Educating Ourselves
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I've seen a lot of optimism and excitement here and that's heartening. I'm glad to see that concern for the environment has finally taken root. But in the midst of all of this interest, I'd like to remind everyone to keep a level head.

Politics and fervor can make too much of a good thing. Let's keep ourselves from becoming zealots by learning the whole story. We need to be educating ourselves so that we are armed with knowledge that WE gather instead of what the media delivers.

That said, I propose that we begin to gather resources that vary widely in range. By this, I mean sources that may have different angles than Al Gore. I'm posting one below to kick it off with a brief dilemma and a resource to get everyone thinking in new directions.

There has been a massive movement to sign the international treaty for a greener world. I love this idea. But the U.S. government is balking. The people in Washington are largely good people trying to do a good thing by our country.

We, as a nation, live on energy. We could not sustain our lifestyles without it. That means we need energy plants. This is where we run into problems. Solar panels are great, however their manufacture consumes so much fossil fuel that one panel can't economically make its worth back in energy saved.

According to Senator Pete Domenici's book "A Brighter Tomorrow," nuclear power plants are currently the only realistic way to provide America with its life blood without sullying its skies. It's an interesting read and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more.

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ok BUT
By sean, May 7, 2008 at 12:12:01 PM ET
Hey I totally agree with you about gathering information into an acessable data base that is the best idea I've heard here yet. However Nukes.... sorry dude lost me but i have a counter proposal.... lets look at hydrogen fuel cells on a larger level. I recently found out that alge can be induced to produce it as part of their respiration process and still would produce oxygen and eat carbon....(I think the article was in the last issue of Discover magizine) But anyway, If you do decide to go foward with that informational database let me know and count me in I'm all for it.

Ps I will try to wade through that book... after all Opposing ideas encourage creative thinking.

world without end

sean
Re: ok BUT
By Earth Owl, May 8, 2008 at 7:36:09 PM ET
I agree that nuclear power is kind of scary. After all, look at what a handful of determined individuals managed with a couple of planes and a couple of buildings. I'm not big about putting that kind of opportunity on our soil. But I do think that Domenici's got some good points in his book that we should be looking at.

As for the database, I don't have the means to do it. I'm not very good with web programming. Is anyone else capable? Maybe a Wiki sort of deal where anyone can input books and articles?
Re: ok BUT
By Unknown user, Jul 11, 2008 at 10:07:27 PM ET
Very poor comparison, and forgive me but very hysterical too. Here's why: There are thousands of airplanes in the air at any given moment, yet just two planes were flown into buildings and never once before then, and not since. We have had nuclear power in this country for over 50 years, yet never once has anyone managed to use it against us. Not only that but I dare to find ONE person who has been killed as a result of commercial nuclear power in this country. How has France managed to get over 80% of its energy from nuclear without suffering the fate you imply? There are over 100 nuclear plants in this country and over 400 around the world, yet where is the problem you suggest?