Hello all and welcome back to the blog. It’s green gazette time again which is my attempt to share some intriguing, inspired or perhaps borderline insipid environmental news. I’m pleasantly rewarded in my daily work to see just how far eco-awareness has progressed in the last decade, from the corner store to the largest corporations it’s inspirational to see the efforts made. I can’t help but be optimistic that the generation going through schooling at present will be adopting a society that has realised changes are needed and they can then continue the good work. It’s really inspiring when you remember things that we take for granted now were just ideas a generation ago. With that said I’ve got some interesting stories to follow.

After stating the above I then find myself sitting on the fence with the solution advocated in this story. I’m 100% in support of alternative fuels, nothing would be a better testimony to the next decade to move away from fossil fuels entirely. It can be done and I trust it will be. There are a number of electric methods and plant oil choices. I’m confident these will succeed because this other option for fuel makes me nervous – CHOCOLATE. This story features a racing car that is definition of eco savvy. It’s not just a city car it can reach 60mph in 2.5 seconds and is making it’s Formula 3 debut on October 17th. My concen is that the fuel combines chocolate and plant oils. Quite amazing, but what about Easter Eggs, Chocolate Cake, Snickers Bars? I don’t know how to feel….would I trade the world’s chocolate supply for green vehicles? Why can’t we do this with Brussel Sprouts? You can see video of the car in action here – just select ‘racing green’.

Next up another transport invention. I’ve never been one for motorcycles (coward…perhaps) but I also don’t greatly subscribe to an SUV that weighs 3 or 4000 lbs moving one human 10 miles to buy a cheesburger is not the way forward. From Switzerland I found this hybrid very interesting and I can imagine it finding a market for those who are energy sensitive it is called the Ecomobile. It’s essentially a motorcycle housed inside a car body. Very unique design that has an epoxy shell and allows you to transport yourself, one passenger  and your shopping. The standard engine is 988cc and gets 55 miles per gallon. The fact that it has stabilizers (they pop out at low speed)  prevents the need for your legs to leave the cabin. I would love to try one out but until the cost comes down I’ll have to content myself with the video of it in action.

This is a fascinating story and a warning all rolled into one. It’s about Cuba and how the island nation had to make drastic changes when the collapse of the Soviet Union coupled with the US embargo resulted in a near complete cut off from oil supplies back in the 1990′s. Cuba’s adjustments are both interesting but also now being researched as model for future planning by other countries. Cuba did what we all would (will?) do when faced with crisis, they learned to do things differently. Organic farming methods became a crucial component of the island’s welfare which happily has remained the case. Land was used far more economically and the methods for distribution of food and other goods was changed radically. It’s unfortunate that our quest for personal efficiencies makes us blind to the eco-realities of food transport. When we purchase fruit that may have traveled 1,000 miles or more to be on our plates are we even aware of it. I recently read that some fruit (in terms of weight) burns more fuel to reach it’s destination than the actual item weighs. That’s simply wrong.

Thanks for stopping by…more very soon.

Tags: alternative energy, chocolate, chocolate fuel, chocolate race car, Cuba, easter eggs, eco awareness, Ecomobile, food transportation, formula 3 racing, Fossil Fuels, fuel consumption, fuel reduction, gas mileage, Gas shortage, motorcycle hybrid, motorcycles, oil shortage, organic farming, organic food, planet forward, plant fuels, plant oils, snickers