unknown
2005-09-11 02:03:17 UTC
http://www.guardian.co.uk/katrina/story/0,16441,1567348,00.html
Prescott links global warming to Katrina
Juliette Jowit and Ned Temko
Sunday September 11, 2005
The Observer
John Prescott sparked controversy yesterday by linking America's
refusal to tackle climate change to the devastation of the New Orleans
hurricane.
The Deputy Prime Minister caused potential embarrassment for Britain
by drawing a parallel between the US city destroyed by Hurricane
Katrina and island states that scientists believe are under threat of
being swamped.
In a speech in Berlin, he also criticised the US for failing to sign
the Kyoto protocol on climate change, which is aimed at slowing global
warming by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Article continues
A debate has raged in the US over whether global warming is
responsible for the recent series of storms. So far this year there
have been 15 named storms, significantly more than average.
President George Bush says he does not believe that human activity
causes global warming, but some experts say excessive carbon emissions
lead to higher sea temperatures and stronger storms.
With the death toll from Katrina expected to be in the thousands,
however, comments like these from a senior politician will be seen by
some as insensitive.
A spokesman for Prescott said Downing Street had seen the speech
beforehand, but the Prime Minister's office later refused to comment.
Tony Blair will meet Bush in New York this week at the United Nations
world summit, at which global warming will be a key issue. A White
House spokesman said the two leaders' warm relationship would not be
affected by the comments.
The spokesman also dismissed the suggestion of a link between Kyoto
and Katrina. James Connaughton, the chief White House environmental
aide, said Prescott was careful in his choice of words.
'Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster,' said Connaughton. 'Even
had we ratified and implemented the provisions of Kyoto, this would
not have stopped Katrina. We've had hurricanes for centuries.
'I have a high regard for John Prescott and it has been reinforced by
the fact that he was careful in what he said on this issue.'
In his speech, Prescott stressed his compassion for the US hurricane
victims, but said Bush's administration was wrong not to join Britain
and many other leading industrial nations in supporting Kyoto.
He told the international congress of the Council for European
Urbanism: 'As a European negotiator at the Kyoto climate change
convention, I was fully aware that climate change is changing weather
patterns and raising sea levels.
'The horrific flood of New Orleans brings home to us the concern of
leaders of countries like the Maldives, whose nations are at risk of
disappearing completely. There has been resistance by the US
government to Kyoto - which I believe is wrong.'
--
If you're poor and steal during a national crisis, you're a looter.
If you're rich and steal during a national crisis, you're a
Republican.
Not dead, in jail, or a slave? Thank a liberal!
Pay your taxes so the rich don't have to.
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"'Im not meeting with that goddamned bitch,' Bush screamed at aides
who suggested he meet with Cindy Sheehan, the war-protesting mother
whose son died in Iraq. 'She can go to hell as far as Im concerned!'"
--Putsch, a decompensating drunk
"Grover Norquist couldn't drown the government, so he drowned New Orleans instead."
Not dead, in jail, or a slave? Thank a liberal!
Pay your taxes so the rich don't have to.
For the finest in liberal/leftist commentary,
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a.a. #2211 -- Bryan Zepp Jamieson
Prescott links global warming to Katrina
Juliette Jowit and Ned Temko
Sunday September 11, 2005
The Observer
John Prescott sparked controversy yesterday by linking America's
refusal to tackle climate change to the devastation of the New Orleans
hurricane.
The Deputy Prime Minister caused potential embarrassment for Britain
by drawing a parallel between the US city destroyed by Hurricane
Katrina and island states that scientists believe are under threat of
being swamped.
In a speech in Berlin, he also criticised the US for failing to sign
the Kyoto protocol on climate change, which is aimed at slowing global
warming by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Article continues
A debate has raged in the US over whether global warming is
responsible for the recent series of storms. So far this year there
have been 15 named storms, significantly more than average.
President George Bush says he does not believe that human activity
causes global warming, but some experts say excessive carbon emissions
lead to higher sea temperatures and stronger storms.
With the death toll from Katrina expected to be in the thousands,
however, comments like these from a senior politician will be seen by
some as insensitive.
A spokesman for Prescott said Downing Street had seen the speech
beforehand, but the Prime Minister's office later refused to comment.
Tony Blair will meet Bush in New York this week at the United Nations
world summit, at which global warming will be a key issue. A White
House spokesman said the two leaders' warm relationship would not be
affected by the comments.
The spokesman also dismissed the suggestion of a link between Kyoto
and Katrina. James Connaughton, the chief White House environmental
aide, said Prescott was careful in his choice of words.
'Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster,' said Connaughton. 'Even
had we ratified and implemented the provisions of Kyoto, this would
not have stopped Katrina. We've had hurricanes for centuries.
'I have a high regard for John Prescott and it has been reinforced by
the fact that he was careful in what he said on this issue.'
In his speech, Prescott stressed his compassion for the US hurricane
victims, but said Bush's administration was wrong not to join Britain
and many other leading industrial nations in supporting Kyoto.
He told the international congress of the Council for European
Urbanism: 'As a European negotiator at the Kyoto climate change
convention, I was fully aware that climate change is changing weather
patterns and raising sea levels.
'The horrific flood of New Orleans brings home to us the concern of
leaders of countries like the Maldives, whose nations are at risk of
disappearing completely. There has been resistance by the US
government to Kyoto - which I believe is wrong.'
--
If you're poor and steal during a national crisis, you're a looter.
If you're rich and steal during a national crisis, you're a
Republican.
Not dead, in jail, or a slave? Thank a liberal!
Pay your taxes so the rich don't have to.
http://www.zeppscommentaries.com
For news feed, http://yahoogroups/subscribe/zepps_news
For essays (please contribute!)
http:yahoogroups/subscribe/zepps_essays
"'Im not meeting with that goddamned bitch,' Bush screamed at aides
who suggested he meet with Cindy Sheehan, the war-protesting mother
whose son died in Iraq. 'She can go to hell as far as Im concerned!'"
--Putsch, a decompensating drunk
"Grover Norquist couldn't drown the government, so he drowned New Orleans instead."
Not dead, in jail, or a slave? Thank a liberal!
Pay your taxes so the rich don't have to.
For the finest in liberal/leftist commentary,
http://www.zeppscommentaries.com
For news feed (free, 10-20 articles a day)
http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/zepps_news
For essays (donations accepted, 2 articles/week)
http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/zepps_essays
a.a. #2211 -- Bryan Zepp Jamieson