Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[<activism98201@verizon.net>]

Leave it to this most excellent group to present this article.  I had run 
across a precursor article the other day which stated that the report was due 
out today, but I couldn't find anything.

But while on this subject... I just signed myself up to be on a discussion 
panel on biofuels.  Obviously I'm on the "con" side.  Funny, but this really 
depends on one's view of this word, I'm the _only_ one on this side; there 
are several bio-diesel folks (engaged in promoting bio-diesel) on the "pro" 
side.  And what's even more funny is that fact that I'm not exactly a public 
speaker; nor have I any flashy credentials.  So, it looks like I'm going to 
be facing the wolves, but I feel that someone has to stand up and present 
views which are unpopular.

Are there any folks here who would like to help me get myself together 
off-line for such a discussion?  I've got quite a bit of a collection of info 
and am fairly well versed in all of this.  My main arguments will be centered 
on impacts to food production and soils: the OECD report is really powerful; 
so too is a UN FAO study of Brazilian soils (and Brazil's escalating 
importation of natural gas).  I know a fair amount on ethanol, but nothing 
really on bio-diesel, so I need some help here.  The panel discussion is part 
of a larger sustainable energy fair being held here on October 6th.


-Mark Nagel
Everett, WA


=====================
From: TradingPostPaul <tradingpost@riseup.net>
Date: 2007/09/11 Tue PM 11:24:37 CDT
To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Livingontheland] Biofuels Offer Cure Worse Than the Disease - OECD


Biofuels Offer Cure Worse Than the Disease - OECD
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/44269/story.htm

FRANCE: September 12, 2007

PARIS - Biofuels, championed for reducing energy reliance, boosting farm
revenues and helping fight climate change, may in fact hurt the environment
and push up food prices, a study suggested on Tuesday.

<snip>