Damn Yankies!

Is it not time to isolate the Americans and their crass attitudes to the rest of the world? The idea that we all have to watch our planet hurtle towards catastrophe so their rotten economic system can continue to fester is ridiculous. Their behaviour, once again, in destroying consensus on environmental issues should not be tolerated. Don't think this is just another Bush idea, during Clinton's presidency there was a vote on Kyoto which was unanimously voted out of congress by 99-0 – voters included democrats. Under no circumstances will Americans allow through any binding legislation that might affect their economy. Even though America itself is being hit severely by the early and growing effects of climate change.

I believe there is no longer any point inviting Americans to any Environmental discussion table. We know their views. We must as people with the wit and wisdom to change things for the better leave America to its own devices. Yes, Americans are creating the largest impacts, but they are also reaping the negative side of environmental change more than most. I believe it won't be long before they will have no choice but to acquiesce, so let's waste no more time on them. In the meantime, we must do what we need to do and not allow America to dictate to the world anymore.

Why do we treat America and Americans differently from everyone else? A few years ago, when France resumed nuclear testing many shops, pubs and restuarants in Glasgow made a point of not selling French goods in protest – beers, wines, food etc. When the yanks said they were going to resume their nuclear tresting I asked some of the same shop, pub and restaurant owners if they were now going to stop selling coca-cola, hotdogs and budweiser etc.? They looked at me as if I was daft.

So, what is the difference? Why does the rest of the world accept so much crap from America, why do we always allow them to be treated as a special case just because they demand it? We really need to stop doing that. The future of the planet depends on it.

Don't kid yourself, what is in front of us now in the form of climate change is probably the most serious situation the human race has ever faced – I mean ever! Let us also understand that we cannot, nor will not destroy, this planet. It was here over four billion years before we arrived and it will most likely be here for around another five billion years. What is so easily destroyed is the fragile systems that allow us to live on the planet. We cannot reproduce them on the necessary scale, and when they are gone there is nowhere else for us to go.

Is the way we have chosen to live on this planet – and we can choose differently – more important than that? Is the western lifestyle worth that much? I believe there is still time to mitigate the worst effects of global warming, but I also believe that the time to do so is limited.

GOOD PLANETS ARE REALLY HARD TO FIND,

SO LET US DECIDE, ONCE AND FOR ALL,

TO LOOK AFTER THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE!