Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/473/2037
From The Socialist newspaper, 7 February 2007
Bush's bio-fuel bull
IN HIS state of the union speech, US president George Bush outlined a ten-year strategy for tacking climate change. However, there was not a scintilla of embarrassment from the oil man, having spent most of his time in the White House denying any causal link between burning fossil fuels and climate change.
The key to Bush's plan is to reduce US petrol use by 20% by 2017, substituting corn-based biofuels. This will still result in greenhouse gas emissions but supporters of biofuels say that it's carbon neutral because growing the plants acts as a carbon sink.
However, the drive for profits from biofuels is leading to a land-grab, pushing agribusiness deeper into rainforests and swallowing up farmland much needed for food.
Last week over 75,000 people on low incomes marched through Mexico City angry at the doubling of tortilla prices. The price of this basic Mexican staple, made from maize, has soared as US exports of corn to Mexico have declined. This is because 20% of US corn production is now ringfenced to produce biofuels.
Biofuels could play a valuable role as part of a socialist policy, but as New Scientist pointed out: "Right now, the potential gains from biofuels lie mainly in corporate balance sheets. Perhaps Bush's policy hasn't changed that much after all."
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 7 February 2007:
Merseyside Campaign for a new workers' party
Website of the Campaign for a New Workers' Party
Civil servants' strike
Interview with Mark Serwotka: "This is just the beginning of the campaign"
Welsh strikers close down Assembly
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Anger at union leaders' timidity
Manchester nurses strike against health cuts
Environment
Change the system not the climate!
Socialist Party news and analysis
Has Manchester struck it lucky?
Socialist Party campaigns
Camden council blames cuts on 'spending gap'
Don't privatise social housing!
Tenants pay when things go wrong
Coventry - a victory for determination
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Rising anger and discontent in Europe
International socialist news and analysis
Darfur - another failure of Western 'conflict resolution'
Sri Lanka: Keep up the protests
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
The writing on the Chinese wall
Workplace news
Stop the Valentine's Day pay massacre !
Striking back at the privateers
Corus deal threatens new cost-cutting
Home | The Socialist 7 February 2007 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
