European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush

by Jerome a Paris
Fri May 25th, 2007 at 07:57:00 AM EST

Just in case you were not depressed yet, here's another bit of news:

Merkel plays down G8 climate deal hopes
German chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday played down expectations of a breakthrough on climate change at next month’s G8 summit of rich nations, admitting she “did not know” if a pact on greenhouse gas cuts would be reached.
Germany, host of the summit at the coastal resort of Heiligendamm, is locked in tough negotiations with the US, which is refusing to endorse Ms Merkel’s call for targets to reduce carbon emissions.

Sounds like a capitulation? Yep. And it is.

I'm not going to write here, again, how fundamental that issue is, probably just as much as Iraq, if not more, and how urgent it is becoming that we (i.e. everybody on the planet) actually do something about it (just go see this self-explanatory report by the WWF: Climate change: five years left to save the world). Waiting for another 2 years, at least, to do anything because trhis WH won't budge, should not be tolerated.

And yet it will be.

And they are preparing the ground for that:

Diplomats said Ms Merkel aimed to maintain pressure on the US to give ground, while also seeking to reduce post-summit criticism from environmentalists if targets were not agreed.

Yeah, because criticism from environmentalists (and other sane people) is perceived as easier to bear, deflect or ignore than the pigheadedness of that nasty Decider guy.

Well, here's the thing: it's up to us to change that.

We have to make it more painful for our representatives (whether they be your Dems or our European leaders) to spurn us than it is to face off Bush.

It's as simple as that.

Otherwise they'll keep on pretending that they are listening to us while making it clear that "realism" dictates that they don't. We have to change "realism" for them.

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After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Crossposted from DailyKos (4.00 / 6)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/25/72512/5821

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 07:57:41 AM EST

Re: Crossposted from DailyKos (4.00 / 4)

Hey, we've been capitulating to Bush for 7 years!

Airline Passenger Data Link Fest by Migeru on May 15th, 2007
CIA flight/prison linkfest by Migeru on September 13th, 2006

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 08:05:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I ahve seen (none / 1)

I ah ve seen y ou have made a great post in kos about how Europe did threaten when vital inrterests where at risk... and I ahve toa gree... we not only do whatever we want almost always but certaainly we have threatened in certain situations.

So you are in asense right... ther eis been a capitulation in that global warming is nto considered one of the two or three top European priorities.

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 10:10:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 2)

I suppose Merkel is banking on the fact the environmentalists will be under water and thus unable to complain when the shite hits the fan.

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 08:05:59 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 4)

So we're creating a temporary democracy-free zone in Germany in order to hold talks that will decide a) token aid for Africa, b) "continued talks" on climate change, and c) further freedom for mobile capital.

At least it will be easier to oppose the summit! Don't have to feel like a dirty fucking stinking hippy!

[Dat dan weer wel, dat dan weer wel...]

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 09:28:18 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 2)

Freilein Merkel grandious plans on diplomatic front lie shattered. It was not her own doing, hornlocked Putin and Bush didn't think about saving her G8 and EU Presidency yet. I think there was too much hubris at the end of last year and many unrealistic expectations. So it's time for face-saving exercises.

by FarEasterner on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 09:59:50 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 2)

Acting quickly on climate change was one of the most compelling reason to impeach Bush, but at this late stage we can only hope that we will be able to reverse steam rapidly after 2008. Bush and his oilmen will not budge and probably try to bog down effective policy change by introducing obfuscating measures before they relinquish power. Of course, europeans had their own opportunities 6 month ago to address auto emissions and impose drastic fuel economy standards on automakers but Merkel and other hypocrites made sure nothing such would occur.

Also, Europe could lean on China which seems as hell bent as the US in preventing global measures against the combustion of fossil fuels. Besides economic sanctions, boycotting the olympics would be a good start.

by Fete des fous on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 11:58:43 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 3)

Bush can sing Hallelujah!:

US rejects all proposals on climate change
The US has rejected any prospect of a deal on climate change at the G8 summit in Germany next month, according to a leaked document.
Despite Tony Blair's declaration on Thursday that Washington would sign up to "at least the beginnings" of action to cut carbon emissions, a note attached to a draft document circulated by Germany says the US is "fundamentally opposed" to the proposals?
The note, written in red ink, says the deal "runs counter to our overall position and crosses multiple 'red lines' in terms of what we simply cannot agree to".
[The] tone is blunt, with whole pages of the draft crossed out and even the mildest statements about confirming previous agreements rejected. "The proposals within the sections titled 'Fighting Climate Change' and 'Carbon Markets' are fundamentally incompatible with the President's approach to climate change," says another red-ink comment.

