Environmental programs that do more harm than good

[Anonymous]

http://news.yahoo.com/why-cash-clunkers-hurt-environment-more-helped-024848694.html

Apparently, the cash for clunkers program actually ended up hurting the environment instead of helping it. (See above link.) Windmill farms are destroying the golden eagle population--not to mention other predatory birds and bats. The new CFL lightbulbs may be dangerous. I am all for protecting the environment, but it seems we are rushing into programs so that we can "feel good" about doing something without really considering whether we are doing more harm than good.

[Anonymous]

Composting.... is disgusting.

[Anonymous]

The money the government invested in the green company that went bankrupt. Wouldn't surprise me if most of the money paid for a lot of ritzy parties and travel and fat salaries for friends.

[Anonymous]

Why am I not surprised that the environmentally conscious members of this board have chosen not to respond?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why am I not surprised that the environmentally conscious members of this board have chosen not to respond?

Because we can only present a reasonable discussion of the facts so many times.

This is a STUPID post. Cash for clunkers was an economic stimulus -- no one said it would save the earth.

And as for windfarms -- well, everything has a downside and bird safety is a big one but don't you get it - if we don't start working on this issue pretty soon (and honestly, even if we do), the world is going to be a VERY difficult place for our kids.

[Anonymous]

You just insulted religion. Why did you have to go and do that?

[Anonymous]

My theory is that we all are going to have horrible health problems from cfl light bulbs. I already get headaches from them, but they sound deadly if they break.

[Anonymous]

I don't think an occasional eagle death outweighs the benefits of wind power. That is a big red herring.

The CFL point is also wrong. We emit 5x the mercury, directly into the air, from the energy used to power an incandescent bulb. So the net mercury absolutely favors CFL until coal plants are eliminated.

Lastly the cash for clunkers landfill impact is not great. A car is not a ton of hazmat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My theory is that we all are going to have horrible health problems from cfl light bulbs. I already get headaches from them, but they sound deadly if they break.

Did you break an old mercury thermometer as a kid? That's 125 CFL lightbulbs.

[Anonymous]

Harmful in a different way but I say that stupid bag tax. I'm sure the shoplifting has gone through the roof as people walk out with cartloads or armloads of items rather than pay for a bag on principle.

[Anonymous]

Ethanol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ethanol.

The worst "green" fuel.

Probably about as bad as recycling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Probably about as bad as recycling.

??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Composting.... is disgusting.

This one has to be a joke, right?

[Anonymous]

Man-made structure/technology: Associated bird deaths per year (U.S.)

Feral and domestic cats: Hundreds of millions [source: AWEA]

Power lines: 130 million -- 174 million [source: AWEA]

Windows (residential and commercial): 100 million -- 1 billion [source: TreeHugger]

Pesticides: 70 million [source: AWEA]

Automobiles: 60 million -- 80 million [source: AWEA]

Lighted communication towers: 40 million -- 50 million [source: AWEA]

Wind turbines: 10,000 -- 40,000 [source: ABC]