Expanding biofuels while refusing to take other measures, such as lifting the ban on oil and natural gas production in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf, is counterproductive. We should be tapping into a broad portfolio of energy options, including clean coal, nuclear power and wave energy.

By taking these measures, we can enable biofuels to be part of the energy solution, instead of contributing to the energy problem.

Restraining the dangerous effects of artificially inflated demand for ethanol should be an issue that unites both conservatives and progressives.

As a recent Time cover story pointed out, biofuel mandates increase greenhouse gasses and create incentives for global deforestation.

In the Amazon basin, huge swaths of forest are being cleared to meet the growing hunger for biofuels.

In addition, relief organizations are facing gaping shortfalls as the cost of food outpaces their ability to provide aid for the 800 million people who lack food security.

Good comments, merrie. I wonder how this all got started. Surely those *in charge* realized that this would happen! They were really fast to create this crisis, now how fast can they fix it.

I've never been one to count conspiracy theories, but something just doesn't *seem* right about all the stupidity that's surrounding the US, it's energy policies, the global green bubble that's bursting, these reports of rioting over food products. We've had famine and drought and monopolies controlling certain markets...but this seems very man-made.