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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| NOVEMBER 11, 1998 10:55 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ozone Action Kymberly Escobar (202) 265-6738 kescobar@ozone.org |
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| U.S. Anti-Environment Congressional Delegation: A National Embarrassment | ||||
| BUENOS AIRES - November 11 - Today,
a handful of members of the U.S. Congressional delegation put on a hideous display of
ignorance, selfishness and isolationism that has soiled the proceedings of the climate
negotiations. The six Representatives held a press conference threatening the Clinton
Administration with harsh retribution if the US signs the Kyoto Protocol during the Buenos
Aires meeting. While the rest of the world waits desperately for US leadership on the most
important environmental threat of the coming millennia, this Congressional delegation is a
national embarrassment. The Congressional representatives called the treaty "fatally flawed," citing the lack of meaningful developing country participation and theoretical harm to the U.S. economy. Representative Klink went so far as to declare that the treaty would lead to the "de-industrialization" of the U.S. Recent polling by WWF and others has shown overwhelming public support in America for climate protection and growing dissatisfaction with congressional stall tactics that hinder implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. An alternate view strongly supporting the treaty was provided by Congressman Kucinich of Ohio, who was excluded from the anti-environmental Republican press briefing. Several of the Representatives displayed their ignorance by questioning the scientific consensus on global warming, the very impetus for the treaty. "What planet are these folks living on? Or, more importantly, which one do they intend to live on in the future?" questioned Kert Davies, Ozone Action's Science Policy Director. "These representatives are clearly out of touch with the people they represent." Davies added that the Congressional delegates more clearly represent the fossil fuel industry interests that oppose implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. The US negotiated the treaty in good faith in Kyoto. It now has an international responsibility to follow through by signing and ratifying the Protocol. Signature is merely the first step, a formality at best, but an important signal to the world of the sincerity of the US commitment. More importantly, as the largest polluter of the atmosphere, the US needs to take concrete steps to dramatically reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. The following members of Congress held this anti-environment press conference: Rep. Dan Burton, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Rep. Joe Knollenberg, Rep. Ron Klink and Rep. Ken Calvert.
### Ozone Action is a national public interest organization based in the United States focused exclusively on atmospheric protection. |
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