Why are kyoto supporters more concerned with U.S. signature rather than lack of compliance of current members?
471038
As a quick and blunt answer I would say they need America's money. There's probably other reasons too, but these guys from Kyoto get caught up in little things that this is the answer that hits my cynical mind first.
333672
I would guess many NGOs would practice "diplomacy."  Same with IGOs.  They are of increasing influence in the world stage.
677002
There is a "coalition of the willing" that include more than this...however, most of these countries have the resources to only show "token support" These countries should also be acknowledged appreciatively.\nThere are however many countries who prefer to reap the benefit of this coalition's efforts (ie future security and freedom)without sharing in the responsibility.\nThere are also so-called world powers like Russia that want to keep American power in check. Of course they do not want war with America ... but snicker when America suffers casualty in it's response to World threats.\nIran is an example.  Iran is taunting America...America must respond. Russia is poking each with a needle while giggling on the sideline.\nOf course....Should Iran show any serious signs of a threat...Russia will necessarily join in the melee on the side of responsibility (US, Great Britan and coalition)
230358
I oppose it because it weakens the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.  (I'm an American.)
928657
The simple answer is no. Anything that is considered a liberal cause does not stand a chance. The Democrats can propose the legislation, but the president will veto it. \n\nKyoto is a waste of time. It is not about pollution control or the environment. It is about punishing powerful nations. If the UN is truly interested in the environment they need to craft a treaty which does not exclude two of the world's biggest polluters (India and China). Remember that it is not only the Republicans that wouldn't sign Kyoto, the previous Democrat administration wouldn't sign it either. That should speak volumes about how worthless it really is. We should all be concerned about the environment, but it doesn't mean we should latch onto every piece of garbage that comes down the pipe on the matter. We need commonsense legislation and solutions that are not designed purely to damage our economy while strengthening others by exclusion.
61035
I think what you are refering to is the "Kyoto Protocol".  Its an international movement to put requirements on the release of greenhouse gases most notablely CO2.   The US is against it because the requirements that are wanted would cause the US to go into a economic recession resulting in millions of dollars lost.  oil refineries in the US and other industries would have to do billions of dollars worth of changes to thier processes and when business have to spend money they have to cut jobs.  It will never be done, so forget the word Kyoto Protocl it will never happen :) :0
86638
Sure they could. It's called voting. People need to direct more thought into voting. The American people vote their representatives into office, who in turn get to make the laws and vote for the President. Too many people sit idly by and don't make sure their voices are heard. Whenever there is an issue that I strongly have an opinion about, I make sure to call my Representative's office-be it a local, state, or Federal issue. This is the only way to make sure your opinion gets recorded! They are your elected reps. and are there for you, to vote according to the people of their districts. Signatures on a petition are just an amplification of this. Also, if more people who disagree with the system and would take action to run for office can you imagine the changes that would ocurr? I'm not saying any nutjob can get elected, but if you make sense and others agree with you then why not give it a try? People need to realize they are vested in the actions of this country whether they agree with them or not. We need to eliminate the people from office who do not represent our views as a whole. Our society needs to take action! Stop saying "It doesn't matter when I vote, so I'm not going to vote". That kind of attitude is what's gotten our system into the sorry mess it's in now. If you don't vote or take action, others who do vote will get control of things & quite possibly do things you don't agree with.
576180
Once USA decided to move to another planet, I do not see reasons why to stay in these organisations. \nAlso might be that these organisations are ineffective because of some bad influence - a rich guy may think if he orders the music, then...
895828
How do they get enforced? Well, they don't -- often.\n\nThere can be things like economic punishment and international isolation for treaty violations. (BTW, I'm by no means an expert.)\n\nRatification is different; that's the process by which a treaty is agreed to in the first place, and has nothing to do with enforcement after a treaty has been signed.\n\nIn the US, the Senate needs to ratify all treaties -- that is, all treaties to which the US is a party.\n\nThat's what a treaty is, an agreement between two or more sovereign states (countries). Each agrees (using whatever methods each country has, according to its constitution).\n\nDunno how things work in other countries, as I'm a US-ian.
