tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799570787412808693.post5919742086875096086..comments2024-03-12T19:49:41.489-07:00Comments on Sam Carana: Global warming calls for global commitment and local actionSam Caranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376449209858411775noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799570787412808693.post-90660998009934704002008-09-24T14:58:00.000-07:002008-09-24T14:58:00.000-07:00Just a word to your members about the only Carbon ...Just a word to your members about the only Carbon negative Biofuel Technology.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Charles Mann ("1491")in the Sept. National Geographic has a wonderful soils article which places Terra Preta / Biochar soils center stage.<BR/>I think Biochar has climbed the pinnacle, the Combined English and other language circulation of NGM is nearly nine million monthly with more than fifty million readers monthly!<BR/>We need to encourage more coverage now, to ride Mann's coattails to public critical mass.<BR/><BR/>Please put this (soil) bug in your colleague's ears. These issues need to gain traction among all the various disciplines who have an iron in this fire.<BR/>http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/soil/mann-text<BR/><BR/>I love the "MEGO" factor theme Mann built the story around. Lord... how I KNOW that reaction.<BR/><BR/>I like his characterization concerning the pot shards found in Terra Preta soils;<BR/><BR/>so filled with pottery - "It was as if the river's first inhabitants had<BR/>thrown a huge, rowdy frat party, smashing every plate in sight, then<BR/>buried the evidence."<BR/><BR/>A couple of researchers I was not aware of were quoted, and I'll be sending them posts about our Biochar group: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/b...guid=122501696<BR/><BR/>and data base;<BR/>http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/?q=node<BR/><BR/><BR/>I also have been trying to convince Michael Pollan ( NYT Food Columnist, Author ) to do a follow up story, with pleading emails to him<BR/><BR/><BR/>Since the NGM cover reads "WHERE FOOD BEGINS" , I thought this would be right down his alley and focus more attention on Mann's work.<BR/><BR/>I've admiried his ability since "Botany of Desire" to over come the "MEGO" factor (My Eyes Glaze Over) and make food & agriculture into page turners.<BR/><BR/>It's what Mann hasn't covered that I thought should interest any writer as a follow up article.<BR/><BR/>The Biochar provisions by Sen.Ken Salazar in the 07 farm bill,<BR/><BR/>Dr, James Hansen's Global warming solutions paper and letter to the G-8 conference last month, and coming article in Science,<BR/>http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0804/0804.1126.pdf<BR/><BR/>The many new university programs & field studies, in temperate soils<BR/><BR/>Glomalin's role in soil tilth & Terra Preta,<BR/><BR/>The International Biochar Initiative Conference Sept 8 in New Castle;<BR/>http://www.biochar-international.org/ibi2008conference/aboutibi2008conference.html<BR/><BR/><BR/>Given the current "Crisis" atmosphere concerning energy, soil sustainability, food vs. Biofuels, and Climate Change what other subject addresses them all?<BR/>Biochar, the modern version of an ancient Amazonian agricultural practice called Terra Preta (black earth), is gaining widespread credibility as a way to address world hunger, climate change, rural poverty, deforestation, and energy shortages… SIMULTANEOUSLY!<BR/><BR/>This technology represents the most comprehensive, low cost, and productive approach to long term stewardship and sustainability.<BR/>Terra Preta Soils a process for Carbon Negative Bio fuels, massive Carbon sequestration,10X Lower Methane & N2O soil emissions, and 3X Fertility Too. Every 1 ton of Biomass yields 1/3 ton Charcoal for soil Sequestration.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.<BR/><BR/>Erich<BR/>540 289 9750Erich J. Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995702794016834400noreply@blogger.com