Bush should play it cool on global warming

WHILE the effects of global warming are believed to be destructive for the most part, the raised temperatures may be partly beneficial, for in rapidly melting the earth’s ice they will create a vast supply of ice-cold water.

The Arctic water in which a person does not survive for more than a few minutes is slowing the flow of the warm Gulf Stream, thus cooling the atmosphere too much for the comfort of Western Europe.

The world would certainly welcome a halt to the spreading of deserts and accompanying famines; but the melting of the ice and the consequent rising of sea level will cause flooding of coastal lowlands (Cork city and Dungarvan would be the first major settlements to go under water in Ireland).

It may be that this man-made warming-up will protect the world from another Ice Age for some millennia to come. But industrial countries are heating up the atmosphere much too quickly, and the US is the greatest offender.

President Bush is not doing his share to alleviate the peril confronting millions of people worldwide.

Ted Neville

10, Trabeg Lawn

Douglas

Cork