If nothing changes

Jun 16, 2005 08:52 GMT  ·  By

Global warming is one of the most important issues regarding our planet's future safety and, perhaps, even concerning the future of the mankind. It's a problem most industrialized states are trying to tackle, except for the one whose example would have the greatest significance, the United States.

And not only that the U.S. administration has no plans whatsoever to try and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, but it's also trying to cover the scientific facts. If the report is contrary to your interests, just change something in it. Deny any link between the irrational exploitation of resources and the melting of polar ice caps, global warming and rising of the Oceans' level.

As reported by the New York Times last week, Philip Cooney, while occupying the position of chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, made a large number of changes in government reports on global warming, minimizing its risks and raising doubts about its validity. Thus, he has completely changed the meaning of all the reports.

Mr. Cooney eventually resigned. But this doesn't change the fact that this policy is a general rule for the Bush administration. His close ties to the oil industry make it difficult for the American president to impose certain regulations that would most certainly take their financial toll on the companies that backed up his campaign.

The U.S. are not only the greatest emitter of greenhouse gases, but also the only major industrialized country that hasn't signed the Kyoto treaty, regarding the reduction of the above mentioned substances.

However, things are starting to change even on American soil. California's Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example, wants California's greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by 80 percent in the next 50 years, saying that "We know the science, we see the threat, and the time for action is now".

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences issued a warning regarding the fact that a failure to implement reductions now will make the job more difficult in the future. And as the world leaders become worried and begin taking action in this direction, isn't it the time for the Bush administration to finally accept the facts and do something about them?