The Reality Of 'Biofuels'

international | environment | other press Tuesday July 24, 2007 15:37 by wolfie

The real cost of biofuels on the environment and workers

Biofuels have been touted as the way to go facing fossil fuel shortages and global warming.The reality is that they are leading to higher food prices for the worlds poor and to degradation of the environment.

Biofuels are big in Brazil. The country aims to become a world leader in ethanol production mainly through processing sugar cane. Throughout the world large acreages of rainforest are being cleared to plant palm oil plantations. The myth that this will aid in the fight against global warming is implicit in the term 'biofuel' Brazilian union members prefer the term 'agrofuel'. In reality more CO2 is released clearing the rainforest and fertilizing the soil than is saved by using the fuel.

The effect on working conditions is equally horrendous. The large areas of monocultures are owned by landlords and global corporations. The related article shows how even conservative politicians in Brazil have likened the new situation to that pertaining 500 years ago.

The problem for Western consumers tempted to buy biofuel for 'green' reasons is that they will not be able to tell at the pumps where the fuel came from.