G8 Roadblocks -by Robb

Looks like George Bush is at it again, doing his best to stand in the way of US action on climate change. At the G8 Summit he is refusing to discuss US targets unless India and China do, refusing to accept responsibility on the behalf of the US for the centuries worth of emissions that are the lions share of the global total. On the other hand India's PM is refusing to discuss setting long term goals on the grounds that it's present emissions account for 4% of the current global total. Don't they get it yet?

Everyone has to set targets!

This is the common ground upon which the process of achieving meaningful change can take seed. Our leaders are there to lead, not obfuscate and hinder the process of leadership. Everyone must come to the table prepared to make difficult decisions for the long term benefit of all their people rather than the short term profit of the wealthy few. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, the G8 is after all a gathering of the wealthiest to benefit the wealthiest at the expense of the poorest. Here's a few stats from the Trapese Collective's book "Do it Yourself: A Handbook for Changing Our World", that point out;

• the G8 is 12% of the world population,
• 48% of the gross economic output derives from the G8, and the wealth that accrues,
• the G8 produces 62% of the total global carbon emissions,
• of the top 100 multinational corporations, 98% have their headquarters in G8 nations.

Do you think the interests of the non G8 countries are going to be represented at the summit? Is this what you want your leaders to be up to?