concluded anti-thesis, that draws on innuendo, repeated error and

drawing self-serving conclusions from earlier falsified points of

logic, while it draws on incorrect or selectively reported data, which

is used to skew really conclusively proven findings into a mishmash of

petty whinges at any hope for a despotic and self-aggrandising species

to pull itself out of it's own mudhole.

 

]]> Thanks so much for that Gloria,

I'm thinking that you are feeling a lot hotter under the collar, and have seen fit to self-moderate this essay.

It certainly infuriated me.

Mr Cleverdrawers has such a high level of followers in the green left that to get it only half-right on biochar is a tragedy. Half-right is still half-wrong George.

As a biochar researcher and kiln experimenter, his thoughtless jump on the bandwagon of journo-kudos-envy was gut-wrenching. If he can get it this wrong what will the rabid media do?

He's been sucked in by a scam, which bears investigation, a faulty biofuel watch "declaration", supported by a few green groups that should have done their research, and known better. It percolated up to his desk, and the 'circulation' kudos did the rest.

Refutations from Lovelock and Hansen and others are really irrelevant here. When you have blown your credibility this badly, you can get a bump towards the oblivion of being a suspect commentator, or worse, ignored.

 

Thanks again.

Geoff Moxham

Coordinator Project 540

Small Biochar Kilns   

In case you missed the bogus declaration here's my nutshell of it:

 

 

It is the Murph'ys law version of the meme.

From my side I am appalled at the shallow reseach for such awfulising  acrimony.

It is scuttlebutt.

It appears to be written by an ignorant hired gun, totally disconnected from the

essence of the research. Or, in one sentence...

 

It is an obviously contrived, arrogantly awfulizing, intentionally

inflammatory, willfully ignorant, derisive and demeaning, incorrectly

concluded anti-thesis, that draws on innuendo, repeated error and

drawing self-serving conclusions from earlier falsified points of

logic, while it draws on incorrect or selectively reported data, which

is used to skew really conclusively proven findings into a mishmash of

petty whinges at any hope for a despotic and self-aggrandising species

to pull itself out of it's own mudhole.

 

]]> Comment #4 by Erik Hoffner http://www.grist.org/article/biochar-babies-and-bathwater/ Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:07:26 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/biochar-babies-and-bathwater/4 Thanks for this, Gloria.

I just heard about a new design for a small cookstove being developed for people all over the world who use wood/biomass to cook with, one that cuts down on the smoke and therefore indoor air pollution/health issues and planet warming soot, but which also produces small amounts of biochar to improve the owner's soils with.

Sounds like a real win-win there.


Erik, Orion Grassroots Network


]]> Thanks for this, Gloria.

I just heard about a new design for a small cookstove being developed for people all over the world who use wood/biomass to cook with, one that cuts down on the smoke and therefore indoor air pollution/health issues and planet warming soot, but which also produces small amounts of biochar to improve the owner's soils with.

Sounds like a real win-win there.


Erik, Orion Grassroots Network


]]>