U.S. and World Summit

The United States is mighty. That nobody disputes. What is in contention sometimes is the way it uses its power as the world leader. It is in this sense that there is discomfort over Washington's attitude toward the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Dealing with issues vital to life on earth and to subsequent generations, it is an event that requires farsighted leadership of a global order. This cannot come about without the active and enthusiastic involvement of the world's leading nation. More to the point, it will fall hopelessly short of its mission to steer the world away from its dangerous course unless the leader of the leading nation joins in person.

Yet Washington has been remarkably reticent regarding its intentions. Rather it tends to do things which appear at odds with the essential spirit of the summit's objectives.

For instance, it has been refusing to comply with the Kyoto protocol to limit gas emissions recognized as being responsible for the greenhouse effect; it has raised duties on imported steel to protect its own industry; now President Bush has signed legislation providing for increases in U.S. agricultural subsidies that will make it quite impossible for poor countries to compete.

This while fair trade and agricultural development are among the top priorities for closing the gap between the rich and poor nations of the world -- a gap which, apart from the human misery and environmental degradation it causes, is also acknowledged as the single biggest threat to world stability.

It can be argued that the first obligation of a U.S. leader is to look after his own constituency. It should further be acknowledged that as a distributor of aid, both private and governmental, none in the world touches the U.S.

But globalization requires more. It needs a new world order, a partnership of a kind that can be shaped only by the likes of the U.S. president becoming trendsetting participants in forums like the World Summit. Surely it is time Washington lent its weight to this global event.

-- The Star, Johannesburg