REGARDING BIO FUELS

A well known Physicist urges a review of the Biofuels law on the grounds that oil bearing plants do not utilize sunlight as much as the food crops and therefore requires additional fertilizer. In the end, the quantities of oil derived from the plants do not really make the effort worthwhile. In addition, there is the scare that we will end up planting more oil yielding plants and maybe, convert our food crops into oil plantations. Should that happen, it will be detrimental to our food production efforts.

Here are my initial views:

ON LAND CONVERSION:

1. I agree that no matter how we try to outlaw it, crop conversion is inevitable if the farmers find more money in planting Biofuels instead of rice, corn or food bearing crops. However, should food become scarce, its prices will also increase and therefore, farmers will again convert their plantations into rice (food) farms. I say, let economics take its course. Just don’t let anybody force the farmers to do something that they do not want to.
2. It has been noted that the government owns millions of hectares of arable but unutilized land. Why not allocate it to both big and small private investors? Economics will again dictate the optimal use of the land.
3. The President of PNOC also said that rice fields are not conducive to biofuels meaning, Jathropa will not grow optimally on the kind of soil being used as rice fields.

ON THE OPTIMAL USE OF THE SUN:

1. The PNOC President also said that there are varieties of Jathropha that yields a lot of oil. In my mind, there’s a possibility that the scientist have not studied all biofuel varieties.
2. Previously, I have also been told that there are trees that bear really high yields of bio fuels. One reason why it is not yet being commercially introduced is that it will take a few years (after planting) before it will really yield real money for the farmer. Therefore, Jatropha, which yields money only after 6 months is being used to prime the people into investing. Eventually, the better varieties will be introduced.

As for now, my initial thoughts are.. “Let the market dictate!”

Let us not forget that we have plenty of problems that needs to be tackled all at the same time.

1. We need to increase our food production
2. There’s the growing population to feed
3. There’s also this growing demand and increasing price petroleum.

Let’s discuss this issue… Ciao!

Possible Solutions to the Janitor Fish Problem

JANITOR FISH (Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus- Laguna de Bay, Pterygoplichthys pardalis- Marikina River, Lake Paitan in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija)

That cute aquarium cleaner that we love has now turned into a serious menace. It bores holes in the mud that results to water turbidity and the destruction of the river banks. Fisher folks at the Laguna de Bay claim that the janitor fish now comprise 75% of the fishermen’s daily catch. Though very alarming, the figure hardly surprises me. Janitor fish eats like there’s no tomorrow and rapidly increases in population. It largely feeds on algae and pollutants which the Laguna lake has a lot in stock.

The problem is, with its population becoming so hugely disproportional to the rest of the lake's aquamarine life, it started to compete with other fishes for food. And with food becoming scarce, I really won’t be surprised if it will not start feeding on small creatures. The last report states that janitor fish weighing as much 30 kgs a piece is now a common catch at the Laguna lake. And what type of food fish at the Laguna lake weighs lower than that? May I enumerate the following: Bangus (Milk fish), Tilapia (St Peter’s fish), catfish, mudfish, carp… everything!!!

Now that we are in agreement that the janitor fish is a big threat to the 28,000 fishing families (along the Laguna de Bay) and the consumers within the National Capital Region, let’s help eradicate these pests.

Here are the known alternative uses of Janitor Fish:

1. Its skin can be converted into wallets, purses, watch straps, billfold and key chains using skin from the belly of the fish. Creating other fashion items out the skin should not be so difficult.
2. The fish can be processed into chicken and pig food.
3. In an experiment, High School kids from Marikina were able to produce half a kilo of Biofuel for every 12 kilos of Janitor fish.
4. The government, through foreign donors pays Php 10 for every kilo of that dreaded fish.
5. Your suggestion please....
   

Please add your ideas to this list.

Maraming salamat!

Japan's expertise in waste management

Japan is offering to help the Philippines manage its garbage through recycling technologies, among other things. This project will be facilitated through an agency called JICA. Japan's expertise in waste recycling is beyond question.

I remember reading about 15 years ago, that the Japanese have become so efficient in recycling that they were slowly becoming a victim of their own success. For instance, warehouses became over stacked with toilet paper made from recycled newspapers and discarded office documents. At that time, the Japanese were a a loss on what to do with all the recycled products.

Knowing how good they are, I am sure that they are way past that problem by now. I wouldn't even be surprised if all the paper products coming from Japan are now 100% made out of recycled products. If only the Philippines will attain 50% of Japan's success in recycling, people will undoubtedly be very happy.

However, since the Japanese are helping the country in waste management, it will probably be good if they will move a bit further and totally stop their dumping of hazardous waste to the Philippines. Within the past several years, the Philippine Customs officials have intercepted several container loads of hospital refuse and other toxic wastes sent from Japan.

Just a suggestion...


This post ends here. No need to click the "Read More!" link for now. Thanks