Chavez calls ethanol production 'crime' Sat Apr 26, 10:12 PM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080427/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_ethano...
CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says a U.S. push to boost ethanol production during a world food crisis is a "crime."
The socialist leader says he is concerned that so much U.S.-produced corn could be used to make biofuel, instead of feeding the world's poor.
Chavez said Saturday that the corn needed to fill an average car with ethanol would be enough to feed seven people for a year.
Venezuela has pledged to donate more than 350 metric tons (385 U.S. tons) of food to Haiti, where soaring food prices provoked deadly riots earlier this month.
By sloopskipper on Apr 27, 2008, 06:38 in Politics & the war.
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 06:41: That's rich!
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Medellin Traveler says on Apr 27, 2008, 06:55: He does have a point. "Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:05: I agree. Not only the impact and costs of the Worldwide food supply, but also the fact that the energy output of ethanol is exceeded by the energy expended in the production..
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Medellin Traveler says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:07: They need to reverse this ASAP! "Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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slguy says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:12: much as it pains me to say it, el payaso is correct for once. dumping all that low-yield corn into new ethanol plants in the farm belt is simply stupid - except for the Cargills of the world. Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Medellin Traveler says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:15:
"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:17: Sure SL, with less impact on the food supply/costs. But then Cargill & Co. (and the invested legislators) would miss out on the profits.
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:18: RE: Chavez calls ethanol production 'crime' The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:22: But he is only talking about corn, and the U.S.;o), of course, not his wanna-be buddies to the south.
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slguy says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:25: "I hope the President of Argentina and Brazil do not know about this latest accusation because Argentina and Brazil use ethanol." Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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OneHappyBoy says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:31: ok... on one hand he is always threatening to turn off the oil spigot to the US, (where the majority of his oil exports go), and on the other hand, he bitches because the US is looking for ways to be energy independent? Hmmm..... Maybe, instead of bitching, Chavez should go out and plant a row of corn for Haiti instead of building his 21st century socialist county? Fuck Chavez- He's a crazy man!!!
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:33: He threatens, but there are very few places he can go with his heavy, dirty, crude. If he stops shipping to the U.S., Venezuela will quickly grind to a halt.
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:37: A barrel of oil is 42 gallons.
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Tinto (Moderator) says on Apr 27, 2008, 07:45: Chavez used (and mis-used) the word "crime" because his hero Fidel wrote a newspaper editorial a few months back with the same theme. And Fidel was probably inspired by the moron at the U.N. who used it way back in October. Words matter and people with a soapbox should be careful -- pretty soon the most trivial thing is going to be a "crime against humanity" just like killing three people is now a "genocide."
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Ekdog says on Apr 27, 2008, 08:16: Say what you will about Chávez, but he's right on this issue. Making corn into fuel makes no sense at all.
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Ekdog says on Apr 27, 2008, 08:26: at Monpirri: I don't know what kind of ethanol Argentina is producing, but Brazil makes its fuel from sugarcane, which is much more efficient than making it from corn:
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Tomacoma says on Apr 27, 2008, 10:21: ...the way I understand it is that the type of corn most often produced in the US is corn high in complex sugars grown solely to produce high fructose corn syrup that goes into just about everything most Americans gorge themselves on. this type of corn is inedible and unpalatable and of no use as grain for basic sustinance. so, the idea that the US has recently changed it production...ie. Chavez's argument ...is a fallacy. I'am livin' easy, eatin' poke chops greasy! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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peteyw says on Apr 27, 2008, 10:22: Sugar should go towards energy-producing products and corn should be used as food or as food for food (feeding steers for example).
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Tomacoma says on Apr 27, 2008, 10:38: I agree it's bad for the body, but it is also short sighted and not sustainable as a solution to fuel needs. first, it puts pressure on food producing capacitys. Second, it promotes the destruction of remaining forested areas of the world to meet growing demand which has it's own set of problems . we can't prostitute the remaining areas that are capable (climate, rainfall,etc.) of producing the biomass needed for fuel. I'am livin' easy, eatin' poke chops greasy! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Tomacoma says on Apr 27, 2008, 10:42: there are new techniques being developed to extract fuel from biomass that is already considered waste or byproducts like wood chips or wheat husks but were not quite there yet. I'am livin' easy, eatin' poke chops greasy! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Tinto (Moderator) says on Apr 27, 2008, 11:04: Tomacoma, U.S. No. 2 yellow dent corn - all 12 billion bushels per year of it - goes into animal feed, corn syrup products and ethanol, there's no type X grown only for animals, type Y for corn syrup and type Z for ethanol.
