The United States, the world's largest polluter signed on to the Paris Climate Agreement along with every other nation in the world save two, Syria and Nicaragua.
Today, Donald Trump, in an act of unbridled criminal aggression against the rest of the world, announced his plan to withdraw from this agreement, signalling an end to any pretense that the United States might still claim leadership of the free world. As Dan Rather, a distinguished American journalist, has stated so succinctly, "greed, cynicism, shortsightedness and ignorance triumphed over intelligence and leadership."
The world will move on, Mr Trump. America will be left behind as other nations develop an economy based on clean technology and environmental stewardship.
There are many who have postulated that the decline and fall of America had begun before today's announcement; the precipitous slope has just been greased. The United States has abdicated all claim to leadership and has ceded the moral high ground to Europe and China, with other emerging nations not far behind.
Our own Prime Minister has stated that Canada will not waver in its commitment to environmental amelioration, although it will be more difficult to keep greenhouse gas levels down following Trump's decision today.
Rather than enhancing America's prosperity Trump has embarked on a course which will diminish it. The rejection of science, the acceptance of an antiquated view of the world, coupled with the brilliant minds and acceptance of the dangers to human health and the environment by other nations, can only signal disaster for America.
Time is running out for the only home we have. It is high time a few republicans in congress grow a spine and put the future of the earth and the welfare of their children ahead of partisan politics.
This is not a time for business as usual and I urge my fellow Canadians to boycott travel to the United States. How can anyone, in good conscience visit that country and spend their hard-earned money there? How much do we wish to enhance the prosperity of a country that has just committed so heinous an act? It is time for Canadians to act; the time for mere outrage has passed.
To those Americans who did not vote for Trump, who do not condone his recklessness, know that we are with you. Next year perhaps you can reverse the current state of republican domination of the entire political structure of your country and get it back on a track that accepts evidence over ideology. Much damage has been done with today's decision, but a more enlightened leadership could at least chart a course where the world will once again be your friend. Right now you have nothing but enemies. Angela Merkel is not alone when she says the time has come when America cannot be relied on.
It is indeed a sad day for the world.
Odio a este hombre, espero que su mandato dure poco por el bien de todos. Excelente artículo amigo mío, un fuerte abrazo desde España.
ReplyDeleteWell said!
ReplyDeleteHe will do what he wants to do and hang anyone else! Such an ignorant, arrogant man is how he comes across to me from afar.
ReplyDeleteTrump-what a d**k.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's putting it mildly, Stuart!
DeleteDavid
ReplyDeleteYou might be interested to know that I would not visit the USA when there was a Bush in the White House. I honored that. I vowed not to visit after the results on Nov. 8th, 2016. I have declared this to wonderful Americans I have met in Honduras and Panama this year. To a person, they all applaud me.
Thanks for your message and stance.
Congratulations on your principled stance, Neil, and thanks for stopping by my blog. We too have American friends who applaud us and are appalled by what is happening to their country.
DeleteI'm not sure even the American's that did vote for him signed on for this??
ReplyDeleteIt was a key component of his campaign rhetoric from start to finish, Carol. No one should be surprised - just horrified.
DeleteSo President Fart say's he's fed up with the rest of the world laughing at them. If the implications for the future of the planet weren't so serious, I think the rest of the world would be laughing even louder now! How the heck did the USA land themselves with an idiot like this one? Sadly, I'm not sure that, if he was deposed (by whatever means), the VP is any better.
ReplyDeleteLove to you both, and fingers crossed for us all - - Richard
For those who might not make the connection above, "Trump" is the colloquial word for "Fart" in the UK! And you are right, Richard, Pence is hardly any better, but I think he is less of a total whack job, although sinister to be sure.
DeleteYes, it is polluters like America, it is wrong. Terrible that man, Trump, I hate him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFirstly before I get my hackles up over the American idiot, those swallows were nowhere near mud. They were in fact on the tarmac outside our front door running around trying to catch insects, something I have never seen before.
ReplyDeleteMy words for the President of the USA are unprintable, he obviously has no thought for the planet, humans, animals or National Parks. I cannot stand the sight of his face and that mouth is beyond description. I cannot remember exactly what I said before, but I am sure I must have mentioned that I thought out of all the people in the USA that could be president, that they could have found someone with a lot more sense and more political brain. He is not a politician and only think of himself with wild and ridiculous ideas. To my mind time he was impeached. Hope your Sunday is a good one Diane
Even though I wouldn't put "high", "moral" and "China" in the same sentence, I agree with everything you write, David.
ReplyDeleteTime IS running out for the only home we have. I am pro science, but find it sad that so much is spoken about finding other habitable planets and so little about saving this one.
I think you are misinformed, the US isn't the worst. " China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, according to the most recent data from the Global Carbon Project. China emits about 10,357 million metric tons per year. REUTERS/Jason Lee"
ReplyDeleteThat said, any pollution needs to be stopped. Hopefully, this move by Trump will draw other countries together. Developing countries are learning, but it is a slow learning curve.
You are correct. In absolute terms China is first, the U.S. Is second. However, China is making massive investments in clean energy and is decommissioning coal plants. The country seems to have finally come to its senses and they are avid proponents of the Paris climate plan.
Delete