To: New York Times <letters@nytimes.com>
Re: Recognising the real threat behind global warming
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001
     
 

Dear Sir/Madam,

Telling us about the dangers of global warming, is like telling an alcoholic or a chain smoker about the risks of alcohol and tobacco - you are wasting your breath. Addicts are not capable of responding to facts or reason (Glacier Loss Seen as Clear Sign of Human Role in Global Warming, 19 February 2001).

The "civilised" world, with America at its head, is addicted to the pursuit of "limitless wealth and material possibilities", with money as the ultimate measure of success and attainment. As a consequence, western civilisation is facing the biggest and most dire threat of its long, amazing history.

First we must recognise the real source of what is threatening us, whereby global warming is only a symptom: it is  our own non-sustainable, overly materialistic values and attitudes, which to make things worse, and difficult to change, we have embedded in our economic system.

Only once we recognise this can we face up to the huge challenge it represents.

Since George W. Bush, so I have heard, turned away from drugs and false values to become, first Governor of Texas and now President, perhaps he will better understand the need for America as a whole to overcome its
addictions and false values and move towards a sustainable, far less materialistic future. However, so far I have seen no sign of it, and his proposed tax cuts for the wealthy point rather in the opposite direction.