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Tomacoma says on Apr 27, 2008, 11:43: Tinto, would it be safe to assume subsidies are in place only for the No. 2 yellow dent corn? I'am livin' easy, eatin' poke chops greasy! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Tinto (Moderator) says on Apr 27, 2008, 12:32: Tomacoma, I believe that is a correct statement. The food grade corn (for the dry milling process) trades at quite a premium to the "pig feed" corn and is often grown under contract for companies like Frito Lay. As a taxpayer, the existing subsidies for No. 2 corn in a high price environment are bad enough, I'd hate to think they extend even further.
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 12:44: Ekdog, " at Monpirri: I don't know what kind of ethanol Argentina is producing, but Brazil makes its fuel from sugarcane, which is much more efficient than making it from corn: " The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 12:57: "Patzek's ethanol critique began during a freshman seminar he taught in which he and his students calculated the energy balance of the biofuel. Taking into account the energy required to grow the corn and convert it into ethanol, they determined that burning the biofuel as a gasoline additive actually results in a net energy loss of 65 percent. Later, Patzek says he realized the loss is much more than that even."
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Medellin Traveler says on Apr 27, 2008, 13:20: I love how much you guys know about corn :O) "Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Tinto (Moderator) says on Apr 27, 2008, 13:31: Sloopskipper - I think everyone agrees that ethanol produces less BTUs than gasoline, and thus less miles per gallon, but there's a mini-industry out there producing competing claims of just how less efficient corn-based ethanol is. Twenty years ago I don't think anyone would argue that a gallon of corn-based ethanol in the US was a net energy user, but the industry was tiny then and it was supplied with a lot of junk corn (wet, moldy, infested corn unfit for animals) that otherwise would have been landfilled or composted. Things are different now - there is more infrastructure (but not anywhere near the petroleum infrastructure) and the plants are more efficient due to economies of scale, better production processes and better science/digesting enzymes. Some studies today show corn-based ethanol a net provider of energy, but not by much and you have to include the animal feed value of the by-products. Advocates will say with more rail cars and pipelines and better enzymes in the future, corn ethanol will be strongly in the "positive" category. Maybe, but I haven't seen any research that says the industry can stand on its own anytime soon absent the subsidies. Ah well, some analysts say we ought to include $10 to $50 billion a year that we spend keeping Middle East sea lanes open - which benefits Asia, India and Europe more than it does the US - when doing comparisons of "fully costed" liquid energy. So the debate goes on...
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Rikito says on Apr 27, 2008, 13:46: thanks to all of you for the education...it helps the perspective It is not life that matters, but the journey. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 13:51: Tinto, that article is somewhat dated. It is tough to get your arms around all the issues and find a single reliable, unbiased, source.
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 13:54: And in case you guys do not know, in Colombia or at least in Barranquilla, again I was there in December/January. I had a taxi driver who gave me the scariest moment of my life. The driver claimed that he was running out of gas so he told me we needed first to stop by the closest fuel station. We traveled several miles and we passed several service stations! And he did not stop at any of them; instead he told me that he knew a good station where he usually buys the fuel and that he was a good customer of that service station. About two blocks away from the final destination, I said to myself I’m OUT here, so I politely told the driver drop me off at the nearest corner, the taxi driver who was always calm and friendly told me that we were less than a block away. The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 13:55: Rover Group Promotional Video 1996 The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Papi de Alejo says on Apr 27, 2008, 13:57: In January, I also took a taxi from Barranquilla to Santa Marta and had to stop on the way for fuel. I was not alone, so it didn't seem extremely dangerous to exit the car to have the fuel injected. I guess it's better to be outside of the car if something untowards happened that to be inside trying to flee. PdA 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 13:59: A brother-in-law was using that also, in a Ford Escort (or Taunus), in Holland, maybe 20 years ago. But I think he had to switch a valve in the trunk (which was mostly filled with the gas cylinder).
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 14:02: Yeap, they are very cautious about how dangerous it can be. The had a safety sign Do Not Smoke and yes we were outside waiting. The taxi driver was talking to his friends and I was watching with great interest the "New" of course new to me how to 'pump' propane gas into the engine. The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 14:32: And in case you guys do not know, well I do not know if it is true or not, so I leave this one up to your expertise. The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 15:07: That guy appeared on panamaforum a few weeks ago and wants to set up shop in Panamá to peddle that "snake-oil" (perhaps to avoid U.S. authorities).
