From the time we realised we could create energy through combustion, humans have divided themselves from all other animals. We alone, have the power to be discordant to nature herself. As the years have progressed the gap has only become larger, from combustion to mass production the effect on nature has been evident. We have reached the stage where no small gesture will suffice, where recycling and re-use can no longer be our slogan. Now is the time for drastic action… but who has the power to lead us in the creation of a new system of living? Is it the politicians who hold the power?

Will we be saved by “the so-called Clear Skies Initiative” proposed by George W Bush which completely ignores “emissions of carbon dioxide…not included in the Clear Skies plan.”

(http://pubs.acs.org/cen/topstory/8129/8129notw3.html)

Or perhaps “Reach - the EU'groundbreaking Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals system” which aimed to “to register and test as many chemicals as possible and to eliminate the use of those found to be the most dangerous,” however “when … presented [at the European commission] … it was a shadow of its former self - watered down by relentless industry and political lobbying.”

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/nov/05/environment.greenpolitics.)

Three years ago we all had our hopes pinned on the “Kyoto Protocol.” However “most climate scientists say that the targets set in the Kyoto Protocol are merely scratching the surface of the problem. The agreement aims to reduce emissions from industrialised nations only by around 5%, whereas the consensus among many climate scientists is that in order to avoid the worst consequences of global warming, emissions cuts in the order of 60% across the board are needed.” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4269921.stm)

The problem is that each of these systems has been proven to be profit or vote driven and ecologically flawed. They start out as noble ventures but at the end of the day, who runs this planet? Is it government or commerce?