In a time when we are drowning in an ocean of environmental crisis, you would think our world leaders would be able to do a bit more than just give the issues lip-service.

The three-day G8 summit in Japan, with a record 22 nations participating, ended yesterday, with too much fluffy, evasive and idealistic talk and not enough balls-to-the-wall action.

Much like a flighty boyfriend, the world leaders failed to commit. Although developing and developed nations alike agreed that “deep cuts” were needed, they never agreed on setting specific targets. I nstead, they concluded that the reduction in greenhouse gases should take place according to the means of each country. Vague much?

True, they did commit to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But the leaders failed to agree on a base year with which to compare emission levels. In essence, they’re going to try to lower emissions levels — but with no tangible standards or base comparisons, this undefined action is a muddled exercise with good intentions. Some took this as evidence that big-boy polluters, aka China and India, were still not willing to commit themselves to internationally agreed cuts. Read More »

And Now the News with Kandy Korrespondent!The Group of Eight (G8) summit is taking place this week on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The meeting originally was to center around the issue of climate, but was changed due to surging food and oil prices.

The intensity of the global situation has turned this island paradise into a police state. Japan has spent $280 million on security, surrounding the summit venue with a human blockade of 21,000 riot police. Despite the wide security perimeters, protesters began to gather on Saturday with many more expected to arrive during the week.

Meanwhile in Malaysia, leaders of the world’s largest Islamic nations gathered for their annual “D8” summit to discuss global inflation. The D8 is a reaction against the exclusive nature of the G8 summit. Read More »

It’s the news with Kandy Korrespondent!

First Lady Laura Bush made a surprise visit to Afghanistan over the weekend to call attention to the need for continued international commitment to the country’s war against the Taliban. The former schoolteacher paid special attention to the increased presence of girls in local schools. Under the Taliban, girls were banned from schools. According to the United Nations, 35% of all students are now girls. Mrs. Bush stated, “We want that to be 50-50.”

Her visit comes at a strategic point in the US-led war on the region. On June 3rd, Army General David McKiernan took over NATO command in Afghanistan; McKiernan led American troops into Iraq in March 2003. Violence is also on the rise- over 8,000 were killed in attacks last year—the most since the 2001 invasion. Read More »