> From: John Hudson <OM4T@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>
>>> From: Rob Harrison <robhar54@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>
>>> Amory Lovins runs the Rocky Mountain Institute. <http://rmi.org/>.
>>> He's a brilliant thinker.
>>
>> ... for someone who thinks hydrogen is going to solve our energy
>> problems.
>
> http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11374623
"His [Malthus's] ideas, especially his later ones, were arguably an
accurate description of pre-industrial societies, which teetered on a
precarious balance between empty and full stomachs. But the industrial
revolution, which had already begun in Britain, was transforming the
long-term outlook for economic growth. Economies were starting to
expand faster than their populations, bringing about a sustained
improvement in living standards."
The Economist here mistakes "industrial societies" for "fossil-fuel
societies." They share the conceit with many others that somehow,
technology absolves humanity from very basic laws of nature, such as
those regarding trophic exchanges. We now consume about 50% more
energy than is collected by all the plants in North America, thanks to
ancient sunlight recovered from fossil fuel.
Malthus wasn't wrong; he was simply off by a couple hundred years.
Of course, a miracle may occur, and something will come around to
replace fossil fuel before it runs out. But lacking some miracle like
cold fusion, the party is coming to an end, I'm afraid.
:::: Modern agriculture is the use of land to convert petroleum into
food. Without petroleum we will not be able to feed the global
population. -- Robert L. Hickerson ::::
:::: Jan Steinman <http://www.VeggieVanGogh.com> ::::
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