bye bye paris...

I'm sad. 

I care about the planet immensely. I care about the people on the planet - or at least I try to.  I don't know if humans are causing climate change - although I tend to trust the majority of scientists when they agree on things and on this they do. So I trust them. Could they change their mind? Sure. But they haven't. Still, I wouldn't argue with anyone about climate change and human's contribution. 

I also care about pollution. I care about creating less of it. I would argue with anyone on that. I don't want more pollution - I want less. For myself, for my kids, for those who live in poorer countries more affected by it, for all that makes sense in the world - when I don't think too hard about it. Less pollution seems like a generally good thing and I don't need to read any articles or opinions to think that. 

I don't like smoke or trash or chemicals in my yard.  

So, when my country joins Nicaragua and Syria as the only two nations to leave an agreement between 195 countries including Iraq, Sweden, Russia, China and everyone in-between, that was about producing less pollution, well... I'm sad.

I'm more sad because I listened to our president's reasons. They involve things like: 

"demand fair and reciprocal trade that gives Americans a level playing field against other nations" 

"The Paris climate accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States"

"The rest of the world applauded when we signed the Paris Agreement. They went wild. They were so happy. For the simple reason that it put our country, the United States of America, which we all love, at a very, very big economic disadvantage."

I happen to live in the richest country to ever exist in the history of humanity. If more economic advantage is a reason to have more pollution, well, again, I'm sad. 

And then I read this from the leaders of Germany, France, and Italy in response to my country. 

We will step up Efforts to support developing countries, in Particular the poorest and most vulnerable...

I understand it's all complicated. I don't claim to know everything. But on the surface, this sure looks really bad, even on a pure marketing level. We care more about not being economically disadvantaged than producing less pollution for our planet. 

“It is time to put Youngstown, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan.; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania … ahead of Paris, France,

Personally, I think it's time to put all of humanity above our own economic advantage (which is already pretty large). And we just made a big publicity move (at the least) to do the opposite. 

So count me sad and disappointed today.