Africa

The discussions surrounding climate change can be seen in a different light from 30,000 feet. The great advancements in human life have occurred primarily because of fossil fuel energy. It resulted in the industrial revolution and the ability to free people from the farm to invent and innovate in ways undreamed of in earlier times. It put the lie to the Malthusian theory that the world would not be able to feed future generations. Henry Ford proved the dire predictions of Karl Marx wrong when he introduced the assemble line and the $5 per day pay which allowed the producers of goods to be the consumers of goods. It allowed the flourishing of life and this will continue with new ways yet developed by what economist call creators of value. In recent years another view has become popular based on the idea that humans are bad and will destroy the planet. The battle lines are drawn between the economist who seen flourishing and biologist who see destruction and each runs to their political equivalent side to get ready to fight. The people in the developed countries of the West seem oblivious to the hardship that getting rid of fossil fuels would cause the peoples in the undeveloped places like Africa and parts of Asia. The West has been though the glory days of coal and now want to forbid those newbies from the same advantages. They want to save these people from the evils of air pollution by keeping them from achieving the successes of having lights at night and heat in the cold. Many of these people are still burning wood and dung to survive. About three billion people in Africa and Asia use wood, dung and sometimes coal to cook and heat their homes. These homes have poor ventilation and the smoke causes many respiratory diseases, including lung cancer. The ashes which contain heavy metals like arsenic, mercury and lead are spread in their gardens and subsequently ingested. If the US goes to zero carbon these people will still be in dire straights. Viewing the world from 30,000 feet reveals a different perspective but one that is rarely discussed. Bringing electricity to these villages using small nuclear reactors, which need no water, would by pass the coal and oil stage and bring them into the 21st Century with clear air.