h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

President Bush has just refused to ratify the Kyoto Treaty on global warming, according to BBC News. They went on to say that 6% of the world's population lives in the USA but they're responsible for 24% of the greenhouse gasses that we generate. During the period since Kyoto, the USA's greenhouse gas production has increased by 12%. Apparently they were aiming for a 7% decrease. Bush say's the USA's pulling out because reducing the production of pollution will be bad for the American economy and in any case, the developing world should be making bigger reductions.

Any views, anyone? Any American views, maybe? What do people think about this?

I think that yes we shouldbe making bigger reductions but it was a start wasent it. I dont think america should have pulled out just becuase it would have costed them somthing. In my opinion the eveloping world should be cutting down on it and letting the third world use them more so it can strt to rebuild itself and then we can work to cutting them out all together

were talking about this over at the utopia cafebar

where???
can you link it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A465842

& http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A483635

Can't help noticing nobody's actually said anything about it yet over at the utopia cafebar HappyDude.

they will, the cafbar was set up o talk about environmental & ecological issues

Shouldn't we talk about it here then, where most people look for things to talk about?

I think you will it gets talked about at both locations now.

For my two pence worth I think its absolutly shameful

It seems extraordinary but apparently it was expected. Most powerful nation on earth. It's worrying.

Just got a little suggestion about the thread over at the cafe. It took me a couple of mins to track it down. It might be a good idea to give the thread a title that describes the subject. If you do it now, before the discussion gets started, new folks'll be able to find it more easily.

I'll pop over and get my two penn'th in tomorrow.

the regulars will find it

Don't you want new people to find it?

I didn't think that far ahead...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/newsid_1248000/1248278.stm is worth reading.

Tut! You happy types!

Hey, great link ... and it's at the BBC, so it's probably allowed.

any part of BBC on-line (has a bbc.co.uk address) is conidered an internal link

From Bush's point of view it's sensible. As you say, the most powerful nation on earth and possibly the most paranoid about losing any of that power. Money's power. They can't afford to do anything that might damage the economy. In a way, Bush might even see this thing as good news. All the countries with a sense of responsibility putting themselves at an economic disadvantage while America continues onwards and upwards. They'll be unassailable. They'll rule the world unchallenged - even more than they do already. A big powerful country that always gets its own way and tramples over everyone who disagrees with them and who's interests don't coincide with the interests of America. Just think how satisfying it'll be to watch the old enemy, Japan floating bloated, face down in the rising sea. That'll teach them not to bomb Pearl Harbour. And all those other little low-lying islands, and Bangladesh? Just a bunch of pointless foreigners. Who'll miss them?

It's very depressing.

if there is a world left to rule...

He probably reasons that he'll be dead by the time we get global warming melt down. Or maybe he just believes the voices in his head. Or maybe he's listening to one of those advisory committees that say "all the data isn't in yet, Mr President. We don't know for certain that the greenhouse gasses we're putting into the atmosphere are causing global warming. Let's just wait and see. We can always find some high ground, if the worst comes to the worst."