Sponsor's Message

However, sometimes it's just downright frightening to imagine what might happen.

Take the issue of nuclear fusion for instance.

Practical, sustained nuclear fusion producing useful amounts of over-unity energy have been "just a couple of decades away" for almost half a century now but so far we're still very much in learning-mode.

But what would happen if a way was found to produce low-cost, high-efficiency fusion reactors of a type that could be used to power industry, business, domestic homes and even vehicles?

You might think it would be utopia -- almost limitless energy without pollution and at a price far below that we're currently paying for fossil-fuels and even hydro generation.

Unfortunately, given the nature of mankind, I suspect the result of such a development would be far less pretty.

Now have your say Got something to say about today's column, or want to see what others think?  Visit The Forums While you're here, why not visit the Aardvark Hall of Shame and perhaps make your own nomination.

Given that such a breakthrough would dramatically reduce the world's reliance on oil reserves, major oil producers and exporters such as the Middle East, Russia and the USA would be plunged into economic chaos.

I can't imagine that these nations would take such a threat to their prosperity lying down -- and that could ultimately result in military conflict of a scale rivaling the previous two world-wars.

Then there are the other effects that hugely increased energy production on the surface of the planet might create.

Everyone's talking about global warming right now and the general consensus is that it *is* a problem.

While it might be tempting to think that a switch away from fossil fuels and the greenhouse gasses they produce would be a good thing -- that's not necessarily so.

Our current levels of energy consumption are effectively controlled by the price we're forced to pay for our fuels and electricity. Remove that constraint and energy consumption would likely soar astronomically. Although fusion would produce little in the way of environmentally harmful emissions -- it would still create immense amounts of heat -- the ultimate endpoint for all energy sources -- be it electrical or fossil.

The heating effect of many hundreds of millions or more small and large fusion reactors, spewing out vast amounts of energy could have a very significant effect on our climate. I don't know the quantum of such an effect but it's hard to believe it would not be significant.

Finally, what would happen to one of the major sources of tax-revenues in most western nations: fuel taxes?

I strongly suspect that governments would find themselves forced to hike general taxes and those levied on other commodities -- potentially producing significant civil outrage.

So, with Christmas rapidly approaching I have only one more thing to say on the matter: Be careful what you wish for.

Have your say on today's column

If you feel that this is a good thing and/or you hold a "geniune affection" for yours truly -- then you are welcome to gift me some money using the buttons provided. In gifting this money you accept that no goods, service or other consideration is offered, provided, accepted or anticipated in return. Just click on the button to gift whatever you can afford. NOTE: PayPal bills in US dollars so don't accidentally gift more than what you were intending :-)

Contacting Aardvark
I'm always happy to hear from readers, whether they're delivering brickbats, bouquets or news tip-offs. If you'd like to contact me directly, please this form. If you're happy for me to republish your comments then please be sure and select For Publication.

Other media organisations seeking more information or republication rights are also invited to contact me.

Just add a couple of lines of JavaScript to your pages and you can get a free summary of Aardvark's daily commentary -- automatically updated each and every week-day.

Aardvark also makes a summary of this daily column available via XML using the RSS format. More details can be found here.

Contact me if you decide to use either of these feeds and have any problems.

Linking Policy
Want to link to this site? Check out Aardvark's Linking Policy.

Did you tell someone else about Aardvark today? If not then do it now!