PRESIDENT George W. Bush opposes the Kyoto Protocol to stem global warming.
That dismays me greatly as it does many others
(快猫短视频, 7 April, p 3).
I asked environment minister Michael Meacher what Britain can do to
persuade the Americans to think again.
Meacher replied that climate change is a global problem and requires a global
agreement. Britain is committed to the Kyoto Protocol and the government intends
to take all appropriate opportunities to encourage the US to engage seriously in
the negotiations. Britain and its partners in the European Union and other
countries will keep the pressure on the US in the run-up to the next round of
talks in July.
Meacher welcomed the move by a cross-party group of four US senators to introduce
a bill requiring power plants to reduce carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2007
(快猫短视频, 24 March, p 4).
But Bush has made it
clear that he opposes capping such emissions, and Meacher is not optimistic that
Britain will succeed in changing that position. 鈥淚n our discussions with the
Bush administration we shall underline the need for them to show that they are
serious about tackling climate change by taking substantial domestic action,鈥� he
said.
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Personal abuse and name-calling have no place in this matter. Epithets, such
as 鈥渢he toxic Texan鈥� used by one MP recently, are counter-productive in backing
those Americans who are uneasy about their President鈥檚 view.
IT鈥橲 NO JOKE when your drains get blocked, and even less of one when the
plumber sends in the bill for clearing them. Last year, fears grew that Procter
& Gamble鈥檚 new toilet tissue with extra wet strength would clog up Britain鈥檚
sewer systems. To the rescue came the Association of Makers of Soft Tissue
Papers with a new testing protocol to check the flushability and dispersability
of new tissue products
(快猫短视频, 10 June 2000, p 18).
When I sought advice
from the Scottish Office my query passed into the sure hands of the eminent
neurosurgeon Sam Galbraith, then Scottish environment, sport and culture
minister.
Galbraith replied that my concerns over the new stronger toilet paper had
been raised with the Scottish water authorities. They had not reported any
problems with domestic drains. He said Water UK, whose members include the
Scottish water authorities and water companies in England and Wales, had also
not reported any blockages. But because of concerns within the water industry,
Water UK is to meet both the Association of Makers of Soft Tissue Papers and
Procter & Gamble to discuss testing procedures of the product, said
Galbraith.
That meeting has still not taken place. Action over the outbreak of foot and
mouth has sidelined so much in Britain.
SIX THOUSAND people in Britain are now waiting for a transplant in one form
or another, according to the British Medical Association in a recent
parliamentary brief to MPs. It adds that of late 5 per cent fewer transplants
were available and that only one in seven of us is registered as an organ
donor.
I am a friend and admirer of Ken Clarke, Conservative MP for Rushcliffe. I
fully support his efforts to amend the Human Tissue Act through private members鈥�
legislation. However, as one who has repeatedly tried to do this myself since
1971, through 10-minute rule bills and other procedures, may I be forgiven for a
sad aside. I do wish MPs would address such problems when they have the power to
do so. After all, Clarke held various ministerial posts when Margaret Thatcher
was Prime Minister and in particular he was Secretary of State for Health from
1982 to 1985. I wish him well now though in his attempt to update the law on the
transplantation of human organs for medical purposes. If successful, it will be
a case of better late than never.