Re: [nukkad] SEPTEMBER 22nd 2006

[Maloy <>]

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As long as the auto and oil industry lobbies remain powerful in the USA, 
adequate amount of funding in alternative energy research and the political 
thrust would not be forthcoming.
  With a population of just about 4% of the world, the USA creates more than 
25% of the world's pollution and carbon emissions - which is greater than that 
of Japan, China and India combined. And right from Rio to Kyoto environmental 
summits, USA has always been the only country to water down emission standards 
and create bottlenecks for environment-friendly policies.
   
  Led by New York and California, some ten states are now waging a lawsuit 
against the US federal govt. of Bush against diluting emission standards for 
gas guzzling SUVs, trucks and minivans. Whether this state activism will lead 
to any political will on the part of Bush remains to be seen.
   
  >BTW, just read a news report about how Venezuela has the cheapest
gasoline in the world - cheaper than mineral water. A great example of
short-term populist thinking without thinking about long-term
consequences.
   
  Nowhere is this short-term populism more evident than the US, which has 
allowed the auto and oil lobbies led by GM and Shell to build the huge network 
of roads with countless one-driver SUVs and trucks running on gas cheaper than 
water without any transit system to speak of. US lawmakers were reported to be 
considering sending a $100 bill to taxpayers to offset increasing gas prices. 
Gas in the USA is cheaper than  in developing countries like India or 
Venezuela. Another instance of the hegemony and blinkered approach of the 
United States to the state of the world.
   
  However, as the US is coming to terms with the after-effects of its 
opportunistic misadventures with the Taliban and other autocratic regimes 
worldwide in its "war on terror", where it is increasingly finidng itself 
alone,  being the largest consumer of energy in the world, it will surely come 
to a head sometime with the energy crisis caused by depletion of fossil fuel. 
   
  As long as there is no technical breakthrough, nuclear power seems to be the 
only long-term feasible power source for mankind. France has shown the way with 
almost 80% of its energy generated from nuclear plants. The earlier the US top 
brass realize this, the better it is for the world. While stopping 'rogue 
states' like Iran or North Korea may still be within its agenda, driven by a 
lobby of US based multinational companies exporting nuclear power generation 
technology may fit well in its "new world economic order". 

                
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