Fear and Loathing on the World Community's Efforts for Climate Protection

Have you noticed that anything designed by aindefinitely. But as time went on, this flawed foreign
committee is seldom aesthetically and functionallypolicy has created Al-Qaeda and despotic Persian Gulf
pleasing? I hope that this fate doesn't befall theHeads-of-State.
well-intentioned actions of the Global Community /If the U.S. Administration's involvement in formulating
Powers-That-Be to limit the impact of our industriallaws that are of benefit to the Global Community in
processes on our climate. Believe me, I'm all fortackling catastrophic climate change is still based on a
establishing resolutions to limit the generation of40-year-old "canon" that protects U.S. interests in
greenhouse gasses that's causing global warming thatmaintaining their Military-Industrial-Complex above all
would eventually cause a catastrophic climate changeelse would probably result in two scenarios. One, it
and sea level rise. But chances are, the United Stateswould be doomed to fail; two, it would create more
will have the loudest voice on formulating policies toproblems that it intends to solve.
solve this somewhat intransigent dilemma becauseMaybe, we should take solace on what Abraham
herein lies the true extent of the complexity of theLincoln said about slavery more than a hundred years
task at hand. But first, lets take a look back on theago. He said that the institution of slavery was
United States Government's track record on how"formulated on both injustice and bad policy." This is
might they deal with this problem.much like our present "agricultural subsidies" that only
During the end of the 1960's, the gravest threat tobenefit the rich and powerful. Policymakers really
the Global Community was the all-out nuclearshould think carefully on how they should formulate
exchange between the U.S. and the then Sovietsolutions to protect our climate that not only benefits
Union. The Nixon administration at that time was in athe poor but also rich industrialists can live with.
unique position to declare a détente or andMost "common folks" that I know have been doing
end to the "Cold War" and the ability to enforce it.their part in protecting our planet. Some of them for
Sadly, the U.S. Administration at that time wasmore than thirty years by reducing energy
extremely reluctant to reformulate the "canon" ofconsumption and recycling in order to conserve our
their "interests" and foreign policies. This wasdwindling natural resources. Let us just hope that
immortalized in that famous Richard M. Nixon quote;when run-of-the-mill politicians use their heavy
"Peace in our time with honor." A lot of people willhandedness on environmentalism, Russian Literature
argue that it was a good thing because the almostbuffs won't be saying: "The road to hell is paved with
imminent all-out nuclear exchange was postponedgood intentions.