Infiniti Biodiesel

MEDIA STATEMENT RELEASED BY:
DR RUTH RABINOWITZ MP
IFP DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP

April 2, 2007

I was invited to give an address at the launch of Infiniti Biodiesel, and thus became unwittingly associated with what appears to be, following a Carte Blanche investigation, a questionable concern. In the confusion surrounding the Infiniti biodiesel story, several facts remain clear.

The earth is being subjected to a spate of global warming; South Africa's global footprint is unnecessarily high; we must do everything possible and practicable to reduce our reliance on coal and petrol and to increase our production of ethanol, biodiesel, solar, wind and geothermal energy. The building of an alternative industry should include local participation and ownership as far as possible, to spread the wealth of Story Africa's innovative industries. We would rather see research in South Africa, with tax rebates for Renewables here, followed by local production, than research done in SA developed in Germany for SA and the international market. This is the case with solar thin film technology pioneered at RAU. Finally, the part of the Kyoto Protocol that has not been adequately explored is the sharing of technology between countries of the north and countries of the south.

It was on the basis of these premises that I gave the opening address at the Infinti Biodiesel launch. Invited to help out, due to a delayed response from the Ministry, I acceded to the invitation three days before it took place. Mistakenly, I thought there was a link with the other De Beers. If the company succeeds in achieving its goal of using algae and seeds to produce large quantities of biodiesel for use in South Africa it will indeed be a success story. If it is based on hype and exaggerated promises, it behoves the 23 licensed franchisees to lay charges against the parent company or to request that it is investigated by the Scorpions.

Those of us with genuine good intentions will have to weave a careful path between genuine businesses that attempt to respond constructively and profitably to the state of the globe and those who use their sham concern as a cover up for self glory or self enrichment. Whether it be Al Gore who claimed that the Oscars were "green" merely because they paid for some carbon credits, or environmentally related events in South Africa, which are doing likewise, paying for Carbon credits is a fashionable way of putting money gained by fouling up the earth, into the real efforts of those who genuinely try to preserve it. It is at the bottom of the list of meaningful responses. Respond we must, but with vigilance against exploitation.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr Ruth Rabinowitz M.P(MB BCh)
JHB: Tel: 011 802 1826, Fax: 011 804 4221
C.T: Tel: 021 403 3061, Fax: 021 403 3334
Cell: 082 579 3698