Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) are showing up everywhere. Traditional light bulbs we’ve all used are about to be a thing of the past. CFLs are another example of good intentions gone bad. It should really be called “Green Insanity”. According to the “so-called experts” CFL bulbs use 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. The official US government website www.energystar.gov/cfls states the following:
“CFLs produce light differently than incandescent bulbs. In an incandescent, electric current runs through a wire filament and heats the filament until it starts to glow. In a CFL, an electric current is driven through a tube containing argon and a small amount of mercury vapor. This generates invisible ultraviolet light that excites a fluorescent coating (called phosphor) on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light.
CFLs need a little more energy when they are first turned on, but once the electricity starts moving, use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. A CFL’s ballast helps ‘kick start’ the CFL and then regulates the current once the electricity starts flowing.”
Lie #1 – These bulbs last longer. Fact: In some cases yes and in some cases no. Many people who have replaced their lights with CFLs have not experienced a longer lasting bulb. One user in Florida noted the following:
“I have CFLs throughout my house, both inside and out. At first I didn’t want to use the bulbs but when I needed to replace some older ones that was all that was left to purchase. I was quite shocked actually to see that I can hardly find the older bulbs I used to use any more. I expected to see these new bulbs last for years after hearing all the hyped up reports about them. I typically leave my porch lights on at night. To my surprise these bulbs burned no longer. In fact, they have burned out faster. I have 6 of them inset into my kitchen ceiling and one after the other has burned out. This is all in less than a year. How can that be? I thought these bulbs would last for years without needing to be replaced. Boy do I think we’re all being conned. I’ve talked to others and they tell me the same thing. So, why is the government really mandating these bulbs to be used when they aren’t burning longer?”
Lie # 2 – CFLs are better for the environment. Fact: This is a complete lie backed up by no facts. They claim that power plants create up to 4 times the mercury to light an incandescent light. That sounds like a number pulled out of thin air just like all the cooked books to sell us on global warming. How can that be when these bulbs don’t last much longer? The truth is these bulbs are a 1,000 times worse for the environment because of the mercury gas they contain. These bulbs will emit mercury gas thereby contaminating a person with the second most toxic heavy metal known to man and they will contaminate the earth with mercury on a scale unseen in human history. They say “be careful of the mercury inside the bulb and if you accidentally break one be sure to open the windows and use gloves to pick up the pieces.” How many people will do that? Duh! Billions of people all over the world will be dumping their burned out CFLs in the garbage which will contaminate the landscape of the earth with mercury.
According to mercury expert John Moore in a story published in Crusador: “The new long-life, low-energy fluorescent light bulb that is in the marketplace is a mercury light bulb. What makes fluorescents work is that you put a coating on the inside of the bulb, then you put mercury in it, then you activate the mercury and it lights the tube. Unfortunately, over time the mercury escapes through the glass. The mercury cannot be contained; it will pass through the glass. Mercury will dissolve all but 3 metals: iron, platinum, and nickel according to the chemistry handbook that is used at universities. It’s an unbelievable material. Mercury is also the only metal that goes from a liquid to a vapor form, and it starts doing that at 50 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. It’s really the genie out of the bottle.”
Lie # 3 – CFLs won’t harm people. Fact: It appears that the sole reason for switching to these bulbs is to harm people. First of all in the near future you won’t even be able to buy an old light bulb. That means that every single human being will be exposed to mercury vapor off-gassing from these bulbs. It also means that this mercury will seep into vital waterways worldwide as landfills get piled up with burned out CFL bulbs. That means more mercury in your fish and food. Where’s Al Gore the liar to save us? We have thimerosal in vaccines which anyone except a paid off turn-coat working for industry or government knows harms people. Just ask all the vaccine injured children. Whatever happened to mercury thermometers? We were told they were safe but you can’t buy one anymore. Guess they learned after all that they were bad. Then we have mercury amalgam dental fillings. “Oh, they’re totally safe and good for you”, says the government. Really! Just ask all the people who have seen their health destroyed by mercury fillings. The fact is mercury is an absolute known human health destroyer and mercury laced light bulbs will just add to an already over-burdened toxic load in people.
And last of all, check the country of origin for all the CFLs. They’re all made in China! That’s right, the great nation of the world who has done more to pollute and contaminate the environment in the last twenty years than any other industrialized nation before it. Do you remember Melamine in milk that blows out your kidneys coming from China? How about all the drywall that has contaminated millions of homes with toxins? How about all the children’s toys loaded with lead and cadmium? That’s just scratching the surface. So, when it comes to CFLs, users beware!