During last year's presidential campaign, George W. Bush promised regulations on electric utility companies to sharply reduce carbon dioxide emissions. But in typical Bush fashion, the ultra-rightists in the service of the energy corporations dictate White House policy and Bush abandoned the goal of carbon dioxide reduction. This week, Bush wrote a letter to ultra-right Senators Jesse Helms, Chuck Hagel, Pat Roberts and Larry Craig announcing that he has reversed himself and will take no actions aimed at curbing carbon dioxide emissions. But this is simply not true. Hearing energy industry puppets like Bush deny the scientific facts is like hearing the tobacco corporations deny that cigarette smoking is not addictive and does not cause cancer.
Scientists warn that global temperatures are rising exponentially.
The temperature of the oceans is rising, the main contributor to violent storms and droughts. Oceans will rise by as much as six meters if the Antarctic ice cap melts, devastating hundreds of coastal cities and low-lying nations such as Bangladesh. Global warming will spread devastating tropical diseases like malaria. Endangered species of wildlife will become extinct. Greenhouse gases are long-lasting in the atmosphere, so the Earth will continue to heat up even if drastic measures are taken now to curb emissions.