Political Points for Ethanol Support

Ethanol has gained enough importance and support throughout the United States to be an important campaigning tool for politicians. With rising gas prices, an increasing concern for the environment, and the good times it is bringing for farmers, some areas of the country wouldn't be too happy about an anti-ethanol politician..

"It's absolutely important to support that industry when campaigning here, in a state where a large chunk of our economy is based on corn," Erin Seidler, spokeswoman for the Iowa Democratic Party, said. UPI

"Politicians from both sides of the aisle and across the whole spectrum realize what we face in terms of an energy crisis," Matt Hartwig, spokesman for EthanolRFA, told UPI.

Ethanol plants are popping up all over the place and ethanol investing is now a hot topic in all the business media. Politicians are all talking about ethanol too, but has the change been because it is a positive step for the environment? Or is it because there is political and/or financial gain to be made from the industry?
>> Ethanol Investing, Political News

Pope Benedict XVI on the Environment

I'm surprised that religion hasn't embraced the environmental movement more in recent times, but Pope Benedict is now talking about it. From his summer villa just outside Rome, the Pope said "In dialogue with Christians of various churches, we need to commit ourselves to caring for the created world, without squandering its resources, and sharing them in a cooperative way."
He is referring to the poor just as much as the environment, which is fine, but I think it's an issue that is above rich or poor. It's an issue that every living thing, including the earth itself has to deal with.
It's great to see such a powerful organization working together to create positive change though. It's almost as exciting as Wal Mart going green!. ;-)

Pope warns against environmental damage, says it burdens world's poor
The pope said the created world was a great gift of God but is presently "exposed to serious risks by life choices and lifestyles that can degrade it. In particular, environmental degradation makes poor people's existence intolerable," he said. CNS
>> Environmental News, Climate Change

Tesla Motors Electric Car

The electric car manufacturer, Tesla Motors has completely sold out the "Signature One Hundred" series of limited edition sports cars after just three weeks.
The famous actor George Clooney was one of the lucky ones to order one of the Tesla electric cars.
The Telsa electric car can drive for up to 250 miles before it needs recharging and reaches 60 mile per hour in just 4 seconds.

Tesla electric car sells out
"Each customer made a $100,000 deposit to join the Signature One Hundred Club and reserve their ”Signature One Hundred“ special edition Tesla Roadster. The ”Signature One Hundred“ edition includes a commemorative plaque in the cockpit personalized for the customer and signed by the company’s principals, a special Signature One Hundred trim package and all available options, including a state-of-the-art navigation system and a hard top. Deliveries of the Tesla Roadster are expected to begin in mid-2007." Composites World
>> Car News

Hydrogen Highway in Norway

The forward thinking European country of Norway has opened its first hydrogen fueling station for vehicles. A project called HyNor plans to fuel vehicles with hydrogen from the capital of Norway, Oslo, to the port of Stavanger in the west of Norway.
HyNor hopes to have more than enough fueling stations along the 580 kilometer journey by 2009.

According to the HyNor website, the plan is..
"A unique Norwegian joint industry initiative to demonstrate real life implementation of hydrogen energy infrastructure along a route of 580 kilometers from Oslo to Stavanger during the years 2005 to 2008. The project comprises all steps required to develop a hydrogen infrastructure and includes various hydrogen production technologies and uses of hydrogen, in all cases with an adaptation to local conditions."
>> Alternative Fuels

Lights Out Hong Kong

Concerned citizens of the polluted city of Hong Kong (what major city isn't polluted though?) are trying to do something about the issue with a new initiative called Lights Out Hong Kong. The group is working hard to get businesses, offices, and individuals to turn their lights out for 3 just 3 minutes on the 8th of August, at 8pm.

The organizer of the event, Alastair Robins says "This is to tell the government that the community wants a strong stance on eliminating pollution.. We are not anti-government.. this is the only government we have, and we need to work together."
>> Environmental, Energy