Gone are the "Don"t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" days of the Clinton administration. It seems that our nation has now entered an era in which the future no longer matters. President George W. Bush"s recent decision to abandon the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty on global warming, was a direct attack on the environment and an embarrassment to all Americans.

In 1997, after years of negotiation, more than 100 nations signed the Kyoto Protocol, which requires industrialized nations to reduce their gas emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below their 1990 level by 2010. The United States, which is responsible for one-quarter of the world"s gas emissions, signed the treaty, but the Senate never ratified it. And now Bush, in a shameful decision, has announced his plan to abandon the treaty.

This decision is outrageous, and it shows Bush"s lack of concern when it comes to important, long-term issues. The 5.2 percent emissions reduction required by the protocol is, if anything, too little. But it is a good start on tackling one of the most important issues of today as well as future generations.

Last week, the European Union apparently representing the sensible half of the world, denounced Bush"s decision, expressing anger toward the Bush administration"s ignorance of widespread environmental concerns. Fortunately, Europe is dedicated to protecting the environment, even at the risk of higher gas prices. In 1997, the European Union proposed a respectable 15 percent greenhouse emissions reduction requirement for the Kyoto Protocol. Today, Europe plans on continuing its efforts to reduce gas emissions, even without the support of the most pollutant nation, the United States.

However, European companies will risk having higher expenses while American companies will benefit from a lack of environmental regulations. This is not fair. It is time for Bush to stop fighting only for large industries. It is time for him to assume his role as leader of the most powerful and influential nation in the world, and to do what is right not just for himself, but for us all. Can Bush be a "uniter," not a "divider?" Apparently not. Although the treaty has its flaws, Bush could have been a true world leader and hammer out a compromise. Now he has polarized the world with his environmental policies.

Europe is in a very difficult situation, and it is truly unfortunate for them. It will be hard and costly for Europe to go ahead with the Kyoto Protocol without the United States. And in the mean time, the United States will continue to isolate itself from the rest of the world, Environmental Protection Agency chairwoman Christine Todd Whitman will continue to pretend that she is protecting the environment, Bush will continue to be an embarrassment, and American industries will continue to destroy our once-beautiful planet.

In 1997, after years of negotiation, more than 100 nations signed the Kyoto Protocol, which requires industrialized nations to reduce their gas emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below their 1990 level by 2010. The United States, which is responsible for one-quarter of the world"s gas emissions, signed the treaty, but the Senate never ratified it. And now Bush, in a shameful decision, has announced his plan to abandon the treaty.

This decision is outrageous, and it shows Bush"s lack of concern when it comes to important, long-term issues. The 5.2 percent emissions reduction required by the protocol is, if anything, too little. But it is a good start on tackling one of the most important issues of today as well as future generations.

Last week, the European Union apparently representing the sensible half of the world, denounced Bush"s decision, expressing anger toward the Bush administration"s ignorance of widespread environmental concerns. Fortunately, Europe is dedicated to protecting the environment, even at the risk of higher gas prices. In 1997, the European Union proposed a respectable 15 percent greenhouse emissions reduction requirement for the Kyoto Protocol. Today, Europe plans on continuing its efforts to reduce gas emissions, even without the support of the most pollutant nation, the United States.

However, European companies will risk having higher expenses while American companies will benefit from a lack of environmental regulations. This is not fair. It is time for Bush to stop fighting only for large industries. It is time for him to assume his role as leader of the most powerful and influential nation in the world, and to do what is right not just for himself, but for us all. Can Bush be a "uniter," not a "divider?" Apparently not. Although the treaty has its flaws, Bush could have been a true world leader and hammer out a compromise. Now he has polarized the world with his environmental policies.

Europe is in a very difficult situation, and it is truly unfortunate for them.