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Green Revolution

This past year we have seen society, government, and business become more aware and involved in the Green Revolution. This phenomenon is an interesting one because it takes place within a presidential administration towards the beginning was for support of big oil and only in recent years has become more outspoken about energy research, especially biofuels. The support for biofuels is not at all that surprising given the politics and subsidies behind much of the US agriculture industry, however. I believe there are several major factors driving this Green Revolution. One, I think that society is becoming more aware of the consequences of our consumption and industry on the environment and society is starting to worry that it is having a negative effect on the Earth. Two, I think that business are seeing this increasing market that is interested in doing something or feel like it is doing something to benefit the environment, so it is thus responding to that demand through production and advertising. And three, I believe governments around the world are becoming increasingly worried about the consequences of a major breakdown of the energy industry as much of the world is powered by oil and much of the oil is owned or located in hostile or inaccessible environments, whether that be unstable countries or economically infeasible geologic locations.

The third one of the list is the hardest to unveil. The first two on the list, the social and industry awareness of the issue, are obvious because we run into both everyday. Government is something, at least in the US, that we don't have to be involved in on a daily basis. Many people also are not very interested in understanding the difficult geopolitical dynamics of the world and all the issues that are talked about in the news everyday because people have "their own problems." This isn't to say that many people don't have a good reason for watching the news or trying to follow the complexties of the energy industry in the framework of a harsh foreign relations environment. Many people have jobs, sometimes two, that require them to expend so much of their own mental energy that paying attention to the news is just too much. The other major reason I believe is behind the uninformed and uninvolved participation in this is is that many people just don't care.

This uncaring is exactly at the interface of the government and the public. Demand that our politicians talk about the energy issue more and more is not futile. Many believe that they have no influence on politics and shaping the leadership and decisions our country makes. This persistance of the environmental and renewable energy movement and the plain facts of the situation have come together to show that public persistance on important issues can have serious consequences in the way our great democracy works. Go out and demand greater things from yourself, your communities and your politicians, and you'll make the world a better place.

Persian Links

Helpful Persian Links:

Dictionary: Farsi123

Lessons: EasyPersian.com
Rosetta Stone (available free with KCLS membership)

Popular Wesbites for Articles, Audio, and Videos:
BBC.com: Persian
RadioFarda
Bebin TV

Summer and Fall

It has been a long time since I've written a post for this blog. The main reason for my neglect is that I was working this past summer. Also, school has just started and I have a major exam coming up that needs extra attention.

It looks like things are changing on the horizon. Globalization and fair trade are becoming hotter issues. Global warming and alternative fuel sources are being talked about and researched more and more. There seems to be a new fight brewing between those who believe in capitalism and those who believe in a hybrid socialism-capitalism society. The Iraq war is being criticized more and more now that the congress is ruled by democrats. And let's not forget that the 2008 elections are right around the corner.

I've been struggling lately with languages. I've wanted to study languages for a long time and I've tried several, but I don't seem to keep the motivation for keeping them up. I think the major reason for this is that since I'm not travelling or actively involved in the communities that speak these languages, I cannot maintain what I have learned. I'm starting to realize that if I want to learn a language, I'm going to have to become more involved in the communities that speak the language.

Well, I have much work to do, so I must go for now. I hope to be back soon!

Life in General

I've noticed lately that this spring has been one of the busiest springs on record. I am not sure why. Everyone seems to be in a rush to do everything they can do, all right now. I've wondered whether people sense something happening on a larger scale. Is it the problems with Iraq and the War on Terror? Is it wearing on all of us. I wonder if all the issues going on with Iraq are starting to have a real affect at home, here in the U.S. Are people preparing for some economic crisis? Are people afraid that we don't have much time? Why? Academics are wearing down on all of us in my department and I wonder whether it is a larger problem. Other people I talk to seem to be saying that their spring is insane too.

I haven't written on this blog for a while because I've been so overwhelmed with work it's been hard to find the time to sit down and think through some of the things that are going on in this world right now. One of the goals of this blog was to talk about energy security and oil, so I would like to talk a little about this.

It seems that many people in the U.S. and elsewhere don't realize the vast reserves of tar sands and oil shale that exist in North America, supposedly far more than regular old oil summed up from all over the world. The huge problem with all of this however is the ability to extract the resource economically. It take quite a bit of energy to extract the raw resource into a useable form. I read somewhere a good analogy. Someone said that there is far more gold on the ocean floors than currently exists today, but getting all of it would be far more costly than the value of it. This doesn't mean that there isn't hope, however. I think that many of the big energy companies are starting to realize that finding a way to extract this resource could mean company security and profits for many years to come.

Anyways, I could rant on forever, but I'm tired and it's bedtime. I miss my babe...

Countdown

Interesting Article on Climate Change

I found an interesting article on the International Herald Tribune website that I thought I would share with you:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/28/opinion/edlieven.php