Bio-fuel sense SLAMMING the oil industry for having the carbon footprint of a Yeti and warming the planet may be fashionable but any sane observer will place more faith in human ingenuity than on the ranting of eco-warriors. Last week, the sane among us would have taken heart at a report that was put out by Agence France Press. (Needless to say it was not published in any South African media). Chemists at the University of Wisconsin have figured out a more efficient way of turning plant sugar into liquid fuel. The method is cheaper, quicker and far more energy-efficient than standard fermentation and distillation. It also results in an alcohol that is less likely to absorb water. Stand by for commercialization. But, oh shucks, if this works, we will not run out of motor fuel, we will not fry the planet, we will continue to drive cars. What will the eco warriors then have to complain about? But I forgot, eco warriors are just like watermelons -- green on the outside and red on the inside. More seriously, our government should start talking to the university boffins in Wisconsin, rather than indulging in hare-brained schemes for growing bio-fuels in the Transkei.