Tipping Point for Mass Transportation?

New York Times's piece today on high gas prices bringing more people than ever to mass transit systems connects with something I noticed in an Obama speech from May 3, 2008 (below). This is a speech given in Indianapolis, the home of the Indy 500 and much more than a stones throw from the "latte-sipping elites" of the West coast. And yet, if you skip ahead to around 18:44 into the speech, you will see this mid-western audience stand up and applaud as loudly as they did during the entire address for mass transit!

That's right. They’re not cheering for cheaper gas, more tax cuts, or bringing back blue collar jobs (although this would undoubtedly result from such a massive investment in the US transport infrastructure) -- these people are jumping to their feet to applaud on the idea that America should build the kind of fast, efficient national rail system that has become a badge of honor for not only Japan and Europe, but also for China, India, and the Middle East.



In case you have problems with the video, at around 18:44 Obama proclaims, "...We can invest in mass transit and Amtrak and create high speed rail lines all across America that help us conserve energy once and for all." After this the crowd cheers so loudly that he has to pause until they quiet down so that he can move on to the issue of renewable energy and re-tooling American factories.

Leaders Realizing the Biofuels Mess We're In?

UK newspaper The Guardian is reporting (here) that Britain's Chancellor Darling has awoken to the dire consequences of expanding biofuels development...

'This is an urgent problem,' said Darling, who was speaking in Washington at a meeting of G7 leaders. 'People across the world will say, "Why didn't you see this coming?" when it is staring us in the face. We have got to take action.'

He added: 'It would be a profound mistake if we get into a situation where we are growing corn that is essential for feeding people and converting it into fuel. That is not sustainable.'

The move to re-examine links between food shortages and global biofuel policies comes as riots have gripped many of the world's poorest nations. Demonstrators have protested, with increasing violence, about the soaring prices of wheat, rice, soya and other staples.

As the article goes on to point out, the US is currently in a political cycle where biofuels are seen as an important part of the climate change solution, pushed even recently by senators with a strong interest in averting climate change. These include US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Chairman Baraba Boxer and both Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama (policy sheet) and Hillary Clinton (policy sheet).

So US part of the solution to the biofuels problem might also give us a real indication of which candidate is likely to be the most effective on climate change. Namely, which presidential hopeful will wake up and address the environmental disaster that is biofuels first? Or will Barbara Boxer and the senate committee she chairs be the first to come around? Will any American political leader be smart or strong enough to change their position on biofuels?

Who is Chancellor Darling?
The position of Chancellor of the Exchequer (or Chancellor for short) in the UK is equivalent to the US Secretary of the Treasury, overseeing HM Treasury with responsibilities for all economic and financial matters in the UK. Alistair Darling was appointed to the post in June 2007 and has had a rough start, bailing out Northern Rock just three months later, and then dealing with the child benefit data scandal less than one month after that. Suffice it to say, he has not been a hugely popular figure, so his awakening on biofuels may be the first positive thing many have heard from him since he became Chancellor. Hopefully he can follow through.