Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Bush administration plans to scupper agreement
A leaked state department memo shows that the U.S. plans to scupper Blair's plan to tackle illegal logging. I am not surprised at this, the bush administration seems determined to do everything in their power to destroy any hint at international cooperation. First Bolton, then Wolfowitz and now this. Do they not understand that this pisses off the rest of the world and this is the reason that they can get no help in Iraq. Are they delibrately trying to make the U.S. the enemy of the world.
Jax
A secret US plan to wreck Tony Blair's G8 initiative combating illegal logging in the world's threatened rainforests has been revealed in a State Department memo leaked to the BBC's Newsnight.
Mr Blair wants G8 environment ministers meeting in Derby this week to make rules insisting that all timber bought by official bodies in rich nations comes from properly-managed forests.
The UK was prompted to start the initiative after Indonesian government ministers said corruption in their country was so rampant that they did not have the power to tackle the supply of timber from the criminal gangs pillaging the forests.
They urged rich nations to reduce the demand for cheap illegal wood.
But powerful industry lobbyists in the US have resisted moves to certify that timber is legitimately produced. And the leaked State Department memo shows that the US government will refuse to sign up to the Blair initiative.
