The a recent TIME Magazine issue really got me thinking. Titled “The Clean Energy Myth”, the main article talks about how biofuels have their own set of moral and environmental issues to deal with. I think it is very important we examine this evidence now before it gets so far down the road that to really revert it would be extremely difficult.

Ethanol and biofuels have been labeled as the “next generation of alternate fuels”. They are said to be clean an renewable, friendly to the environment and totally independent from OPEC who we buy our oil from. Sure, it is a renewable source of energy. But lets examine how this affects the world in a bigger picture.

Ethanol can be made from plant matter, usually soybeans or corn. The problem is.. these are sources of food. As more and more automakers are slowly making the conversion to ethanol, the demand for it will increase. This means more farmers diverting a third (or a certain allotment) of their harvest to sell to refineries. They realize they can make more money by selling it for ethanol than they can selling it to supermarkets or food processing plants. How does this affect us? True, it may lower the price of gas, but we will end up paying for it in the long run as food prices skyrocket.

And then think of the impact it has on third world countries. I think that THIS is the biggest issue and consequence of using ethanol. Farmers in other countries will realize, they too can make a significant profit by selling their corn or soybeans to the US. Because of our countries mammoth energy consumption, we will buy it from them and use it to make fuel. This is directly taking the food away from the mouths of those who need it in that country. It will completely decimate the impoverished, making food become even more scarce, and hinder aid organizations in providing food aid. To quote a scentence from the article by Michael Grunwald of TIME magazine,

“The U.N.’s World Food Program says it needs $500 million in additional funding and supplies, calling the rising costs for food nothing less than a global emergency.”

And an even more powerful quote from the same article:

“The grain it takes to fill an SUV tank with ethanol could feed a person for a year.”

I think that people need to take a stand on this issue, weather it be boycotting ethanol, or raising awareness about this issue. Do we really care about driving our cars more than we are feeding the poor? Have we become so nearsighted that we cannot see the consequences of our actions? Jesus calls us to compassion; can we really achieve that when the fuel we use as a convenience condemns another life to hunger? I hope all who read this were challenged, to really think before we act. To think in the long term, rather than to act on what is easy at the time. We need to help each other as humans, and to do that means being aware of how are actions affect others.

Currently I am 17 (birthday was yesterday actually!), and am an MK (missionary kid) which I absolutely LOVE! Two years after I was born our family moved to Swaziland, Southern Africa for a 6 year term with MCC. At the end of that term we lived in Harrisonburg VA for 2 years while my parents went through seminary and then headed off on another 6 year term with MCC, this time to Philippines. I feel I have been really blessed by God for this experience to live and travel in other countries. It has given me a large world view, one that has really helped me see things in perspective. I really love getting into discussions with others who have had similar experiences as I, and just sharing the knowledge and culture I have attained as well as always learning new things.

I was extremely happy to see a blog like this where people, specifically Anabaptists, can share their convictions and thoughts and discuss them. As I said above, I love discussion about world issues and peace and I think they are extremely important in the world we live in today. Being the son of a firm Anabaptist (my dad has done lots of peace work around S.E. Asia) has really helped me come to understand what Jesus calls us to be. I always try and aspire to be like Jesus, but I’ll admit that it is hard a lot of the time. I am always learning, as are we all, and I think that as we all learn we can support, criticize (healthily), encourage, and discuss issues that are at hand. This will help us better understand our world and the issues facing us in it, and encourage us all to live as Jesus calls us to live.

On a more personal note, I know at least one other author on here, Angie Lederach who was briefly in the Philippines with us. And I haven’t reviewed more authors names but I wouldn’t be surprised if I know more of you! So if you know me, or know about me, speak up! Its great to see a familiar face… er.. read a familiar name!

Hope you all have a great new year!

Peace-

Solomon