Re: DIG-L: a note on "philosophical" vs. "technical" discussions

["D.J.Fulford" <d.j.fulford@reading.ac.uk>]

At 15:58 21/02/00 -0500, Lowell Prag and Brian Smyla wrote:
>> Your analysis is humorous but misses the point:
>>
>> In short, I don't think the problem is olfactory but rather, a lack of
>> knowledge on the part of the general public and a means to lower the cost
>> of digesters through mass production.
>>
>In order for AD to appeal to the general population, there needs to be
some type of
>sensationalism associated with it.  If there's no entertainment value or
personal
>benefit, people are not interested.  If you can convince people that AD
will make
>their car payment for them, or you featured bikini-clad models wrestling
in the
>effluent, then maybe they'd be willing to support it.
>
Having recently rejoined this list, I am enjoying the discussions on it and
would like to join in with this one. We have exactly the same attitudes in
the UK. 

Last May, I was asked to join a conference and planning session on biogas
in Sri Lanka, with some collegues with whom I had worked several years ago
in Nepal. After many papers and some discussion, we asked the question "Why
does Sri Lanka need biogas?". There are few animals, as many people are
vegetarian (being Buddhist) and they grow large quantities of coconuts, the
hulls of which provide very good cooking fuel. The answer was almost
mystical - biogas plants provide fertilizer that is better than any other
organic system. Their ideas might be summed up: "Biogas plants will prevent
the people of Sri Lanka poisoning themselves on artificial food additives".

So, the answer to your discussion is: jump on the organic bandwagon.
Persuade the "unwashed" of USA and UK that biogas generates that mystical
something extra that will make organic farming even better.

This goes against the academic scientific grain, but seems to fit in with
the sales mentality of big business that is all about image rather than
reality. Our present world seems to be in a sad state.

David Fulford.




*** Dr David Fulford, Energy Group, Department of Engineering  ***
***      The University of Reading, Whiteknights,              ***
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