[Terrapreta] Catalyst: Carbon Bigfoot

[lou gold]

Hi Duane,

I am seeing the logic of your perspective. I believe that yours is one of
the valid considerations. I also believe that terra preta somehow carries
the seeds of a new awareness that is now emerging and offering the
opportunity to transcend the dilemmas.
This new awareness is based on the notion of a reciprocal harmony between
large populations and the earth. At first, the new consciousness of
reciprocity will have to sit  (uncomfortably)  with the past consciousness
of extraction. This generates tension that will stimulate further
innovation, etc. Basically, we are entering a process of building a carbon
economy and ecology. I for one do not know what role fossil fuels will play
in the longer-term future but right now they are going to continue as a
significant factor.

The only thing that I question is your assertion that we must continue to
generate CO2 in order to feed the plants. It seems to me that there is a
huge reservoir already available. Do you know of any studies or models that
might suggest when CO2 will "peak" and require replacement inputs, perhaps
from fossil fuels?

hugs,

lou

On Dec 8, 2007 2:30 PM, Duane Pendergast <still.thinking at computare.org>
wrote:

>  Morning Sean,
>
>
>
> My response to you was totally sincere. After 20 years trying to follow
> the climate issue, I'm becoming more and more skeptical about the dire
> claims made in the name of climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions.
>
>
>
> I was just trying to point out, that if terra preta lives up to
> expectations on this site, there is potential for excess removal of CO2 from
> the atmosphere. Danny Day has suggested that we are seeing the "stumbling
> steps of a brand new species evolved to stabilize this recurring imbalance"
> with reference to the drastic cycling between ice ages seen in the long term
> climate change record. He sees the burgeoning human population, including
> some three billion now impoverished farmers, as key to planetary survival
> and prosperity. The ultimate outcome of successful demonstration of terra
> preta benefits could thus be an incentive to geo-agricultural engineering on
> a massive scale. That vision will be self limiting if plant growth is
> suppressed by a shortage of atmospheric carbon dioxide. A next logical step
> for humanity could be to continue to transfer carbon from fossil fuel into
> the soil.
>
>
>
> There is plenty of scope for climate change ballyhoo at the UNFCCC meeting
> in Bali and in the media. Kevin Chisholm's gentle suggestion in his
> response to your post that the list focus on demonstrating the efficacy of
> the terra preta concept has considerable merit.
>
>
>
> Duane
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> *From:* Sean K. Barry [mailto:sean.barry at juno.com]
> *Sent:* December 7, 2007 9:51 PM
> *To:* still.thinking at computare.org; 'lou gold'
> *Cc:* 'Terrapreta'
> *Subject:* Re: [Terrapreta] Catalyst: Carbon Bigfoot
>
>
>
> Hi Duane,
>
>
>
> WHAT?!  Is your response to my post "tongue in cheek"?  I hope so ... or
> you really do not see things the way I do, either.  Burning coal and oil has
> to slow way down, even to stopping altogether.  If coal energy is required,
> then it has to change over to "clean" coal, without the release of CO2
> emissions.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>



-- 
http://lougold.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/
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