環(huán)球英語 — 355：Biofuels: Growing Trouble?

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Voice 1

Hello. I’m Marina Santee.

Voice 2

And I’m Ruby Jones. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 3

“We are all eating less. We do not have money to buy beans or meat; we do not have money to buy milk.”

Voice 2

These are the words of Rosario Ochoa. She works on a coffee farm in Nicaragua. She earns money to help feed her family. But the money from her job is not enough. Basic food prices have been increasing quickly in the last few months. And now even a common food like beans costs too much for her to buy.

Voice 1

Rosario is not alone. The price of food has been growing very quickly in all parts of Nicaragua. In only six months the price of corn increased by twenty-five [25] percent.

Voice 2

And this is not only happening in Nicaragua. Food prices are rising in many parts of the world. Far away from Rosario, in Afghanistan, people are also having trouble. Two and a half million [2,500,000] of them are in risk of hunger because of these increases.

Voice 1

But, why is this happening? What has caused prices to rise so quickly? Experts have found many reasons. But one in particular is making them very worried.

Voice 2

In today’s spotlight we will discuss biofuels. Biofuels produce energy from plants or animal waste. We will talk about why these fuels have become so popular. And we will tell of why a growing number of experts think they should not be!

Voice 1

Biofuels have been around for a very long time. More than one- hundred [100] years ago Rudolph Diesel designed engines to use them. But biofuels have only become very popular in the last few years.

Voice 2

You may have heard the Spotlight programme where we discussed how the Kolam people of India make fuel from seeds. They use this biofuel to run the generator that brings electricity to their village.

Voice 1

Many people think the Kolam people are wise to do this. Because their fuel is supplied by things that grow, it will always be available. Biofuels burn cleaner than fuels made from oil in the ground. They say that growing plants helps to fight climate change.

Voice 2

Biofuels can be good for farmers too - especially in the developing world. Not all land is good enough to grow food. But some of this land can be used to grow other things. A group of farmers in the Moamba area of Mozambique know this well. They have started to plant Jatropha. The ground where they live is very dry, but this strong plant will grow there. And Jatropha seeds make great biofuel.

Voice 1

Biofuels are popular with farmers outside of the developing world too. A huge amount is produced in the USA using corn. Farmers make a lot of money producing the biofuel “ethanol” from their corn. And every year more and more is made. But this production is starting to have some unexpected effects. Some experts are becoming worried. They are beginning to question the idea that all biofuels are good.

Voice 2

A recent report by scientists at Princeton University and the Nature Conservancy organisation contains some shocking news. The report argues that many biofuels are worse for the environment than common fuel is.

Voice 1

The scientists investigated what happens when land is prepared to grow crops for fuel. To make the land ready it is often necessary to remove trees and plants that are already there. But clearing those trees and plants and digging up the soil releases carbon dioxide - and most experts agree that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes global warming.

Voice 2

Natural forests and grasslands are very good at taking carbon dioxide out of the air. The crops put in their place may not be so good at it. Biofuels burn cleaner than normal fuel, but it can take a long time for them to have a positive effect overall. Scientists in the US say that it will take ninety-three [93] years for this to happen with the corn ethanol made there.

Voice 1

People concerned about the environment often look into the future. But some say that the effects of biofuels are being felt right now. Millions of people like Rosario Ochoa are eating less because of them.

Voice 2

Governments are encouraging farmers to grow more crops for fuel. The farmers receive financial help to do this. But the result is that less food is being produced to eat.

Voice 1

At present, about eighteen [18] percent of grain produced in the US is made into fuel. Large areas of Brazil, Argentina and Canada are involved in similar production. In these places, crops like sugar cane, palm oil, and soybeans are being grown for fuel.

Voice 2

The World Bank says that prices of all basic foods have risen by eighty [80] percent in just three years. And these increases are causing big problems. There have been protests in over thirty [30] countries. Many people are calling for something to be done.

Voice 1

Some experts say that biofuels are making hungry people around the world compete with car drivers for food. Others say that that it is wrong to blame the cost of food only on these fuels.

Voice 2

People have different opinions on biofuels. But there is one area where many agree: it is still possible for biofuels to have positive effects. But for this to happen the fuel producers must grow the right crops in the right places.

Voice 1

David Tilman is a scientist who studies the environment. He is worried about many kinds of biofuels. But he does not think they are all bad. He is trying to develop a plant called switchgrass into a biofuel. Switchgrass often grows on land that is not good for growing other things. Doctor Tilman is doing the same thing as the farmers in the Moamba area of Mozambique. They are all producing a cleaner fuel without making food cost more!

Voice 2

Fuel experts are developing other exciting ideas. They could make biofuels from many things. They could use waste parts of plants. In fact, they say many things that are thrown away could be turned into fuel. It will take time and money. But these kinds of fuels could be made without harming people or the environment.

Voice 1

What do you think about Biofuels? Do you think they should be made? Or do you think it is better to concentrate on other things? You can e-mail us your comments, questions and ideas at radio @ english.net.