Dear ATCA Colleagues

[Please note that the views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats.]

We are grateful to:

. The Rt Hon The Lord Howell of Guildford, President, British Institute of Energy Economics, based at The Palace of Westminster, London, UK, for "Countering Climate Chaos? Vanity in 'Green' Virtues -- Japan v China, US and India;"

Dear DK and Colleagues

Re: Countering Climate Chaos? Vanity in 'Green' Virtues -- Japan v China, US and India

When it comes to energy efficiency and a greener future, Japan has got itself very well-organized these days - some would even say over-organized. Ties are discarded in the office and shirt sleeves rolled up, with air conditioners turned down in summer. Householders scrupulously sort every bottle, bottle top and waste item into a number of categories, every product and activity has its "eco" label, recycling is everywhere, super-economical vehicles pour from the factories, roads and streets are spotless (except for cigarette butts), cleaner and better infrastructure systems are in place, and greener buildings have sprung up. In short, a better environment all round is visibly taking shape and the grubbier aspects of 20th-century industrialization are fading away.

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And toward that mighty goal the first faltering steps have yet to be taken.

David Howell

The Right Honourable Lord (David) Howell of Guildford, President of the British Institute of Energy Economics, is a former Secretary of State for Energy and for Transport in the UK Government and an economist and journalist. Lord Howell is Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords and Conservative Spokesman on Foreign Affairs. He also Chairs the Windsor Energy Group. Until 2002 he was Chairman of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group, (the high level bilateral forum between leading UK and Japanese politicians, industrialists and academics), which was first set up by Margaret Thatcher and Yasuhiro Nakasone in 1984. In addition he writes a fortnightly column for The JAPAN TIMES in Tokyo, and has done so since 1985. He also writes regularly for the International Herald Tribune. David Howell was the Chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, 1987-97. He was Chairman of the House of Lords European Sub-Committee on Common Foreign and Security Policy from 1999-2000. In 2001 he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Japan). His latest book, 'Out of the Energy Labyrinth' has been described as 'a serious and thoughtful attempt to grapple with the complexities of the energy challenge and foreign policy', by James R Schlesinger, and as 'a terrific book, not least because of its topicality' by Sir Simon Jenkins.

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