19883
There is a problem here that goes a little deeper than you might expect.\n\nIn my humble opinion, people in our society have gotten very used to having someone else (i.e. "the government") do things for them.\n\nThey have moved away from (or forgotten) the concept of collaborating with their neighbors, friends, co-workers, acquaintences, etc., to accomplish needed missions and goals.  For instance, the United States has a relatively low voter turnout compared to other countries.  As a matter of fact, sources rank the U.S. in the lowest 25% worldwide in terms of voter turnout among different countries.  It should be noted that some countries such as Belgium, Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Uruguay, to name a few, have compulsory voting.  If you don't vote, you are either fined or disenfranchised.  Compulsory voting is an admirable, if not misguided, attempt at keeping people from becoming complacent.  I believe it is better though to make our decisions freely.  Free will is what was given to us by our Creator, to make right and wrong decisions.  It is what makes us Human. \n\nNow, if we don't tell the government what it is that we want, how can we expect the government to "do anything".  To take it a step further, do we really want the government to "do anything"?  After the tragedy of 9/11, the government "did something" by removing various and sundry civil protections that were afforded to us by federal statute and the Constitution.  Now that's "doing something!"\n\nI, personally, work for the government (a state, but government none-the-less).  Now, I am here to tell you that you really don't want the government "doing anything" without very clear, concise, and incontrovertible, instructions.  It is very important that you go visit at least one government office a week (preferably with a group of your associates) and let them know in very clear terms, what it is that you want them to do. You also could possibly write a letter to the manager or director of the government offices, while sending a copy to your congressman, alderman, commisioner, or what have you, clearly indicating exactly what it is that you think should be done.  Otherwise, the people that work there will go on their merry way, doing what they think they should be doing, when that's not really what they should be doing at all.  But you can't blame them... you didn't tell them!  So how are they to know?  They are people just like you and me.  But sometimes they get isolated and lost, and they forget. At first, it may appear that they are unresponsive.  But that is only because they have gone so long without being reminded what it is that they are supposed to be doing.  It may even be necessary, at first, for you and your associates to stand out in the street in front of the government office, and make a spectacle of yourselves.  But like I said, it's only because the people that work there have forgotten, because we all have gone on our way and left them to their own devices without the guidance, experience, and knowledge, of the body politic. \n\nI noticed in your question that you mentioned your paycheck.  Have you discussed this with your co-workers?  Are they having issues with their paychecks?  Maybe you should consider organising yourselves as a group, and discussing this with your employer?  Perhaps as a group, in negotiations with your employer, you could come up with ways to increase production and efficiency.  This would increase your employer's profit margin and thereby  make it easier for him to give you a raise.  Of course if after you increased his profit margins, he found himself still unable to consider your plight, you would already have formed a group of people with a common bond and concern that would find it within their ability to deal with that too!\n\nSo to answer your question... No, I don't feel particularly betrayed by my government.  I f
381900
The US doesn't do anything to help the environment because our politicians are controlled by the oil companies.  Look at Bush, his family made all its money from oil; furthermore, Cheney is connected to Haliburton, a huge energy company.  As long as the oil manufacturers control our political leaders, the US will not do anything to help the environment.  This is very unfortunate because it will cause further damage to our environment, but also it is leading to disagreements between Europe and the US.  The European Union passed the Kyoto Protocol, a program that would require all participating nations to reduce their pollution, last year and the US was one of the only nations not to sign it.  The truly sad thing about that is that the US contributes the most to world pollution.  As of now, the only way our politicians will change their minds about the environment is if the voters band together and become stronger than the oil companies.
831723
In short, it is to the country's long term advantage to maintain it's membership in OPEC ; allowing it to have a window on the outside world. OPEC membership gives it a 'bench mark' or  'standard' on which to base it's position  on other global issues.\n\nHope that's a little better and not "Clear as mud!"
409368
Well, if I'm getting your jist correctly, one of the people left out of the signing was George Washington. he didn't sign because he wasn't sure if he wanted to give the American people the idea that he wanted get into Foriegn affairs...or something to that effect. I'm sure someone else can explain it better.
446634
The organization is biased. Specifically, it is biased towards the 5 permanent members of the Security Council (Russia, United States, United Kingdom, France, China.) The Security Council passes some of the most important measures in the UN and is usually the one that prompts a serious international effort (not the general assembly as might be believed.) It has those 5 permanent members and 10 elected members. Yet if a measure goes to vote there and ends up 14 For and 1 Against, and the one "against" happens to be one of those 5 permanent members... The measure fails. \n\n14-1 and 1 wins. This is why the UN can't usually pass any serious measures. Most major world problems involve 1 of these 5 countries and therefore they and they alone can prevent any action against their interests by simply vetoing the resolution, regardless of world opinion.
1126576
Yar----the people are taking action. And there is more of us than Government..\n\nRelax and remember what truly makes a change. Americans have a good history of what they can do. They come from a strong line of all different nationalities and they have a good goal.
249018
President Bush won't sign the Kyoto Agreement. On the one hand he thinks the Kyoto Agreement helps out fledgling nations and agrees with it and on the other hand he thinks it's unfair to the US to sign the agreement. \n\nCountries like China and India haven't signed it either because it would put to much of a strain on them because they're hardly as technologically advanced as the US. Therefore the US abstains from signing.
963345
We can't be negative - we have to believe that we are making a difference.\n\nAsk yourself, what would happen if you didn't sign it??