On Birds, Wind and the Color Green

We are at a point of the technological era where the search for earth-friendly and renewable energy sources is becoming a thing of necessity instead of being just an academic pursuit. Alternative energy sources are the rage nowadays especially with the outcry of global-warming (climate change if you will) in every media everywhere.

The Obama administration just established its stand to pursue "more home-grown energy sources". Other governments all over the world have the same thrust. On the other hand, environmental organizations have encouraged and rallied for "green" technology.

Greenpeace.org, specifically, suggests the use of renewable energy sources mainly for their environmental-friendly nature. They are a go on green.

But how green is green?

For instance, wind power, one of those technologies that are frontrunners of the energy revolution has been highly recommended. But, this too has its negative effects on the environment. Recent reports have shown that the construction of wind farms has affected migration paths of a species of birds.

A recent USA government report has shown that the quest for alternative energy sources was a factor on the decline of a species of birds over a four-decade period. How you might say? The report say, and I quote verbatim, "Birds can collide with wind turbines and oil and gas wells, and studies have shown that some species, such as Prairie-chickens and sage grouse, will avoid nesting near the structures." This is a very immediate effect. Who knows what might happen in the long run.

Other technologies, like wave power (which utilizes tides or ocean currents) have been found to affect the actual currents that they tap, which in turn affect the life forms that rely on these as their niche.


Solar, Geothermal, Bioenergy, Hydroelectric. We may not know any negative effects on the environment, for now. But maybe sometime, in the future, another group of researchers, for instance, might discover that the light absorbed from the solar panels have blinded migratory birds (too far-fetched, I know).

The bottom-line is that there really is no purely "green" technology. Technology as a definition is a practical application of science and as such, something will always be exploited. There is always a tint with a different colour, blood-red, smoke-black or whatever.

This article does not defy the search for newer, "green" technologies and it does not contradict the environmental organizations that promote such. But as we have highlighted how necessary are these new technologies for our and the next generation’s survival, it may also be necessary to highlight that these may also have various effects in our environment. As we rally for these new ideas, let's also be open to the fact that these are not perfect or fool-proof. Nothing is purely green.



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The author wrote this article as an introduction to his latest entry to Project 365. The sketch for today features the author’s first venture into a new medium; oil pastel on white paper. Penguins!!!