Al Gore knew ethanol was bad, knew people would likely starve, but says he promoted it anyway because he wanted to be president

11/22/10, "US corn ethanol "was not a good policy"-Gore," Reuters

GORE: ""It is not a good policy to have these massive subsidies for (U.S.) first generation ethanol," said Gore, speaking at a green energy business conference in Athens sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank.

• "First generation ethanol I think was a mistake. The energy conversion ratios are at best very small....

He explained his own support for the original programme

• on his presidential ambitions.

"One of the reasons I made that mistake is that I paid particular attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee, and I had a certain fondness for

• the farmers in the state of Iowa because
  

• I was about to run for president."...

On the rise of food prices,

• Gore "said there was no doubt

• biofuels have an effect" on food prices.
  

"The size, the percentage of corn particularly, which is now being (used for) first generation ethanol definitely has an impact on food prices.

• "The competition with food prices is real."...

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• About ethanol from the same Reuters article:

The US ethanol industry will consume 41% of the US corn crop this year....

"Total U.S. ethanol subsidies reached $7.7 billion last year according to the International Energy Industry, which said

• biofuels worldwide

• received more subsidies

• than any other form of renewable energy."...

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2/11/08, "Bloomberg slams U.S. energy law over corn ethanol" Reuters by Louis Charbonneau and Timothy Gardner

"A new U.S. energy law will cause an increase in global food prices and lead to starvation deaths worldwide because it continues to promote corn ethanol, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday.

• "People literally will starve to death in parts of the world,
• it always happens when food prices go up," Bloomberg told reporters

after addressing a U.N. General Assembly debate on climate change."...

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