Ethics of Biofuel Production

Biofuel production is the processing of "fuel," energy for which has etiology in biological carbon fixation. Sources of biofuel are mostly starch crops such as sugarcane or corn, and cellulose biomass derived from trees and grasses. Biofuel production via these routes yields ethanol as the principle source of energy. The ethanol is blended with gasoline (fossil fuel) to stretch out fuel reserves.

According to the Canadian Red Cross (2011), almost 1,000,000,000 people go to bed hungry every night. In a world with starving men, women and children, who mostly die from hunger, is biofuel production ethical?

This question has been raised in multiple online forums filled mostly with scientists and engineers. Although the topic was introduced clearly, several people converged by demanding a "definition" of ethics. Definition of ethics? Suggested was a review of the collective works of world philosophers dating back to the time of ancient Greece.

Argued by scientists and engineers was the point that "ethics" is what is good for the many, and since fuel is needed by the many, biofuel production is a "good thing." This point of view was countered with facts (1-11) obtained directly from Michigan State University.

Globally, more than 1,300,000,000 people (19%) must "live" on less than $1 per day. Many people in the U.S. spend four times this much on one Starbucks coffee.


The U.S. is one of the wealthiest countries on earth. Ironically it has the one of the highest rates of poverty.
3,000,000 Americans, 25% of whom are CHILDREN, "live" without shelter every night.
Over 200,000,000 CHILDREN under age 5 in globally developed countries face hunger every day.

Families with CHILDREN comprise 39% of the homeless population, and constitute the fastest growing segment of all homeless people.
One CHILD in five (20%) lives below the poverty threshold in the U.S., thereby ranking children as the poorest of the poor in the U.S.
An American child dies from poverty once every 53 minutes.
Every 3.6 seconds, someone on earth dies from hunger; 75% of these deaths are CHILDREN under age 5.
Globally, 12,000,000 CHILDREN die annually of hunger related complications. Contrary to popular belief, less than 6% of all homeless "choose the lifestyle."
Most homeless people are amongst the working poor, making an extraordinary $7.25 per hour, which must go to transportation to and from work, then food, then shelter.
Eviction from housing, for whatever reason, is increasing the homeless population every year.

The question posed to scientists and engineers was, "How is the most vulnerable sector of the population, the poorest of children in the world, benefiting from biofuel production?" How does letting the world's children die of starvation benefit the good of the many? Think of it. Some farmers are paid to raise crops exclusively for energy purposes. Rain forests are depleted to convert cellulose biomass to ethanol. Stanford University author Chelsea Anne Young postulates biofuel production could fuel rain forest devastation. Rain forests could be wiped off the face of the earth in favor of planting high carbohydrate crops for exclusive fuel use. Aside from obliterating an integral habitat, also destroyed would be natural product producing plants serving highly beneficial medicinal purposes. Essentially, a cure for cancer could be destroyed in favor of adding 10% ethanol to our fuel supply. Moreover, wouldn't increased production of "fuel crops" better serve the world's starving, many of whom are children under age 5? Isn't it completely obscene to have an abundance of food for 1,300,000,000 starving people only to turn such food into ethanol for fuel? How much fossil fuel is left in the world? I challenge any politician to answer this question with accurate facts, figures and statistical data. My guess is the only people capable of providing such information are those in control of the world fuel supply, i.e. those standing to profit the most by concealing such information. Is biofuel production "what is good for the many... since fuel is needed by the many," or is it good for the few who can profit from it the most? In an age where technology exists to cheaply produce hybrid vehicles, why do we need biofuel production? Please keep in mind the rule of supply and demand for profit. When demand is high, and supply is deliberately kept low, then prices are artificially inflated. This is comparable to the De Beers principle of releasing precious few diamonds per year to keep prices artificially inflated when the fact of the matter is De Beers is sitting upon a mountain of diamonds.

Hybrid vehicles can be produced cheaply using Henry Ford's original concept for assembly line mass production of the Model T. Where do you stand on this issue? Should we extend the fossil fuel supply by a 10% longer time period and let someone on earth die every 3.6 seconds from hunger, or should we increase the supply of hybrid vehicles, thereby making them cheaper, and raise the standard of nutrition for as many people as possible?

The life of the CHILD you save by sharing this article could be the future doctor or scientist who develops a cure for HIV or cancer. Become active, and help end child starvation related death. There are no ethics in biofuel, only OBSCENE profit for those who don't value human life. Please leave with this one thought. If it took you five minutes to read this article, over 60 children died of starvation while you were reading it. Aren't we ready for change?

© 2012 Joseph Lennox, Ph.D. Founded by University of Wisconsin - Madison graduate Dr. Joseph Lennox, LennoxTutoring is a local San Diego and online Organic Chemistry tutoring service offering professional mentoring in undergraduate and graduate Organic Chemistry. To learn more about their services, please visit http://lennoxtutoring.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Joseph_Lennox Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7351215