Why don't Americans care more for the environment?

[GTaudiophile]

I am the only America in the office where I work. The issue that is #1 to them is Kyoto/the environment, and they hate the fact that Americans could care less!

So why don't we sign the Kyoto treaty? What don't Americans care at all?

 

[Rage187]

Because when we are done ruining our land we always have Canada.

Hey Canada: better watch out the day the last tree falls in the USA

 

[her209]

Because the right has stigmatized the environmentalists as tree-hugging hippy liberals.

 

[Martin]

Perhaps they don't spend as much time outdoors? I dunno. A few days hiking in the mountains this summer was enough to turn me into an environmentalist....of a sort...

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: her209
Because the right has stigmatized the environmentalists as tree-hugging hippy liberals.

Yep.

 

[Ryan]

The Kyoto treaty would put huge restrictions on the US, making the US less competitive in the world marketplace. Even the countries that have agreed to follow through with the Kyoto Treaty have failed to do so. It involved too much restriction in too little time.

There comes a point where we have to look at what's best for the country in general, and the Kyoto Treaty would have hurt us even more.

 

[Yzzim]

Because China doesn't have to.

This is being discussed in PN

 

[gistech1978]

Originally posted by: her209
Because the right has stigmatized the environmentalists as tree-hugging hippy liberals.

you hit the nail right on the head.

 

[sniperruff]

because gas is less than $2.50 a gallon.

when it goes above $3, maybe it'll raise some concerns and sales for the H2 will drop.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: her209
Because the right has stigmatized the environmentalists as tree-hugging hippy liberals.

"The right" did not force them to become tree-hugging hippy liberals, that was their own choice to make.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
So why don't we sign the Kyoto treaty? What don't Americans care at all?

It's not that Americans don't care, it's that the kyoto treaty is retarded. It's been discussed many times here. Use your e-stalking abilities to e-stalk those past threads.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Could it also be that Europeans have much higher population density and realize the effects of Global Warming much faster, whereas Americans are somewhat removed still will all of our open space?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
The Kyoto treaty would put huge restrictions on the US, making the US less competitive in the world marketplace. Even the countries that have agreed to follow through with the Kyoto Treaty have failed to do so. It involved too much restriction in too little time.

Ding Ding Ding! The only reason why Russia recently agreed to it is because they knew the US never would. It's a bunch of FUD really.

 

[TwiceOver]

I do what I can. I wish more people would. I think the main reason is that the average American just doesn't give a fvck. By the time it becomes a problem for that American citizen, he will be dead.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Can anyone provide links to scientific evidence that "man" is not responsible for Global Warming, and that the warming is natural trend?

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Can anyone provide links to scientific evidence that "man" is not responsible for Global Warming, and that the warming is natural trend?

No need for links - the earth is always in cycle of change, and we just recently came out of an ice age. The fact that there have been cycles of ice ages proves that we are in a warming trend right now, how much we're helping it along is the real question.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I do what I can.

Same here. I drive a small car to work (fuel efficient). I recycle very responsibly. I don't litter. My home is fuel efficient and we conserve water even when there are no restrictions. I am not sure what else I can do in my own environment to help.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Can anyone provide links to scientific evidence that "man" is not responsible for Global Warming, and that the warming is natural trend?

no links but i've read that in "the week" a couple of weeks ago.

 

[hevnsnt]

Why don't british people take better care of their teeth?

 

[FleshLight]

The Kyoto protocol is very flawed, among them, it didn't include Russia (or was it China?)

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Can anyone provide links to scientific evidence that "man" is not responsible for Global Warming, and that the warming is natural trend?

Look up Glaciation Patterns on Google. According to the patterns, we're in a warming period with the next ice age long overdue. I'm lazy.

 

[her209]

While the Kyoto is flawed, that is not an excuse to let the environment go to hell.

 

[FleshLight]

Originally posted by: her209
While the Kyoto is flawed, that is not an excuse to let the environment go to hell.

Agreed. However, there is no way of actually making a difference in global temperature without resorting to rather draconian methods that would cripple the economies in industrial and developing countries.

 

[Mo0o]

If we did all of the major companies that require huge amounts of natural resources and pump out smog would lose money, and we certainly can't have that can we.

 

[Chompman]

#1 reason

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: FleshLight

Originally posted by: her209
While the Kyoto is flawed, that is not an excuse to let the environment go to hell.

Agreed. However, there is no way of actually making a difference in global temperature without resorting to rather draconian methods that would cripple the economies in industrial and developing countries.

Well, Kyoto is the first step in a long line of planned negotiations. In fact, IIRC, it was originally planned to be the first step in a series of steps lasting over 100 years. As fo now, the next step is planned for 2012.