Sections Eco-Environment "Biofuels: Muddled Issues" on KK! on DZRH-AM, May 21, Wed., 7:30 p.m. (RP Time)
| "Biofuels: Muddled Issues" on KK! on DZRH-AM, May 21, Wed., 7:30 p.m. (RP Time) |
"Biofuels: Muddled Issues" on KK! on DZRH-AM on May 21, 2008, Wed., 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Manila Time)
Do you know that corn can now be used to produce fuel for your vehicles? But using a food crop for fuel is a "crime to humanity," according to one UN official. Biofuel from corn that is needed to fill the tank of an ethanol-fueled SUV can already feed one person for 365 days, says the Worldwatch Institute, a US-based think tank. The Institute cautions: "Today's biofuels industry is being built on an agricultural system that is unsustainable. Until this system is fixed, rising production of both fuels and food will wreak havoc on ecosystems, the climate and the world's hungriest people."
Despite the food vs. fuel issue, some countries are fast increasing their biofuels production. The European Union, the largest market for biofuels, aims to make biofuels account for 5.75% of all of its transport fuels by 2010 and 10% in 2020. China is moving fast also to replace 15% of its transport needs with biofuels by 2020. In the ASEAN region, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia are all increasing their biofuels-production capacities.
What should we do in the Philippines? Reacting to the rice crisis, some legislators have called for suspension of the Biofuels Act of 2006¸ which mandates the progressive production and the use of biofuels. Food security is, indeed, a concern. But, we also face energy security and poverty reduction issues. We should note that, despite its warning, the Worldwatch Institute also calls for increasing support for biofuels "that will truly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and not compete with food production." All the countries mentioned above are moving towards multiple feedstocks and some are now developing second-generation biofuels from non-food crops, including algae.
Before taking further action on the law all on resource allocation, we should, first, identify and analyze the issues and the alternatives. Hear some of them in Kalikasan, Kaunlaran! (KK!), DZRH-AM radio on May 21, 2008, Wed., 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Guests are Engr. Rafael S. Diaz, Jr. (Managing Director, Asian Inst. of Petroleum Studies, Inc. and Exec. Dir., Phil. Biodiesel Assoc.), Dean A. Lao, Jr. (CEO, Chemrez Technologies, Inc.), and Raymond Joseph Amurao (Chemistry student, UPLB all 3rd Placer, Grand Award, 2005 Intel Science and Eng'g. Fair, US). Dr. Cora Claudio, president of the EARTH Institute Asia, directs and hosts the weekly radio program in conversational Tagalog-English.
You will also hear the contests, campaigns and projects of EARTH/KK! You may join all of them if you are a registered KK! listener. To register, text 2299: earth<space>REG < name, age, sex, address, email address, and name of who invited you to tune in>.
KK! is co-produced by EARTH Institute Asia, Inc. and DZRH, with the cooperation of MAP, GREEN Army, PFST, TOWNS, PBE, AIJC, PEIA, DENR, and others. It is at 666 kHz in Metro Manila and at other kHzs in other areas nationwide. It is globally accessible thru http://dzrh.tripod.com or www.mabuhayradio.com.
You and your contacts are also invited to join KK!' s roster of partners-sponsors. The ones who have already committed for the second quarter are Unilever, Unilab and Toby's Sports. Providing in-kind support are Delbros Supply Chain Solutions, Management Association of the Philippines, Brahma Kumaris, and Arch. Paulo Alcazaren.
Inquiries: 671-3266, 0915-647-4648 (Globe) or 0921-302-7303 (Smart), or email .
Editor's Note: Read more about this topic in "MAPping the Future," Phil. Daily Inquirer, May 19, 2008, issue.
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