46 Nations Call for Tougher U.N. Environment Role

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Forty-six nations called for the creation of a more powerful U.N. environment agency on Saturday, saying the survival of humanity was at risk, but the United States, China and Russia did not sign up.

``We must realize that we have reached a point of no return, and have caused irreparable damage,'' according to the ``Paris Call for Action'' read out by French President Jacques Chirac after a two-day conference at his Elysee Palace.

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``We are coming to realize that the entire planet is at risk, that the well-being, health, safety, and very survival of humankind hangs in the balance,'' Chirac said after talks with politicians, scientists, business leaders and foreign leaders.

The Paris appeal seeks the creation of a new U.N. Environment Organization (UNEO) to fight threats such as global warming, water shortages or a loss of species. And it urges ''massive international action to face the environmental crisis.''

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070203/wl_nm/globalwarming_appeal_dc

[MasonJar]

1. Please can we impeach Cheney and Bush so we can start now

in the US, instead of hoping to start 2 years from now?

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2. Former Vice President Al Gore cheered Chirac's efforts

Former Vice President Al Gore, whose Oscar-nominated documentary on the perils of global warming has garnered worldwide attention, cheered Chirac's efforts.

"We are at a tipping point," Gore told the conference by videophone. "We must act, and act swiftly ... Such action requires international cooperation."

The world's scientists and other international leaders also said now that the science is so well-documented, action is clearly the next step.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070203/ap_on_sc/france_climate_change