Biofuels displace Columbian farmers


Messing with the free market ALWAYS has drastic consequences

Suddenly the developed nations demand for green fuels is undermining rights.

Armed groups in Colombia are driving peasants off their land to make way for plantations of palm oil, a biofuel that is being promoted as an environmentally friendly source of energy.

Surging demand for "green" fuel has prompted rightwing paramilitaries to seize swaths of territory, according to activists and farmers. Thousands of families are believed to have fled a campaign of killing and intimidation, swelling Colombia's population of 3 million displaced people and adding to one of the world's worst refugee crises after Darfur and Congo.

It's those nasty unintended consequences again.

Because of American subsidies in the ethanol market, corn and other food prices are skyrocketing.

Beef and milk prices are also rising fast.

And now, people are being kicked off their lands to provide other biofuels.

All this so modern liberals can feel good about green fuels that still produce greenhouse gases. Only this time, government power and abuse has been expanded.

When does it stop?

— NeoWayland

Posted: Sat - June 9, 2007 at 02:33 PM  Tag


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