News and Opinion for Democrats Against Bush -- Part II

Bush Sacrifices Ozone Layer for Re-Election

"His administration is insisting on a sharp increase in spraying of the most dangerous ozone-destroying chemical still in use, the pesticide methyl bromide, even though it is due to be phased out under the Montreal Protocol in little more than a year. And it has threatened that the United States could withdraw from the treaty's provisions altogether if its demand is not met."

Independent (UK) 24 November 2003 10:18

Ozone layer 'sacrificed' to lift re-election prospects

By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor

23 November 2003

The complete article may be purchased online from the Independent's website at-- http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=466406&host=3&dir=507

Opening words--

President George Bush has brought the international treaty aimed at repairing the Earth's vital ozone layer close to breakdown, risking millions of cancers, to benefit strawberry and tomato growers in the electorally critical state of Florida, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.

His administration is insisting on a sharp increase in spraying of the most dangerous ozone-destroying chemical still in use, the pesticide methyl bromide, even though it is due to be phased out under the Montreal Protocol in little more than a year. And it has threatened that the United States could withdraw from the treaty's provisions altogether if its demand is not met.

Talks on the unprecedented demand broke down without agreement at the conference in Nairobi this month as US delegates refused to consider any compromise. They even rejected a European Union proposal that would have allowed farmers to use the same amount of the pesticide as at present, even though this, itself, would violate the spirit of the protocol. ...

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=466406

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