The People's Ratification of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty

[JaneDoughnut]

I found this petition today. A little late, but still cool. The idea is to ratify Kyoto on behalf of our leaders, since they won't do what we know they should.
And as much as possible, we should all take steps in our own lives to reduce our use of electricity, fuel, and the emissions created by us or on our behalf.

http://www.kyotoandbeyond.org/petition.html

People's Ratification of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty

When faced with a grave threat to a livable future for ourselves, our children, and future generations, it is our duty as Americans to respond.

To date, some 141 nations have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which enters into force in February 2005, in order to arrest the intensifying destructiveness of global climate change.

In contrast, the United States, which generates 25 percent of the world's polluting carbon emissions with only 5 percent of its population, refuses to join in this worldwide effort to keep this planet hospitable to civilization.

We recognize the current goals of the Protocol are too low -- and its timetable too long -- to effectively halt the escalating instability of the global climate.

We also recognize the Kyoto Protocol is the only existing diplomatic framework through which the entire global community can address this unprecedented challenge.

We further recognize that the Constitution of the United States grants us the ultimate authority of government.

Therefore, as citizens of the United States, we hereby ratify the Kyoto Protocol and demand that our elected representatives follow suit.

Additionally, we pledge to support subsequent phases of the Kyoto Protocol to reduce worldwide greenhouse-gas emissions by 70 percent. This global transition to clean energy would address nature's demand for a stable climate even as it generates millions of clean-energy jobs.

Finally, we declare, through this act of ratification, our allegiance to the democratic process, our fundamental and mortal relationship with this Earth, and our essential solidarity with every other member of the human family.

http://www.kyotoandbeyond.org/petition.html

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. I have read some propaganda

and I need clarification (and here in the office I don't have time to google it effectively). Does Kyoto really exempt China and India as developing nations? How can the treaty have any teeth if China and India are exempted?

Thanks, I would really like to know...
theProdigal

[JaneDoughnut]

2. You're correct

India and China are exempt from the first round of cuts. There is a half-decent FAQ here - http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/kyoto/index.html - but I haven't had time to google for a better one right now either. Anyone?