An interesting article from Time magazine that captures the West’s view of India’s intransigence in climate negotiations. Factual details of the article are less interesting than its tone. Read it for the tone, not for the facts. While the title suggests that the article will be about why India refuses to co-operate, that is not what it is. It is more about how “we” (the Americans) see India’s attitude and how pissed off we are at it.
“What is clear is that the first step in a successful outcome in Copenhagen will need to come from the U.S., the country responsible for nearly a quarter of the CO2 that is warming our planet. India and other developing nations will have to follow. It’s not exactly fair, but there’s nothing fair about climate change”.
There is some of “we are also responsible and we should act” type self-flagellation here that is typical of liberal America, also seen in its approach to WTO, world peace, and everything else. But it is more deception than sincerity. Like their European ancestors, they “want gold and slaves but at the same time they want statues put up to themselves too” as people who care a lot about the planet earth.
In climate negotiations, it is amazing how the past is being washed away; there is only the present and the future.
