Putin signs Kyoto Protocol

President Vladimir Putin approved Russia's backing of the Kyoto Protocol, opening the way for the U.N. environment pact "aimed at curbing global warming to come into force early next year," according to a Reuters story on Yahoo.

"The 1997 Kyoto Protocol obliges rich nations to cut overall emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12 by curbing use of coal, oil and natural gas and shifting to cleaner energies like solar or wind power."

Many world leaders are hoping Russia's backing will put pressure on the U.S., which is sure to criticize the cost of meeting the Protocol's requirements - requirements that should have voluntarily been carried out by American corporations as part of their customer relationship program.

Today's Moab story, and yesterday's solar stories, prove the Kyoto Protocol could be cost-effective, good for American citizens, and provide much needed investment in the energy technologies of the future.

The U.S. should be absolutely committed to clean energy simply because the technologies that provide clean energy today will fuel the world tomorrow.

Yet, much like the auto industry, which has refused to take air quality seriously while endangering America behind corrupt Middle East oil policies, other American corporations are also selling out America.

The Prius hybrid proved that many Americans care about these issues, and are willing to help foot the bill for providing a clean America. Citizens are taking the lead on such an important issue and corporations better take the hint.

With the Honda Accord hybrid set to hit showrooms this December to be followed by several new models from Toyota, it has become clear that American automakers and American corporations, in general, are failing the American people.

As these corporations most important customer segment, we the people must let them know we are not happy by exercising our purchasing power away from such corporations.