Download The “green economy” is a force of evil – March 31

The “green economy” is a force of evil – March 31
PRO – Stephanie Simpson & Katherine Shugart
CON – Brandon Medlin & Erin Meehan
Pre-polling:
For -5
Against – 10
Maybe – 1
Undecided – 1
Opening Remarks
Stephanie Simpson (pro):
-
pressures for industries to “go green”
o
Kyoto Protocol – 5% reduction in Carbon emissions – need MORE to make a
significant difference
o
-
We do not have the technology to cut carbon emissions enough yet
o
-
Should there be compliance anyways from these industries?
So not worth wasting our time
McCain’s Policy – cost: 1.35 million GDP & 1.3 trillion dollars, benefit: only
fraction of a degree in temperature reduction
-
Kaplan Trade Scheme
-
Windmills/Solar Panels
o
-
Low CO2 fuels – less efficient and more costly
Ethanol production – use of Corn for primary source
o
NOT efficient
o
Market based solutions – taxes – people paying more
-
Will effect developing countries – reduction of oil usage from those countries
-
POOR HIT THE HARDEST
-
*CO2 more costly to use then it is beneficial for the environment*
Brandon Medlin (con):
-
heading towards QUALITY, not QUANTITY
-
10 Principles
o
1) Service economy
o
2) Green Economy follows natural flows
o
3) Waste = Food (no such thing as waste in nature)
o
4) Elegance and Multifunctionality ( everything has multiple uses)
o
5) Appropriate scale and length time (small doesn’t = beautiful)
o
6) Diversity – health and stability depend on diversity, we’ve lost our
biodiversity
o
7) Self-reliance – flexible interdependence
o
8) Direct democracy & participation – ex. Gov’t not deciding everyone
should grow corn
o
9) Human Creativity & development – HAVE to be creative, new ways to
use waste
o
10) Strategic role of built environment & Spatial design – building in a more
energy efficient way
-
Biodiesel
o
Reduces Carbon output
o
Generated more economy
o
Freedom from other oil sources
o
Ability to start small business farmers
Katherine Shugart (pro2):
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We aren’t saving the planet
o
-
-
Pushing for biofuels will only cause more problems
Climate change is a natural process (graphs shown)
o
Same CO2 emissions today as 400 million years ago
o
Milankovich Theory
Uncertainty of Carbon release into the atmosphere, even though such a crucial
greenhouse gas
-
Ethanol base fuels – Cause problems
o
Not sustainable
o
Provides less energy then fuel
o
Needs to be produced more and will have to fill up more frequently
o
Corn produces lower yields – will release MORE CO2 in atmosphere when
fields are cleared for corn usage
-
Impossible to standardize Carbon sinking because haven’t closed the carbon cycle
Erin Meehan (con2):
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Green economy may not be the best but NOT EVIL
-
“Go Green” – cliché but for preservation of earth
o
Cliché will bring about awareness – constant reminder – will continue to do
things to reduce emissions
-
-
Recycling and Emphasis
o
Gave statistics
o
Bottled water – fiji water astronomical
o
Fluorescent light bulbs
US dependency on world oil
o
Reduce fuel = reduce debt
o
Nationwide light rail system
Discussion
Question 1: to Brandon
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regarding point #3 (waste = food)
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“How could we get rid of our current waste”
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Answer: not much we can do about waste now, more of preventative matter, not how
to fix the now
Question 2: to Stephanie
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regarding how expensive
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“How will it affect the poor most?”
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Answer: it will make rich/poor distinction more extreme
Question 3: to Katherine
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Will ethanol from corn get better? – cellulosis ethanol from poplar trees improvements or still bad?
Question 4: to Stephanie
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IS giving the poor a break on the green bill good?
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Answer: still cost GDP – money used in more efficient ways – not okay that
standards of living decrease
-
Erin rebutted: priced will go down regardless
Question 5: to Brandon
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What about the strong acidic/basic wastes?
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Answer: will be less as we perfect the cycle ; lesser of two evils; not preaching
biodiesel as solution, but step in right direction
Question 6: for propostion
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Do you believe we can keep living like we do everyday?
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Answer: it’s a process we must go through, we are going to have to change but our
economy can not handle it right now – let progress happen
Question 7: for cons
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How do you get from great gross consumers to being green? Is there a path (utopian
or practical)?
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Answer: It will happen, gradually mentality will become more green – path is paved
but will take time and effort
Question 8: Utopian Ideals (10 principles), how realistic?
-
Answer: Not realistic but must have something to strive for.
Closing Summaries
Stephanie Simpson:
-
McCain’s ideal
o
Destruction of economy
o
Economy can’t handle anymore carbon caps
o
Restrict Americans access to energy
Brandon Medlin:
-
There’s no perfect solution – but there’s nothing better
-
Although standard living will go down if we don’t do anything now then there will be
mass extinction = VERY low living
-
Necessary steps in right direction
Katherine Shugart:
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Green economy = FORCE OF EVIL
o
Evidence in paleoclimate
o
Starvation is possible
Erin Meehan:
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“short term answers” irrelevant because we’re doing what we can
-
Persuade few people – domino effect
Post-polling:
For: 6
Against: 10