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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): - 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): - 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 - regarding point #3 (waste = food) - “How could we get rid of our current waste” - Answer: not much we can do about waste now, more of preventative matter, not how to fix the now Question 2: to Stephanie - regarding how expensive - “How will it affect the poor most?” - Answer: it will make rich/poor distinction more extreme Question 3: to Katherine - Will ethanol from corn get better? – cellulosis ethanol from poplar trees improvements or still bad? Question 4: to Stephanie - IS giving the poor a break on the green bill good? - 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 - What about the strong acidic/basic wastes? - 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 - Do you believe we can keep living like we do everyday? - 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 - How do you get from great gross consumers to being green? Is there a path (utopian or practical)? - 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: - Green economy = FORCE OF EVIL o Evidence in paleoclimate o Starvation is possible Erin Meehan: - “short term answers” irrelevant because we’re doing what we can - Persuade few people – domino effect Post-polling: For: 6 Against: 10