Al Gore had his moment in the sun today, standing on the podium at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony with Rajendra Pachauri, the chair of the IPCC ( Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Gore gave a pretty good speech- here are a few excerpts-
"We must quickly mobilize our civilization with the urgency and resolve that has previously been seen only when nations mobilized for war."
To China and the USA, Gore urged "make the boldest moves, or stand accountable before history for their failure to act". He noted that these 2 nations "Should stop using the other's behavior as an excuse for stalemate and instead develop an agenda for mutual survival"
"I have urged president Bush and his administration to be part of the world community's effort to solve this crisis. I hope they will change their position."
Well, the USA negotiator at the Bali climate conference,currently in session, has made it quite clear that his instructions are to fight mandatory emission caps and mouth silly phrases about voluntary action. Gore's comment that our next President will take a different road is quite accurate, but his hope that Bush might yet change course is not.
A Parable for our times:
A traveler walked down a road. As he walked, he caught up with another traveler who heard his footsteps, turned and noticed his approach. "Stop" cried out the second traveler. "You are going the wrong way. There is a dragon in the hills who will eat you. Look at this!" He held out his hand and caught a flake of ash drifting on the wind.
The first traveler stared at the second in astonishment. "Such nonsense" he sneered. "If there were a dragon before us, surely I would have encountered you walking towards me as you returned to the fork in the road to take a different way. These ashes are from a campfire, or perhaps a wildfire in the distant mountains."
"Have it your own way, idiot" spat the second traveler. The travelers continued on in silence until the dragon arrived and had a tasty snack of barbecue.
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Comments: 5
Of course they will probably head to the "New Florida"- Nova Scotia.
Accurate, if our next president is a democrat. Republicans, as you said in another article, may say the right thing in a campaign (w., 2000) and do the opposite once in office.
Unfortunately, the democrats will also need 60 seats in the senate, because, as we see with the current energy bill, republicans are going to block any serious effort to stimulate growth of renewables. Fortunately, renewables are gaining momentum despite public policy.
good points. Michael, I have always conceded Gore's lack of perfection. One part of his story is the freedom of those outside politics to tell the truth as they see it, and the burden of politicians to shade the truth to please the audience.
Steve- true, if by some stretch Giuliani becomes president, he will find a way to maintain the go-it-alone approach. McCain might be okay, other than that the Republicans do not measure up on climate change policy. They would probably be less intansigent than the Bush cheney team have been, but no they are unlikely to bite the bullet and get the job done.