POLITICS AND NATURE

Environmental politics unfolding on the world stage puts the United States government under special scrutiny, garnering scoldings from such scions of environmental health and human rights as Indonesia, and members of the E.U. Backlash against our own nation is a bit overwhelming for those in the administration and their supporters in the right wing media and the increasingly timid "mainstream" media who cower in corners and fear the wrath of the most extreme of pundits who fear change and positive growth.

Al Gore received applause for placing blame on the United States government. How dare he, says those on the right wing. Never mind their attacks on Clinton's foreign policy or even going back to Ronald Reagan against Carter's international foibles back as far as 1979. The Bush administration won't do anything at Bali, stating once again how their's is the only way, they fear the developing world. There are some expectations of progress coming out of Bali and there may be signs of hope but the administration and the right wing continue to bury their collective heads.

Global warming offers the United States a transformative opportunity. A new type of technological advance holds the chance to create new jobs as well as cleaning up the footprint on the land. Environmental politics involves debate. Anyone who has ever been involved in complex negotiations can easily comprehend the difficulties abounding in this arena.

Yet negotiations perhaps can be positive. Business leaders can capitalize on the movement toward green technologies for their own benefit. The U.S. government could take a lead position in this entire process by showing developing nations the way. There is so much more that can be done if fear and change are not seen as determining factors in the pursuit of progress. Individual states are taking actions to work on the issue of climate change and global warming. The national government will most likely need to take action and be involved. People on the anti-government side will warn that business may suffer and the consumer will pay the price for reducing CO2 emissions and taxes should never be used to pay for such things that may or may not be true.

As one who believes the vast majority of the scientific community about the warming of the Earth and the place industrial activity plays in the drama, it seems to me there are things that can be done without excessive governmental intrustion but, like so many other things, without intenstive leadership within the business community.

No efforts made to alter international regimes will work without public support. It is important to listen to others and failure to take the initiative and move ahead of the rest of the pack will be at our own peril.