One of the biggest issues of the 21st century is fuel shortage and the need to replace it by another source of energy. However urgent it is to act, some people seem not to be in a hurry to find a solution or at least a viable alternative to oil. Let me make myself clearer :

The Energy Department has $25 billion to make loans to hasten the arrival of the next generation of automotive technology — electric-powered cars. But no money has been allocated so far, even though the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program, established in 2007, has received applications from 75 companies, including start-ups as well as the three Detroit automakers.

Here is the source with some (political and economical) explanations. We should to keep in mind that we have to act as fast as possible. Nowadays, neither the USA nor any other European country seems to feel really concerned by such an important issue. Consequences will be huge. Biofuels powered vehicles and electric cars could be good alternatives that have to be supported.

Nevertheless, side effects should not be kept aside. An increasing demand in biofuels is creating starvation in poor countries where corn fields were replaced by other plants in order to produce and then to export palm or soybeam oil. By changing our old habits without thinking to the consequences it implies, we are just moving the problem, not solving it. And considering the current background, a crazier global economy than the actual one is the last thing we want. So think fast, act fast, but think twice !

PS: Here’s the first English post published on this blog. Maybe not the last one. I apology for being Dutch but I do my best to improve my English skills (but there’s still a lot to do), so if you’ve noticed any mistake in these lines, let a comment !