Hillary Clinton is in China this week, debuting as Secretary of State, and taking a new tone on foreign policy. While agreeing to mention traditional human rights concerns, Clinton was eager to embark upon a joint China-U.S. effort on Climate.
Human rights are important, however, without a drastic change in environmental practices, there will be far worse crises in store. I say this as a human rights advocate. In addition, diplomacy includes the art of finding areas of mutual interest rather than perpetually hammering away at issues where neither side is likely to submit.
Climate change is an excellent area to start. As China continues its incredible growth, it is vital that the country finds a newer, cleaner way to grow. Rather than adopting old technologies, the Chinese should leap-frog into a Green Era, providing a model to the rest of the world. Even a dictatorial country can see the beauty in this prospect. Meanwhile, in our dilapidated state, perhaps the U.S. can get green investment from China - reducing competition for natural resources!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Myth: Energy Independence is Good ?
Mother Jones recent article, The Seven Myths of Energy Independence, starts with the premise that energy independence is far too expensive and time consuming to actually be a good thing. What authors neglect to analyze is the long term geopolitical consequences of energy dependence.
Independence may be expensive and difficult, but our current policy is much more destructive long term. We are putting money directly into the hands of one of the most repressive, anti-democratic governments in the world - Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is funding the spread of ultra-conservative Wahhabi Islam across the globe. Despite its alliance with the United States, the KSA continues to export thousands of textbooks each year teaching young children to "Hate unbelievers," aka Christians, Jews, Shiias, and anyone else who is against their brand of Islam...basically the entire U.S. population. The propagation of religious, ethnic, and gender inequality by concerted effort is being funded by our own hands and will cost far more than energy independence in the long term. Saudi is just one example...oil money has also hampered democracy in Russia, Nigeria, and Venezuela. We will be posting more on those countries in the future.
More on Mother Jones' myths in posts to come...
Independence may be expensive and difficult, but our current policy is much more destructive long term. We are putting money directly into the hands of one of the most repressive, anti-democratic governments in the world - Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is funding the spread of ultra-conservative Wahhabi Islam across the globe. Despite its alliance with the United States, the KSA continues to export thousands of textbooks each year teaching young children to "Hate unbelievers," aka Christians, Jews, Shiias, and anyone else who is against their brand of Islam...basically the entire U.S. population. The propagation of religious, ethnic, and gender inequality by concerted effort is being funded by our own hands and will cost far more than energy independence in the long term. Saudi is just one example...oil money has also hampered democracy in Russia, Nigeria, and Venezuela. We will be posting more on those countries in the future.
More on Mother Jones' myths in posts to come...
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