Globalwarming Awareness2007

How to save a life with the forthcoming global warming catastrophe upon us? We start by decreasing the amount of energy we use like oil. We can all make our small contributions to stay above the fray such as buying new hybrid cars. However, when compared to the levels of energy consumed by industry, any personal conservation efforts on the whole are dwarfed. The amount of oil used by industry in transportation and product manufacture is colossal. Furthermore, when industry switches to the latest in alternative fuel technology in an attempt to conserve oil, this may have disastrous consequences in trying to help stem global warming. In economics, there is a paradox known as the Jevons paradox that states any improved resource efficiency may trigger a change in the overall use of consumption of that resource. For example, the switch to bio-fuels made possible by technological advances has increased the demand for corn which has pushed up the price of corn tortillas. For many poor people, food made from corn is a staple. Pushing up the price of corn consequently results in hunger and starvation in some parts of the world. Another example is the use of palm oil as an alternative fuel. The use of palm oil has created ecological disasters. You may think that how to save a life starts with you but the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry and often for naught.