To: New York Times <letters@nytimes.com>

Re: Allies Tell Bush They'll Act Alone on Climate Accord, July 22, 2001

Date: Sun, 22 July 2001

 

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Dear Sir/Madam,

 

America, or rather your President, is taking a lot of stick for placing short-sighted economic interests before the interests of our children and coming generations. Thereby it is good to remember that a majority of Americans actually voted for a president, Al Gore, who, judging by his book "Planet in the Balance" would have placed their country in the vanguard of those striving for a sustainable future.

 

If we leave it to nature and "market forces" to achieve sustainability we are in for a very rough ride.

 

However, the Kyoto protocol barely scratches the surface of the problem (of achieving sustainable economies and lifestyle for between 8 and 10 billion people on a planet with finite resources and carrying capacity), which up until now no government is prepared to face up to.

 

It is hardly surprising, when one considers that it will entail making truly radical changes to economic philosophy, lifestyles and the materialistic values and aspirations on which they are based.

 

History will record the tragedy of how America and the world where robbed of a president who might at least have got us moving in the right direction, and instead were given George W. Bush.