How many times they will have to learn the lesson: you make one step back for Bush, you will get bulldozered for three steps more.

by das monde on Sat May 26th, 2007 at 09:18:43 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 4)

Fuck Bush, fuck the US, let's get on with whatever needs done.

Bush is a convenient excuse for Europe to do nothing.

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat May 26th, 2007 at 09:21:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 4)

Moreover, Sarko didn't wait 24 hours after his election to declare that addressing climate change was the top priority of his government. This should be a golden opportunity for him and other euros to walk the talk, as well as for oppositions to hold their feet to the fire if they don't deliver. Why do I get the feeling they'll do nothing yet won't pay the political price for doing so.

by Fete des fous on Sat May 26th, 2007 at 11:56:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 3)

If all developed countries emitted as little CO2 per capita as France does, we wouldn't have this discussion.

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

by Starvid (arvid.hallen at gmail.com) on Sat May 26th, 2007 at 05:40:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 3)

France does emit a little less per capita than many developped nations (25 to 50% less than most) but, without a doubt, we would have this discussion in a few years from now. In particular, France emits twice as much and five time as much CO2 per capita as China and India respectively. The same China that is about to pass the USA as #1 source of CO2 emissions among nations. We are also only talking about emissions produced on national territories and not that engendered by national consumptions whereas emissions have been outsourced to developping nations along with the productions of many imported goods. List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions per capita

Moreover, France has fewer emissions per capita than most other developped countries (but not Sweden, Switzerland, etc ..) because of its extensive use of nuclear power. The generalization of this model to the whole world is a) doubtful, b) wouldn't solve the climate change crisis (see above), and c) would probably engender its own set of problems.

by Fete des fous on Sat May 26th, 2007 at 08:05:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (none / 0)

Which is why I wrote "all developed countries". :)

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

by Starvid (arvid.hallen at gmail.com) on Sun May 27th, 2007 at 05:34:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (none / 1)

It's like with banking - everyone is willing to be as stupid as others. I don't even see urresistable forcing from Bush - why can't you do what you can and should, why would you care to make him look so good?

It's quite a dissapointing failure of the democracy game.

by das monde on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 09:09:04 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (none / 1)

BTW, is anyone here going to be at the G8 summit?

"If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles." Sun Tzu

by Turambar (sersguenda at hotmail com) on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 09:46:29 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (4.00 / 2)

I don't think Prodi lurks here.

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 09:48:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (none / 1)

Maybe going to Rostock for the alternative summit. Depends on time and money.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 09:51:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans (none / 1)

But certainly... here Europe can really really do nothing to force the US... unless... unless... what a minute.. you mean threaten economic ties with the US... propose sanctions against the US.. mmmmhhhh let me thing...

DO you really think any European has the guts.. and I am not talking only about politicians here.....A tariff against imports related with CO2 emissions.. mmmhhhh

I am afraid that the US has to collapse much more if Europe is going to start again threating the world commerce.... now Europe can do whatever we want most of the time and do not care about the US...but from there to threaten... mmmmhhhh.. it will take time....

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 10:02:59 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans (4.00 / 3)

The US needs to fuck Europe A LOT more than they have been doing in order for anything to happen. A LOT.

Just wait for the US to engineer a Gulf of Tonkin incident in the Persian Gulf not to convince the US Congress, but to force NATO to apply article 5 to attack Iran.

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2007 at 10:06:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (none / 1)

Seeing leaders capitulate again and again, for so little apparent reason, I've seriously started to wonder if they literally have guns to their heads. As in, upon taking office, a scary group in menacing suits pays them a visit, and says, "You will not do X, Y, or Z, or we will shoot you and everyone you know." Or, if said scary men just filter people out at the lower levels.

by Zwackus on Sun May 27th, 2007 at 08:41:49 AM EST

Re: After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush (none / 1)

I think they genuinely can't imagine life without submission to the US, so despite all their promises, US administration officials don't really have to do anything to get their way.

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun May 27th, 2007 at 08:51:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

After Dems, Europeans also capitulate to Bush | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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