🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan3.213814.3105@sactoh0.sac.ca.us> kberry@sactoh0.sac.ca.us (Kim A. Berry) writes:

   In article <JMC.93Jan3020049@SAIL.Stanford.EDU> jmc@cs.Stanford.EDU writes:
   >Mr. Berry challenges me to offer solutions to all the problems of
   >the U.S.  I cannot accept this challenge, because I would have to
   >write a book.  As I said, I am willing to accept any two environmental
   >or resource challenges.  I believe I could give concise enough answers
   >so that people would read to the end.
   >--
   >John McCarthy, Computer Science Department, Stanford, CA 94305

   You claim I am mistaken in my belief that the whole world cannot
   sustain itself at a U.S. living standard. My claim is based more
   on economic realities than an actual resource shortage. I
   understand that, in terms of energy, we have the technology to
   harness enough sunlight and natural forces to meet the world's
   energy needs. But whether people in the third world could afford
   the energy is another matter. 

   Isn't that the reason forests are being harvested for cooking and
   heading fuel, because the residents can't afford petroleum and
   electric energy? 

   Regarding your offer to propose a solution to two environmental or
   resource challenges, I am interested in your ideas. How about:

   1.   The problem of selenium and other minerals accumulating in
	California's central valley due to excessive irrigation.

   2.   The inability of Ethiopia to either produce enough food to
	feed its growing population or to manufacture something of
	economic value to exchange for food.

   Thanks,
   Kim

   -- 
   ---------------------------------------------------------------
	(Mr.) Kim Berry              kberry@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US

Looking at things from a world point of view, Mr. Berry has picked
rather minor problems, and offering solutions for them won't convince
many people that world problems can be solved.  However, here goes.

1. I don't know what causes selenium to accumulate.  I suppose it
rises from lower levels of soil.  An extreme solution, not economic
at present land prices, would be to put an impermeable barrier
at a certain depth.  I don't know what solutions have been proposed
by people in the area.

2. Ethiopia's famines were caused by civil wars and communist
rulers.  Cuban mercenaries didn't help.
--
John McCarthy, Computer Science Department, Stanford, CA 94305
*
He who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.