Regarding COHA’s July 26 Press Release “Corn-based Ethanol: Offering Some Relief from Globalization’s Merciless Quest to Replace Fossil Fuel"

• Corn versus sugar-based substitute fuels
• Latin American corn producers could again become competitive
  Brazil wants entry into U.S. ethanol market
• U.S. agro-industry ultimate beneficiary of federal government’s promotion of corn ethanol
  

Contrary to the usual outcome of Washington’s subsidies to U.S. farmers, recent grants for ethanol producers could actually improve many lives, both at home and abroad. As the Bush administration aggressively encourages the production of ethanol, a renewable, more environmentally friendly biofuel, to replace increasingly pricey gasoline in automobiles, domestic and foreign corn markets will have to undergo some major adjustments. The U.S. hopes to decrease gasoline consumption by augmenting the production of compounds such as E-85 fuel, which is a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, that can replace regular gasoline in almost every vehicle sold today in the U.S. This could make a real dent in U.S. reliance on foreign petroleum as a result of a major shift to a domestic, non-hydrocarbon fuel source.

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~I usually find your articles right on. But you surely missed the mark on this one. There is ample evidence that it takes more than a gallon of gas to make a gallon of corn-based ethanol. So WHERE is the savings, the ecological responsibility, the eye on the future?
With over half the world living in hunger, why would you support using a food staple to make something that allows American to continue living like they believe is their god-given right rather than finally assuming some social responsibility?
Thank you,
Greg Stricherz~

~Dear Greg,
We thought we were being skeptical in the ethanol piece, citing the fact that little seemed to be gained from the process, making some of the same points that you have made. Perhaps we didn’t emphasize that enough. We will be more careful next time.
My best,
Larry Birns
Director~

~ Dear Larry,
I am truly ashamed of myself. I will have to admit I read only the first paragraph. I couldn’t believe what I was reading and immediately wrote my email. With the way the world is going, I have grown very intolerant of ideas I don’t like.
I have now gone back and read the whole piece. I do apologize for my haste. Perhaps I can remember to keep myself in check in the future.
And I want to emphasize that I do find your information extremely valuable in the world of corporate media.

Thank you,
Greg Stricherz~