An interesting discussion. I'd like to inject a few points: Prior to the discovery of petroleum oil the main source of oil for lamps was the rendered blubber of sperm whales.
Pollution from coal-fired locomotives destroyed streams next to railroads. This was the public transportation of the day. Pollution from horses was a huge problem and health hazard in cities. Each generation has it's challenges. Every time I hear someone say they would like to eliminate the use of oil I want to remind them that gasoline is just one of many products derived >from a cracking tower. Most people would be shocked to know how many vital items are produced from oil. Many "alternative energy solutions" bring their own new problems. Using corn to make ethanol for fuel is causing food supply and price issues. Windmills are noisy, and expensive to build and maintain. Electric and hybrid vehicles have issues related to the batteries and controls. Firefighters and other emergency workers are concerned about safety in accidents. The average mechanic is forbidden to work on them and the ones who have been specially qualified are in great demand. Ken Javor has stated the real problem correctly. The Overlords want more control of the kind they had at the dawn of the industrial age and will try to get it through engineered crisis'. Many years ago I wrote an opinion piece (never published) on this subject titled "Gunpowder and Gasoline, Portable Power to the People". My opinion has not changed. Besides, as a motorcycle owner in the Northeast, Global Warming = more riding days. Scott B. Lacey - This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to emc-p...@ieee.org Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas emcp...@ptcnh.net Mike Cantwell mcantw...@ieee.org For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org David Heald: emc-p...@daveheald.com All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc
