Garca 1 Fabiola Garca Castillo 511067 Alma Delia de la Cruz Monroy Advanced English 1 Draft June 24, 2011

Planting Fuel in Cities with a Bad Economy. Most of us have heard about the end of the world; it is likely that the world, as we know now will end only when we have finished the sources of fuel. It is, therefore, essential find new alternatives for the replacement of oil and its derivatives. Scientists around the world are seeking the answers in nature to ensure the survival of mankind on Earth. Probably, few people thought that some solutions to this problem can cause another bigger and more controversial problem. There are many alternative sources of energy, and other types of fuel. Apparently, one of the most promising comes from a super resistant plant, this plant has is Jatropha Curcas; (According to Biodisol.com) Jatropha Curcas is a plant native to Latin America. It is believed it grows in Mexico and from there, this plant was taken to Africa, India, and other places in the world. In Africa the huge tracts of land and cheap labor have awakened the voracity of the promoters of the agro fuel. (According to Grain.org) Only 15 African countries have millions of hectares that can be grown land qualified as "idle", used to cultivate agro fuel. The Jatropha Curcas is not a crop for wood, for shade, or as food for livestock or inhabitants; this plant is highly toxic. Therefore, it is causing the death of the cattle and of the people who live near these crops; also, it is one of the main causes of starvation

Garca 2 among the inhabitants where it is grown, because the companies responsible for the planting of Jatropha shed farmers lands (which are their only livelihood). (According to Grain.org) As with all global commodities, the market will set prices of biofuel. The country of origin will have little control, especially if the ownership of the entire value chain is in the hands of international companies. Biofuel shall not guarantee the local population access to cheap energy. The solutions of the problems of the Earth and the environment are of general importance (of all people), but we must find solutions that benefit not only few people.

References: "Jatropha Curcas (physic Nut, Pinho Manso, Tempate) | Energas Alternativas, Energas Renovables, Energas Limpias, Bioenergas." Noticias Energas Renovables, Energas Alternativas, Energas Limpias, Contaminacin, Calentamiento Global, Biocombustibles, Bioenergticos. Web. 20 June 2011. <http://www.biodisol.com/biodiesel-que-es-el-biodiesel-definicion-de-biodieselmaterias-primas-mas-comunes/jatropha-curcas-physic-nut-pinhao-mansotempate/>.

"GRAIN | Biodiversidad | 2007 | Nueva Usurpacin En frica." GRAIN | Home. Web. 20 June 2011. <http://www.grain.org/biodiversidad/?id=370>.