9 days to go. I'll be frank. I am scared of what might happen as a result of this summit. Please, don't anyone respond with trite comments such as "you'll be more scared of what happens if no action is taken".
I would like there to be sensible and workable programmes coming out of the summit, such as working towards cleaner fuels and a generally less polluting lifestyle, and using the currently available research money more wisely. Perhaps they could even arrange for future summits to be held by video technology and also bring in a rule re the number of journalists any one organisation can send to cover the summit.
I am frightened that there are going to be a lot of AGW/CC extremists there, both on the podiums and off the podiums and I fear that that those taking part in the summit will agree to increase taxes and put further restrictions on our lives in order to "halt climate change", and that this will be as much a "face-saving" exercise as anything else. (I will try to dig out my old Tolstoy quote re this.)
I am a caring and thoughtful person and I and my family live as clean and non-polluting lives as we can. But there are other things that we have to take into consideration, besides the environment, and I cannot afford to pay more taxes on stuff. I used to smoke, but it became so expensive that I haven't had a cigarette for over 5 months now. I have got my petrol usage down to £7 per week, which is excellent. Luckily I live within walking distance of work and seldom drive there. The cost of food is frightening....so much of it has doubled in price over the last year or two. I
cannot afford to pay more taxes and I am scared about what will come from this summit.
It's all very well these politicians deciding to do this, that and the other, when they are very comfortably off and charge all their living expenses to the taxpayer, but what about the low-earners? What about the poor sods who've lost their jobs in this bloody recession. Tax revenues are already plummetting like a stone. I hope and pray (yes, I pray!) that common sense will prevail.