Recently the focus has been on the international global warming treaty that will soon be negotiated in Kyoto. We saw the appointment of Al Gore as a harbinger of great things to come. They have talked a good talk on protecting the environment, but when it comes time for hard decisions there has been little change in the status quo. One merely has to look at the virtually unchanged and obscenely inflated defense budget in comparison with the pittance spent on protecting the environment. This is not to denigrate the importance of the economy, but to point out that its rapid growth is not synonymous with a healthy planet for all inhabitants, present and future.
Actions speak louder than words.
Examples of situations where the administration has failed to be a forceful advocate for the earth are numerous. The most current is the lackluster U.S. global warming proposal. It can be damned with faint praise. Yes, marginal steps are planned to attempt to reduce carbon emissions. But, in an attempt to mollify big business, the modest American scheme will, in the long run, be inadequate to stop global warming.