Biofuels Campaign Focuses on U.S. Business, Ignores Greens

Two big economic controversies of recent times highlight the selective media reporting of environmental issues.

Firstly, there is a great anxiety that business and farming interests are pushing for the shift of agricultural production into lucrative biofuels, with a consequent downgrading of food production. This leads to food price hikes that affect the poorest worst of all.

Of course, the biofuel drive was originally part of the green campaign against hydrocarbons. It was championed by middle class leftists and greens in liberal American states and Germany. Business and farming interests were pressurized into showing their green credentials at any cost. Since they are in business to begin with, it is not surprising that they chose a market version of environmentalism.

The increases in fuel prices in Western Europe have many causes. Big oil is certainly playing a key role. However, the green campaign for disincentives for using hydrocarbons will add more levies and taxes in the years ahead. This will hurt those who travel by air, the truckers and many more. Greens now want subsidies to help the poor deal with this “necessary pain” for social progress. It is clear that a cycle from the past is reappearing before us…. regulation, taxation and more spending. When reporting on the culpability of the oil giants, the greens get little or no attention.

One wonders how long it will be before green ideology is properly challenged and investigated by a “progressive” public service broadcast media in any West European country.