Do We Need an Energy "Manhattan Project"?

Energy change Policies and Political ineptutude

Unfortunately the energy crisis is totally different. The Manhattan project was specifically for the construction and solution of a single problem - a bomb that the Nazis may create before ourselves with catastrophic consequences. It was therefore oriented around a single entity solution. But the energy problem is so multifaceted that it would literally take hundreds of Manhattan Projects to solve. But again the greatest problem is that technological solutions take decades to evolve and make any meaningful impact. The reason, sheer logistics to construct fast enough and the distribution of such technology globally. In this respect it takes at least 2 decades to make inroads with even a new technology created today. Therefore no great change will come about to this solution for at least 3 decades and therefore the world is in for probably the roughest ride that it has ever had to contend with. But again, the real problem is the sheer lack of knowledge of our political classes in understanding the energy problem. In this respect energy and more so the sciences that underpins energy, is alien to over 90% of politicians and therefore the reason why they do not understand how to start to even solve the problem.

Indeed, scientists and engineers have known about the dire problem and the end-game scenario since mid last century but where politicians have never taken the warnings of scientists et al seriously enough to change things and the way we operate. That is basically the reason why we are in the mess that we are in today. Indeed, if our political leaders/masters had taken a long haul view of the problem some 50 to 60 years ago, we would by now have had many of the solutions at hand. But as usual, politicians are reactionary and not pro-active with their endeavors and where it takes many decades to change the direction of global systems and where now due to this political ineptitude of our leaders (since the end of WW2), we just have not the time on our side. Therefore this grave problem is decidedly at the door of politicians and no others, for they were warned decades ago about energy and the problems ahead but where they decided to do nothing about it.

Dr David Hill

World Innovation Foundation Charity

Bern, Switzerland

Ps. The late Dr Glenn Seaborg (Element 106 Seaborgium) who was the head of the plutonium plant on the Manhattan Project was our Foundation's first president.

Dr david hill of DC @ May 31, 2008 06:38:32 AM

Unfortunately the energy crisis is totally different. The Manhattan project was specifically for the construction and solution of a single problem - a bomb that the Nazis may create before ourselves with catastrophic consequences. It was therefore oriented around a single entity solution. But the energy problem is so multifaceted that it would literally take hundreds of Manhattan Projects to solve. But the greatest problem is that technological solutions take decades to evolve and make any meaningful impact. The reason, sheer logistics to construct far enough and the distribution of such technology. In this respect it takes at least 2 decades to make inroads with even a new technology created today. Therefore no great change will come about to this solution for at least 3 decades and therefore the world in in for probably the roughest ride that it has ever had to contend with. But again, the real problem is the sheer lack of knowledge of our political classes in understanding the energy problem. In this respect energy and more so the sciences that underpins energy, is alien to over 90% of politicians and therefore the reason why they do not understand how to start to even solve the problem.

Indeed, scientists and engineers have known about the dire problem and the end-game scenario since mid last century but where politicians have never taken the warnings of scientists et al seriously enough to change things and the way we operate. That is basically the reason why we are in the mess that we are in today. Indeed, if our political leaders/masters had taken a long haul view of the problem some 50 to 60 years ago, we would by now have had many of the solutions at hand. But as usual, politicians are reactionary and not pro-active with their endeavors and where it takes many decades to change the direction of global systems and where now due to this political ineptitude of our leaders (since the end of WW2) we just have not the time on our side. Therefore this grave problem is decidedly at the door of politicians and no others, for they were warned decades ago about energy and the problems ahead but where they decided to do nothing about it.

Dr David Hill

World Innovation Foundation Charity

Bern, Switzerland

Ps. The late Dr Glenn Seaborg (Element 106 Seaborgium) who was the head of the plutonium plant on the Manhattan Project was our Foundation's first president.

Dr david hill of DC @ May 31, 2008 06:28:42 AM