It is impossible as an eco-company, or even a fledgling eco-company to be, to not take lessons from Japan at the moment. Not the least of which is that at the time of Chernobyl’s implosion, Japan’s economy was the global power that gave American business leaders and policy makers the willies.
The effect of a major energy collapse, particularly when the literal “fallout” is so deadly, is a discussion that was largely avoided (at least in the mainstream) in the case of Chernobyl because of the faltering Russian economy which surrounded the event and the relative secrecy which the Russians were able to maintain.
While today Japan has already slipped behind China as the U.S.’ main economic rival, the country’s economy could never be dismissed as a “communist failure.” Ditto for the safety factors that supposedly went into “preventing” such a catastrophe. One doesn’t have to be (the formerly Communist) Chinese to see the benefit of investing in “alt” if not “green” energy of all sorts. With sea, air, water and food sources (starting with fish the staple of Japanese protein) now all contaminated, it is obvious that discussions about nuclear power that have never been had before (or maybe were had once but were conveniently “forgotten”) are starting to happen for the safety of everyone.
It also may not be popular, politically or otherwise to also mention the effect of a direct strike of another “Tsunami” that directly affected U.S. energy production (and prices) if not the environment not too long ago, but the truth always sets one free. The effects of both the energy-related and economy-related “Katrina” have been washing up on the figurative shores of the U.S. economy far north of New Orleans ever since. It is also worth noting that almost a year ago exactly last spring the U.S. felt the twin shocks of another economic, oil-related disaster, this time in the Gulf. It is too early yet to really understand the damage, but if it’s worse than the Valdez accident (which happened shortly before Chernobyl in the dim reaches of the 1980’s) this means that whole communities will be destroyed forever.
We don’t advise investing in any Tokyo real estate right now nor counting on a retirement account augmented by the BP Trust Fund. The Supreme Court (with its oil-stock owning members) has already ruled that its okay for an energy company to create a holocaust and escape relatively economically unscathed.
As a company, we are here to provide (we hope) some solutions to the pressing effects of an energy crunch the likes of which the “modern” if not “industrialized” world has never seen before. We will always be a Lilluputian player in a world stalked by Gullivers, nevertheless we believe there is finally a business case for a company like ours to succeed.
We had another couple of very good days over the last few “business” days, but there is nothing that can be reported with authority as a definite “development.” That said, we are continuing to bubble on slow boil and are pleased with the continued progress to date on all fronts.
Onward greenly…
Freedom Riders 