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 15:18: It seems that hydrogen is a perfectly clean (water is the only thing left), and viable fuel, and I imagine fuel cells are safe.
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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 27, 2008, 17:18: Actually, Hidrogen combustion (fuel cells) produces hot water (steam) which is a greenhouse gas ! Not so good. Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 27, 2008, 17:59: Steam is not a greenhouse gas, but only water vapor.
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 18:11: By the way, water can be molecularly altered to produce a better ratio. Do we have a scientist or physics on the house? The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 27, 2008, 19:05: Steam (which is water vapour) is a green house gas. Water has a great capacity to store heat (traps heat) that´s why is a greenhouse gas Sloop. Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 19:38: I duno. I just know soon that I will be selling water. The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 27, 2008, 19:57: souds like a Chiste Pastuso to me Monpi... Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Tomacoma says on Apr 27, 2008, 20:08: Hah!....that's classic...monpirri.. I'am livin' easy, eatin' poke chops greasy! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Monpirri says on Apr 27, 2008, 20:12: Jorgediaz and Tomacoma if you are guys are interested I can put you down on my customer list. The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 27, 2008, 20:20: well, we a shitload of rain this weekend in Bucaramanga... need a cheap supplier? Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Tomacoma says on Apr 27, 2008, 20:33: I gotta see this...fire away! I'am livin' easy, eatin' poke chops greasy! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Robert Jorge says on Apr 27, 2008, 20:46: Ethanol gleaned from distilling corn is one of the most inefficient ways of making fuel. Chavez is spot on. Ethanol is STUPID. It actually takes more than a gallon of petroleum to produce a gallon of ethanol. He who farts in church, sits in his own pew. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Robert Jorge says on Apr 27, 2008, 20:47: The ethanol made from corn in Kentucky and Tennessee is pretty tasty though. Maker's or Jack anyone? He who farts in church, sits in his own pew. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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sloopskipper says on Apr 28, 2008, 02:56: jorgegdiaz says on Sunday April 27th, 2008 17:18:
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Albatross says on Apr 28, 2008, 04:28: Here's an idea: people could stop spewing out children and walk more. “Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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tomtom33 says on Apr 28, 2008, 04:32: I think that the western world, at least, has the children part nailed.
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Albatross says on Apr 28, 2008, 04:40: Hydrogen is, in theory, the perfect fuel... Hydrogen combusted with Oxygen yields energy and water (H2O). “Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Albatross says on Apr 28, 2008, 04:52: P.S. Fuel Cells do not combust Hydrogen, but combine Hydrogen and Oxygen to produce electricity. “Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 28, 2008, 05:41: Sloop, a heat exchanger could be a solution for a Hydrogen-powered-car. However, it would add more cost to the car. But it`s a very valid solution. Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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morphus says on Apr 28, 2008, 05:47: If you give food to poor people, it just creates a bigger problem later on.
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lpdiver says on Apr 28, 2008, 07:44: Well why not plant and harvest rape seed oil? Biodiesel is the way to go! "cook some rice!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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morphus says on Apr 28, 2008, 07:57: They better think of something quick. When the oil reserves run out, the whole world is going to starve. specially in the cities. There will be no way to produce so much food. People will have to resort to cannibalism.
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lpdiver says on Apr 28, 2008, 08:02: There is no shortage of oil. There are enough known reserves to last two hundred years at current consumption rates. "cook some rice!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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morphus says on Apr 28, 2008, 08:04: 200 years? Thats the first time I heard that. I keep hearing about 30 years.
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lpdiver says on Apr 28, 2008, 08:06: It all a part of a political agenda. "cook some rice!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 28, 2008, 11:11: Esanch, how deep those reservoirs? Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Monpirri says on Jun 17, 2008, 10:15: Honda rolls out new zero-emission car The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Monpirri says on Jun 17, 2008, 10:19: Here is one solution to the current sky hight gasoline prices... "Zero emissions, great mileage. The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 17, 2008, 10:44: Here there are specifications: Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 17, 2008, 10:49: Monpi, Hydrogen cars are a sofism. The by product of hidrogen cells is steam which is a greenhouse gas (stores heat) Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!! 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Monpirri says on Jun 17, 2008, 11:41: Jorgegdiaz, I hear you. The life spam of a taste bud is ten days 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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lpdiver says on Jun 17, 2008, 14:24: Des boots are made for walking... "cook some rice!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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