Cuban researcher Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart said that the planet will face an emergency situation
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- 03 / 06 / 2008
Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, adviser to the Council of State for scientific and technical matters, cited this during the presentation of his lecture "Energy and Knowledge: Pillars of Sustainability." It is true that the historical contexts are different, but to insist on not paying attention to the emergencies of every epoch has been and could be fatal.
The Cuban researcher made a comprehensive review of the emergency that will be confronted by our planet if it continues to adopt the present patterns of consumption. At present, 87 percent of our energy comes from non-renewable sources, such as oil, gas, coal and other pollutants.
Therefore, it is vital to diversify renewable and non-pollutant energy sources in the near future, even more so because in half a century, the demand will increase dramatically - doubling the present one. If today, consumption stands at 100 billion tons of oil per year, what environmental, social and economic consequences will bring with the consumption of twice this amount?
The answer is in the 2 degrees Celsius increase in global temperature. As a result, the sea level will increase 50 centimeters. In some areas, the sea will penetrate the aquifer and half of the world population will lack drinking water (less than 1,700 cubic meters annually).
Referring to the ever-growing gap between the North and the South, Castro Diaz-Balart said that the developed countries account for 86 percent of the world GDP, and 68 percent of foreign investment, while consuming 80 percent of energy resources. In addition, their biotechnological industries, which brought in profits of $8 billion (USD) in 1992, made $50 billion (USD) in profit in 2002, a pace impossible to be followed by the underdeveloped nations.
Likewise, another example of the impoverishment of underdeveloped nations is the migration of 33 percent of African professionals to Europe over the last few years. Likewise, a million scientists and professionals from Latin America have migrated to developing nations, which represent a transfer equivalent to $36 billion. Twenty-three percent of PhDs in the United States at present are migrants. Which debt they want us to pay?!
(www.juventudrebelde.co.cu)
The Cuban researcher made a comprehensive review of the emergency that will be confronted by our planet if it continues to adopt the present patterns of consumption. At present, 87 percent of our energy comes from non-renewable sources, such as oil, gas, coal and other pollutants.
Therefore, it is vital to diversify renewable and non-pollutant energy sources in the near future, even more so because in half a century, the demand will increase dramatically - doubling the present one. If today, consumption stands at 100 billion tons of oil per year, what environmental, social and economic consequences will bring with the consumption of twice this amount?
The answer is in the 2 degrees Celsius increase in global temperature. As a result, the sea level will increase 50 centimeters. In some areas, the sea will penetrate the aquifer and half of the world population will lack drinking water (less than 1,700 cubic meters annually).
Referring to the ever-growing gap between the North and the South, Castro Diaz-Balart said that the developed countries account for 86 percent of the world GDP, and 68 percent of foreign investment, while consuming 80 percent of energy resources. In addition, their biotechnological industries, which brought in profits of $8 billion (USD) in 1992, made $50 billion (USD) in profit in 2002, a pace impossible to be followed by the underdeveloped nations.
Likewise, another example of the impoverishment of underdeveloped nations is the migration of 33 percent of African professionals to Europe over the last few years. Likewise, a million scientists and professionals from Latin America have migrated to developing nations, which represent a transfer equivalent to $36 billion. Twenty-three percent of PhDs in the United States at present are migrants. Which debt they want us to pay?!
(www.juventudrebelde.co.cu)
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