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REFLECTIONS BY THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
THE G-8 MEETING
For those who are not informed –and
I am one of them-, G-8 refers to the group of most developed
countries, including Russia. The anticipated meeting which begins in
6 days has awakened great expectations due to the profound political
and economic crisis threatening the world.
Let's read the news services.
The German news agency DPA announces that the German
minister of Transportation and Urbanism, Wolfgang Tiefensee,
declared "that the European Union countries have agreed on a common
strategy."
"The European ministers of Urbanism meeting in the
eastern city of Leipzig in an informal council under the motto of 'Urban
Development and Territorial Cohesion’, will employ a common strategy
for the protection of the environment and the halting of climatic
change."
"For example," Tiefensee warned, "in the south of
Europe the summer temperatures are expected to increase up to six
degrees, while on the coasts we can expect strong winter storms.
"The drought threatening Spain and the lack of water
in Poland are two more examples of the challenges facing the
European Union, the German added at the end of the council."
Meanwhile, AFP reports that "the German minister of
the environment, Sigmar Gabriel, judged it to be ‘very difficult’
that in the next G-8 summit any success could be achieved in the
matter of climatic warming due to United States opposition."
"Germany will be the host country to the summit
which will be held on June 6 to 8 in Heiligendamm with the eight
most highly industrialized countries on the planet.
"Even though there are many in the United States who
would like to see another kind of policy on climatic warming,
‘unfortunately, Washington prevents’ such a position to materialize,
according to the German Social-Democratic minister.
"The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, will put
forth a ‘strong signal’ about the need to act urgently on this
matter; the United States administration multiplies its opposition
signals."
Reuters, the English agency, reports: "The United
States has refused the German proposal to see that the Group of
Eight agrees to tougher restrictions for carbon emissions that are
producing global warming, according to the draft of the communiqué
which will be presented at the meeting.
"The United States still has serious and fundamental
concerns about this declaratory draft, to which Reuters had access.
"Treatment of climatic change goes completely
counter to our position and crosses many ‘red lines’ in terms of
which we simply cannot be in agreement, explained the American
negotiators.
"This document is called FINAL, but we were never in
agreement with any of the climatic language present in the text",
they added.
"Germany would like an agreement to contain the
increase of temperatures, in order to cut back global emissions by
50 percent lower than 1990 levels for the year 2050 and to increase
energy efficiency by 20 percent for 2020.
"Washington rejects all those objectives."
While Blair declares that he would persuade his
friend George, the only thing certain is that he added another
submarine to the three that are now being built in Great Britain;
with this, the expenses for sophisticated armament increases another
2.5 billion dollars. Perhaps someone with one of those new computer
programs developed by Bill Gates could calculate the resources being
used for war expenses at the cost of education, healthcare and
culture for humanity.
George must say what he really thinks at the G-8
meeting, including the subject of the dangers threatening peace and
food for human beings. Someone should ask him and he should not try
to escape with the advice of his friend Blair.
Fidel Castro Ruz
May 29, 2007.
6:45 p.m. |