marklynas.orgWill the Russians ratify after all? 30 September 04
I won’t believe it until the ink is dry. But in the most positive sign yet, Putin and his cabinet have reportedly forwarded Kyoto to the Duma (parliament) for ratification. The UNFCCC is jubilant, in a subdued sort of way, as is Greenpeace. Even Illarionov, who recently compared the Protocol to Auschwitz, now accepts that Kyoto will happen.
Comments
Philip Castevens
September 30th, 2004 at 09:07 PM
Go Russia!
Peter Winters
October 1st, 2004 at 06:01 PM
Very nice!
That leaves (mainly) the USA. It seems to me that the USA have traditionally had trouble ratifying treaties (or am I being unfair?).
I read a great book called “Paris 1919” (by Margaret MacMillan) recently which describes how, despite President Woodrow Wilson’s efforts,the Senate wouldn’t ratify the Versailles Peace Treaty after the First World War.
Does the US political system get grid-locked on international treaties?
http://www.nps.gov/elro/glossary/wilson-woodrow.htm
Vicki Falde
October 2nd, 2004 at 05:03 AM
With both President Putin and his ministers approving Kyoto, Parliament’s ratification is a no-brainer. Still, it will be wonderful to see it official!
Of course, here in the US, the Bushites stand firm on their refusal to join the rest of the world in accepting this process of fighting GW/CC. Admittedly, the goals are far from at effective levels, but it’s a PROCESS, and the world must be unified behind a process before any dent can be made in countering the ecological mess that we humans have created. They argue that Kyoto will hurt the economy. Right. And peaking oil/gas supplies, “disruptions” in numerous countries of the world, and four strong hurricanes hitting the same state in just six weeks—why, these things won’t effect the economy at all!
Hope everyone got to see the first presidential debate—it clearly shows what idiocy Americans, and everyone else in the world, has to put up with. Whatever Russia’s motivations (good PR after Putin’s clampdown, getting membership in the WTO, et al), kudos to them for finally doing the right thing about Kyoto, GW and CC!