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  • WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19 2007 4:00 PM

It's People! Soylent Green is Made out of People!

Submitted by Rahodeb

Edited by erin_broadley



So yeah, that's the first thing that came into my head when I heard about this awesome eco-boat that runs on human fat. Talk about biodiesel! Built specifically for Earthrace, an attempt to raise awareness of the environment and the sustainable use of resources, the powerboat is fuelled on 100% biodiesel and has a net zero carbon footprint. Not only that, but it's fuel supply--human fat--is unlimited! Paul Bethune, the skipper of the boat and CEO of the non-profit project, even got liposuction to further the cause.

Bethune underwent liposuction and donated enough to produce 100ml of biofuel, while two other, larger volunteers also had the procedure, making a total of 10 litres of human fat.

This in turn produced seven litres of biofuel, which could help the boat travel about 15km.

Yummo!

Earthrace was built in Auckland, New Zealand, and the plan is to circumnavigate the world in record time, with a departure date set for March 1, 2008, from Valencia, Spain.

The current record holder is British boat Cable and Wireless Adventurer which took 75 days in 1998.

From the start in Valencia the boat will cross the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans and travel through the Panama and Suez Canals..

From there the boat will cross the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans as it thunders along the planet's circumference at a maximum speed of 40 knots.

When it attempts to break the Round the World Speed Record, the goal is to do 20-25 knots (23-29mph) almost continually for 65 days.

Pretty awesome, and especially promising when you consider just how much "fuel" is ready and waiting right here in the good ol' USofA. Think of the possibilities: No more wrestling with the Arabs over oil--instead, we'll have government subsidized liposuction! Perhaps fat farms will no longer be places where fat people go to lose weight, but rather to pack it on so as to support the economy! We'll make clean fuel from a dirty diet! It's a frickin' miracle worthy of Jesus, I tell you.

Seriously, though. That is one phat boat.



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Comments
thefreak

thefreak

NEWSWIRE

Gardner, MA

DEC 19, 2007 04:12 PM

But will it have solar panels?

-TM

strndniowa

strndniowa

Grimes, IA
May 2007

DEC 19, 2007 04:21 PM

Anything that runs on human body well...products? just seems a bit disturbing...hard to see anyone robbing body fat, but you never know...
Cool looking boat though...looks very James Bondish!

Nondivine

Nondivine

Moose Jaw, SK
October 2007

DEC 19, 2007 05:06 PM

Wow, how big were those other two volunteers? The CEO made 100ml, and the other two made the other 6900ml of biodiesel?

But I guess its a good way to (literally) burn fat.

xazapdmytinu

xazapdmytinu

Fort Collins, CO
July 2007

DEC 19, 2007 05:38 PM

unfortunately the fattest people that would provide plenty of biodiesel probably have a pretty LARGE carbon footprint.

calami00

calami00

I'm lost
November 2005

DEC 19, 2007 05:39 PM

man, trailers really sucked back then. They gave away everything.

Earnest_Suicide

Earnest_Suicide

HOPEFUL

United Kingdom

DEC 19, 2007 05:39 PM

They can have some from my hips and stomach - for free.

photoline

photoline

Edmonton, AB
January 2005

DEC 19, 2007 07:07 PM

Next up: synaptic energy powering the grid.

Alfaduetto

Alfaduetto

Greeneville, TN
May 2004

DEC 19, 2007 07:43 PM

I thought it was great that Dubya promised by 2020 we will have cars that produce 35 MPG. As a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry for 30 years[ steering]. I feel compelled to say, as a former sailor, fuck you George you self-serving ignorant bastard. We would have hydrogen fuel and zero emissions[ only water] by now if it wasn't for you petro-thieves. If the hydrogen zero emissions thing is ever going to happen the monetary and political power must be stripped from big oil and handed to the electric utility companys. I'm not saying that they will be any more or even as scrupulous as the oilers, but it must happen.[ The oil companies have set a new precedence in greed that the electric generation people will most likely follow.] Hydrogen generation from water is basically an electric intense process, therefore the electric companiess per basic economics must rule. Please do not suggest socializing energy. Remember Bushy is that very same thing. A central party of oil barons.All this being said I must admit that allot of this current mess is my fault having voted for DubyaTerd twice. I am voting for O this time to try to atone for my racist, capitalist sins. I am deeply sorry. blackeyed

Kyp

Kyp

Toronto, ON
October 2006

DEC 19, 2007 07:46 PM

Thats just gross. Besides anything that runs by eating people isn't the best tech idea.

Albastra

Albastra

Pittsburg, CA
November 2006

DEC 19, 2007 08:25 PM

All I can think of is "eww." And human fat is not "unlimited." Not even Britney's fat ass can get her a nice long boat ride. I think this is a very silly idea.

leavemehere

leavemehere

San Diego, CA
December 2002

DEC 19, 2007 08:42 PM

Wow, and I thought Tyler Durden making soap from peoples fat was cool! biggrin

Thistle

Thistle

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

DEC 19, 2007 10:23 PM

I find it very hard to believe that the energy produced is significantly greater than the energy used to produce it here. First of all there's the energy needed to perform the lipo. And of course the energy required to grow, harvest, and ship the food one eats to store up enough fat to make the lipo worthwhile.

It's interesting as a political statement but laughable as a practical suggestion.

Ferretbite

Ferretbite

Mexico
September 2006

DEC 19, 2007 10:34 PM

Wasn't there an episode of Boston Legal based around this?

Sounds like a good option.

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

DEC 19, 2007 10:50 PM

Not a single Fight Club reference?

Tsk, tsk.

Vidalia

Vidalia

SUICIDEGIRL

USA

DEC 19, 2007 11:07 PM

I don't think that my boat would go very far.

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