It's obvious the reporter is biased... but he does make a couple of good points.
But you're absolutely right about pollution. When I'm on my bike back in California, I cough a lot at night. At home in Arkansas, I don't, despite being a smoker for 2+ decades. I'm talking deep, wracking coughs that wake me up at night, and I can only attribute it to the levels of smog in San Jose, which isn't even noted for being smoggy - but with 1.3 Million people in the area, at least half of which drive, it's an issue.
Sure, we should bear the brunt of the costs, but it doesn't mean they get to have a free for all. I mean, their population is so much bigger than ours, they need to rein themselves in or they are in a position to completely screw the world over. People don't get a 'turn' at polluting, even if they think they should get their fair share of the economic pie. That's like saying some guy (we'll call him Jimbob) was this asshole that ran around raping women and had a fun time doing it....it was wrong, but all the other guys that didn't get a shot at it have a right too. I mean, we know rape is wrong but can we really deny these other guys a little fun, since Jimbob got to do it?
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. - Mohandas Gandhi
If Jimbob made trillions of $$$ selling vids of his rape-fest I think its fair to make him pay the majority of costs associated with getting his pimps off the street, reeducating young men about the wrongness of rape and finding new alternatives for their sexual needs.
But yes, emerging economies need to look at alternative energy also and consumption patterns. Where its economically feasible. Most of those technologies are too expensive without significant gov't subsidies.
On the other hand, its not just their populace that is driving their consumption of dirty fuel like coal (from Australia, Rafter!). Think about the laptop/iPad/iPod you use on a regular basis. Or your phone, TV, car... Asian baby. Made in China/Korea and shipped here by good old, oil-guzzling supership. Or the coke, coal, sulfur that goes from us to them. We see them everyday leaving English Bay, Blue. We need to clean up the shit in our own backyard before starting to point fingers at these other countries.
Last edited by IndiReloaded; 07-09-11 at 01:28 PM.
Second thoughts can generally be amended with judicious action; injudicious actions can seldom be recovered with second thoughts.
--Cyteen by C.J.Cherryh
To add some levity to this thread full of sanctimony, I thought some of you might enjoy reading what some of the GOP have to say about climate change. [url=http://www.npr.org/2011/09/07/140071973/in-their-own-words-gop-candidates-and-science?sc=fb&cc=fp]In Their Own Words: GOP Candidates And Science : NPR[/url]
Actually, I enjoyed their wisdom a bit more on the topic of evolution.
Relax... I'll need some information first. Just the basic facts - can you show me where it hurts?
Well, some of those comments aren't too bad. Anyway, lots of ppl w/egg on their face if the report data turns out to be a real mechanism for cloud formation. We'll have to wait and see.
Second thoughts can generally be amended with judicious action; injudicious actions can seldom be recovered with second thoughts.
--Cyteen by C.J.Cherryh
It's annoying that Ron Paul's brilliant socioeconomic ideas are accompanied by such religious stupidity.
Don't cry, don't regret and don't blame
Weak find the whip, willing find freedom
Towards the sun, carry your name
In warm hands you are given
Ask the wind for the way
Uncertainty's gone, your path will unravel
Accept all as it is and do not blame
God or the Devil
~Born to Live - Mavrik~