Rain in a ski resort - a sad but appropriate G8 start ...
Update from Daniel at the G8:
The G8 leaders have been hiding from the people they claim to represent in ever more remote places in recent years. But the summit here at Toyako, Hokkaido, takes the idea of "hiding far, far away" to perfection. Even the media centre is kilometres away from where Bush, Fukuda, Merkel and Co. are meeting. Toyako - and the area around it - is said to be beautiful. It is difficult to judge right now, I have to say, as it is raining cats and dogs. The mountains, said to be magical, are hardly even visible. The mist is not romantic, but really just low-lying rain clouds. As this is a ski area, that has received less and less snow fall in recent years, I guess the weather is fitting. This is what it will be like in Toyako - and other ski areas - even in winter. Unless our leaders act. Will they?
So far, it's looking like even more rain will be the future of Toyako. There is a lot of talk about whether or not the G8 will agree to cut emissions by 50% by 2050. But that would not be enough (which is why we at least need the word "at least" in there for this not to be a step backwards ...). And what's all this talk about 2050 anyway? We need action now. By these governments, not some future ones. Clear 2020 targets - of at least minus 30% by 2020 - would at least indicate, that governments understand the urgency of action. But we are very unlikely to see those - instead, we will likely see lots of flowery words saying that it would be nice to have midterm targets, and even lovelier if they were ambitious. Politican-talk, that in plain language means - more rain in ski resorts, a loss of the North Pole ice sheet and misery for many millions around the world.
Sobering. But look on the bright side: This is George W. Bush's last G8. That is the one bit of certain good news to come out of Toyako this year. By by, Bush. May he take one of these special G8 water bottles with him. They are plastic and non-returnable. But they claim to "Love the Planet". They truly are just right for Bush! 
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