An Inconvenient Truth

[Occhidiangela]

The argument is what, then? Why bother, the environment is definitely going to hell, so let's live it up in the meantime?

Everyone should do better. If we don't, with our wealth, how can they be expected to, with hundreds of millions of people clamouring for a decent wage and a colour TV?

And, in any case, what gives us the right to shirk our environmental obligations, regardless of what happens elsewhere? If other countries are doing poorly, then it is up to us to do even more, not less.

-Jester

Jester, I agree with setting a good example, but the dirty little secret takes us back to the old ground of the utility of internaitonal laws and standards without enforceability. People cheat all the time, in all countries, regardless of the standards. Mexico has environmental laws and standards, but they don't bother to uphold even those with any rigor. How is one to expect some UN enforcement regimen when the UN is used by ruling cliques (putocrats, autocrats, aristocrats, democrats, what have you) in "the developing world" to create a competitive economic advantage?

The facade of "one world" easily vanishes as soon as someone wants more than the color television you postulate above.

Occhi