Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for June 20, 2005

Running on What?

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Just last month the PM announced the appointment of a taskforce to “examine the latest scientific evidence on the impacts of ethanol and other biofuel use on human health, environmental outcomes and automotive operations” (quote not at above link).

Is Australia lagging behind the rest of the world in promotion and use of alternative fuels?

New York Times Columnist Thomas Friedman suggests that the answer to the US’s dependence on oil imports is powering cars with electricity and ethanol.

Friedman suggests that, “It costs only about $100 a car to make it flex-fuel ready. Brazil hopes to have all its new cars flex-fuel ready by 2008. …if you combined a plug-in hybrid system with a flex-fuel system that burns 80 percent alcohol and 20 percent gasoline, you could end up stretching each gallon of gasoline up to 500 miles.”

With grain a source of ethanol, could our wheat belt produce the energy to power Australia’s cars?

WA grain grower and 2003 Nuffield Scholar, Aaron Edmonds, has suggested that wheat will not be profitable in the future because of the vast amounts of energy required for production – referring to the energy required to produce nitrogenous fertilisers.

Edmonds has written (not at above link) that, “Given this staunch illogical opposition to transgenic crops by a vocal minority and the huge emerging problem of expensive fossil fuels, it is not surprising to hear some amongst the grains industry proclaim that the whole (GM) argument will be won over the issue of energy. After all, you don’t eat diesel. The US soybean industry, over 80% GM, is processing more and more oil to produce biodiesel. New GM soybean varieties are being bred to improve oil qualities to better fuel performance. Government mandates are being set and it is likely that as the crude oil situation unfolds, crop values will be dramatically increased if they can help satisfy our insatiable demand for energy.”

I might make this Part 4 of my ‘GM Food Crops’posts. Part 3 was posted on 14th June.

End of an Era

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The 170-year tradition of grazing cattle in Victoria’s high country is over according to the Victorian Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis. In a press release last Friday he said, “In one fell swoop, the Bracks Government this afternoon successfully displaced generations of mountain cattlemen and their families, simultaneously erasing an essential part of Australia’s heritage.”

The day before, on Thursday 16th June, I received the following poem from Duane L Langley.

It was dark and cool in the vast of night when God decided now to strike
From within the dense and massive clouds he threw his multiple lightening pike
It hit the ground with blinding speed and sought the tinder bush
The searing heat completed it’s feat and the flames headed North with a push

The stockman astride his well worn saddle saw this display of might
The sparks they flew from his horse’s shoe as he pounded down through the night
He knew at once that he must ride hard to his mates at camp below
At the camp he reined in hard and fast, with “fire!” being his only bellow

The stockmen knew what they had to do as they climbed their mountain steeds
They raced as a group on back to the coop where the cattle had had their last feed
Two thousand head were soon being led to a two mile wide burnt scree
For it was hear that the land had been burnt as a plan for needs be the animals can flee

With the smoke and the sparks filling the air from the South the cattle were again on the move
For the flames were high on the ever glowing sky, but the cattlemen were now in a groove
They cracked their whips with lightening speed and drove their charges to flee
By mornings light by way of their flight they were all in the lea of the scree

For here the grass was green and lush and fire was stopped in it’s tracks
The cattle were safe and horses relieved as the mountain men alighted their backs
All around wildlife roamed, safe from the wild red steer
Thanks to man and his managing hand, the fire was no longer a fear

2003 came another lightening spree, but the cattlemen were no where to be found
The wildlife headed again to the scree where safety and sanctuary abound
But a sign here stood from a greenie hood that lambasted the Mountain man caste
Wilderness area is now proclaimed for this spot so damaged in the past

As the animals read with a feeling of dread, the sign from modern man
They mourned the day that had passed their way, of the man with the management plan
They hunkered down, too tired to hop, knowing that all was lost
Their last thoughts as they burnt to death, where’s the Mountain man, oh! what cost