Feb 23, 2005

Against pollution

I am appalled when i heard the news that America is not following the other developed nations to follow through the Kyoto Protocol. Apparently, George Bush is staying in an air-con environment for too long to realise the terrible climatic changes happening on the global scale.

The Kyoto Protocol is long overdue. Only now that the various developed nations are taking steps may even be a bit too late, n im quite worried by America's reluctance to join in the act. Its currently the world's largest producer of green house gases, n that w/o its involvement, the act would be complete. I can understand that GB is defending its economy against pressures of e declining Dollar, its largely inflated trade deficit, continual pressures of rising oil prices n also its high unemployment rate.

Its always a huge debate - Can economic growth sustain without causing a strain on the environment. Water, air, noise pollution, depletion of natural resources..... are some of the detrimentals caused by the wonders of economic growth. I still hold the prinicple that health is more important than money. If this only affects America, i dun really care, but its affecting the whole world. For Americans to keep their jobs, the rest of the world have to die w them. Sounds reasonable? Trust GB to be unable to reason ard that. Isnt there really no way of keeping jobs n still reducing the green hse emissions?

However, i do find one thing being unfair to the developed nations, that is that the rapidly growing developing nations, esp China n India, are not included in some way. Maybe not in the protocol, but there shld be some system or law or sth to monitor n control their green hse gas emissions as well. We shld not wait for the monster to grow b4 we slay it. China n India will surpass America in their green hse emissions if they are not checked on as well. I agree w japan that its unfair that they have to pay for their emissions while their economic rivals are not affect at all. Not only is it economically unfair, this is a global problem, n that everyone shld play their part to reduce green hse emissions b4 its too late. This includes Spore, u n i as well.

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