On Course For Tragedy

Talks have reopened in Peru on the final day of a key UN climate summit aimed at advancing a new global treaty. 'But long-running divisions between rich and poor continue to hamper progress. US Secretary of State John Kerry warned the world was "still on a course leading to tragedy", saying a deal was "not an option, an urgent necessity". Negotiators have been meeting in Lima for almost two weeks to prepare the elements of the new treaty. A new text has been produced by the chairman of the talks in an effort to get a decision. But environmental groups say that it is far too weak and threatens to leave many issues unresolved.' (BBC News, 12 December) Despite all the well-meaning sentiments expressed capitalism places the environment concerns way behind that of the profit motive. RD