An excuse for wealth redistribution

last updated: December 31, 2007 02:16:17 AM

After reading The Bee article " 'Arctic is screaming'; scientists issue a dire climate warning," (Dec. 12, Page A-3) it caused me to re-look at the Kyoto Protocol and how serious the world organization is about global warming. The protocol gives the affected countries till 2020 to reduce emissions, but this article says the Arctic Ocean could be nearly ice-free by 2012; too late.

The Kyoto Protocol covers only 37 industrial nations, yet all countries live on Earth. Why?

The Kyoto Protocol exempts countries such as China and India. Why?

The Kyoto Protocol also gives exemptions to Third World countries, which can sell the exemptions to polluting countries, which means with enough money I don't have to reduce my emissions.

So is this a global warming issue or redistribution of wealth?

Twenty years ago, scientists discovered a hole in the atmosphere and predicted dire consequences, which didn't happen. Now we have global warming, which, according to other scientists, has had a beneficial effect to world food production. Whom do you believe?

RICHARD A. McCULLOUGH

Modesto