Colin Powell on Environment

Secretary of State (Pres. Bush Cabinet)

Address climate change, but Kyoto too stringent

Colin Powell was booed as he tried to defend America's environmental record on the closing day of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, today. While his speech was delayed by protesters, he soldiered on, and finally delivered his message that "the US is taking action to meet environmental challenges, including global climate change." The US argues that the [Kyoto] agreement would prove too expensive for its polluting industries and would cost millions of US jobs. Source: The Guardian (London, U.K.), "Humiliation for Powell" , Sep 4, 2002

Booed for defending Bush's enviro record at World Summit

The US secretary of state, Colin Powell was booed, heckled and jeered as he tried to defend America's environmental record on the closing day of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Delegates from non-governmental groups in the audience repeatedly interrupted his speech, chanting: "Shame on Bush".

Several people held up banners reading: "Betrayed by governments" and "Bush: people and planet not big business". At least one person was removed from the hall by security. Mr Powell was visibly annoyed by the repeated outbursts. At one point he answered back: "I have now heard you."

Dissent filled the hall when Mr Powell criticised the government of Zimbabwe for exacerbating the food crisis in that country and pushing "millions of people to the brink of starvation". While his speech was delayed by the protesters, he soldiered on, and finally delivered his message that "the US is taking action to meet environmental challenges, including global climate change".

Source: The Guardian (London, U.K.), "Humiliation for Powell" , Sep 4, 2002

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