Letter to the Editor: Net zero wise or foolish

Editor:

This past March 11 - the second Monday was an appointed meeting of the Ancient Order of Quiet Birdmen. As you will learn, all members are experienced aviators. The organization was started by combat pilots of WWI, in 1921. Presently, there are over 200 hangars across the Nation and some in foreign areas.

Below is a portion of the Monthly report I sent to Beam HQ, my position is called "Beam Man"- the Beam is our monthly magazine with monthly reports of all Hangars, in other words, I am the "squibe". Perhaps you will find it interesting if not factual. Many of us are active pilots, some with thousands of dollars invested in their personal or company aircraft. Thus:

Toward the end of our meeting after all the business stuff was over a discussion ensued as to the wisdom of "Net Zero” in regards to curtailing greenhouse gases. Iowa is an agricultural state, we have more swine and cattle than people. At the WEF in Davos Switzerland, John Kerry said 30% of our pollution (greenhouse gases) comes from agriculture. Related was the statement that the number of cattle on ranches and feedlots should be reduced or perhaps ended because of methane, the culprit, a product of digestion. Another wise person stated that something should be done about rice production – it seems that when the patties are flooded, the weeds die, decompose and release methane. Hmm, rice is a staple of the Asian-Pacific region. Our own Louisiana is also a big producer.

Then we learn that EVs don’t work well when it’s hot or cold. One of our members pointed out that there was a discussion that EVs contribute more to pollution than our internal combustion engines due to the rare earths that are mined to make the batteries...along with the problems of recycling when the batteries end their service life. Note: China is the producer of the rare earths when the batteries are shipped the ships and trucks all burn carbon fuels, as well as the mining equipment. Hmmm. Perhaps we should slow down and thoughtfully think this deal through. Just say’n. Regardless, I was really put back by how questioning our attendees were. Our people in the “sticks” are really smart. We are just protecting our turf as experienced pilots. The aircraft we fly are all carbon-fueled.

The last isn’t politics, it's just questioning the wisdom of net zero. We should remember the lower end of our financially challenged; the wealthy can survive whatever the government dictates. Let’s go forward carefully. Stay tuned.

Regards.

John Stiegelmeyer

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DL March 25, 2024, 3:20 pm JS, I don't know how to argue against being "One-sided". My whole comment consisted of actual quotes from Davos, and historical facts. I guess a blind person might be able to "see" my comment as "One-sided". Since I didn't offer any personal opinion, I don't think there were any sides at all.

PK March 21, 2024, 9:07 am You can put a crown on a clown, but that doesn't make him a king. [Even though he may think he is]

JS March 19, 2024, 8:11 pm DL as usual you show how one sided you are are. Kerry has the assets to overcome govs stupidity, you drink the kool aid. Try thinking for once

GB March 18, 2024, 7:49 pm John Kerry is another clown who has lived off the government tit and his wife's wealth for most of his adult life. He's been lying for just as long. Kerry, Sanders and Biden along with a few others are the problem. These idiots actually profit and have become filthy rich on a government salary. Kerry is a self proclaimed war hero, Sanders is a Socialist where his biggest accomplishment in his career was naming a Post Office and Biden is bought and paid for by foreign adversaries. They are nothing more than a bunch of crooks. Hopefully, the world's biggest Clown Show will be put out of business soon!

DL March 18, 2024, 7:26 pm According to Reuters, what Mr. Kerry said was "We can’t get to net zero, we don’t get this job done, unless agriculture is front and center as part of the solution," Reuters also reported that Agriculture is 10-12% of greenhouse gases, world-wide. Kerry went on to say that without cutting agricultural emissions, the world might not meet its goal of limiting the global temperature rise to <1.5°C, which scientists say must be achieved to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Kerry added Rising global temperatures have severe implications for malnutrition and food security world-wide. "A 2-degree future could result in another 600 million people not getting enough to eat," Kerry also added "You can’t continue to warm the planet while also expecting to feed it." I wouldn't doubt that someone in Davos made a comment about "killing all the livestock", but it doesn't sound like Kerry agreed with that solution. In fact, it sounded like he was looking in a complete different direction for a solution. As far as your hatred of any change in the automotive industry. Was the Model A or Model T perfect for American travel? Have there been any changes to that concept, over the last 100+ years? Was the Waterloo Boy the perfect solution for agriculture? Have Mr. Deere and Company made any changes to the tractor he first bought from John Froelich in 1918? Was the first cell phone perfect? Did that big, clunky thing, the size of a loaf of bread, work as a convenient product for the world? Did Wilbur and Orville have the perfect airplane, with their first attempt? Was their final product perfect for today's airline industry? You say "let's slow down". Did the Wright Brothers slow down? Did John Deere slow down with the first Waterloo Boy? Others have done the research on EVs for decades. Why they didn't include you, I don't know. I do know (from history) that the first product is not perfect. It'll be "perfected" many times over the coming decades.

Opinion : Letter to the Editor: Net zero wise or foolish

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