The United States – What a Selfish and Complicated Country

Published in Sankei
(Japan) on 5 June 2017
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Deborah Chapin. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
The movie “Giants,” released in 1956, was set in 1920s Texas. The film was a posthumous work of the legendary star, James Dean, who played a rancher.* Striking oil leads one to become a billionaire.

With new oil excavation laws introduced in the United States, the rapid development of oil fields continued into the 20th century. Eventually, oil fields were discovered one after the other in places like the Middle East. In the film, when James Dean’s entire body was bathed in the oil that spouted up from the earth, that was the shining moment. This can be seen as a symbol of the energy revolution, led by the United States.

Half a century later, a documentary that sounded the alarm against those civilizations that rely on oil was, nonetheless, made in the United States. “Inconvenient Truth” raised awareness about global warming with former Vice President Al Gore’s lectures. After losing the presidential election, it became his life’s work.

Kilimanjaro’s snow is melting and the permafrost in places like Antarctica and Greenland is disappearing. Through the frequent use of graphs and images, awareness of the threat of global warming is manifest by the invocation of this discussion in countries all over the world. In order to prevent global warming, the use of fossil fuels such as oil must be curbed, and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted must be decreased. Gore, who contributed to raising public awareness, also won a Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2015, approximately 150 countries participated in the Paris climate agreement, which internationally framed global climate change countermeasures. With the hope of that effort still ahead, the announcement to withdraw from the agreement came out of President Trump’s mouth. The current president poured cold water on the emboldened former vice president’s chance to somehow keep global climate change in check.

Even so, in various places in the United States, mayors oppose President Trump’s declaration and have raised their voices, one after another, in support of the Paris climate agreement. The United States is such a selfish and complicated country.

*Editor’s note: James Dean died in 1955. The film was released after his death.


1956年に公開されたハリウッド映画『ジャイアンツ』は、20年代のテキサス州が舞台である。この作品が遺作となる伝説のスター、ジェームズ・ディーンは、牧場の使用人を演じていた。石油を掘り当て、億万長者になる。
 ▼新しい石油採掘法を開発した米国では、20世紀に入ると油田開発が急速に進む。やがて、中東などでも油田発見が相次いだ。ディーンが、大地から噴き上げる石油を全身に浴びる姿は圧巻だった。米国主導のエネルギー革命を象徴するシーンともいえる。
 ▼半世紀たって、そんな石油に頼る文明に警鐘を鳴らすドキュメンタリー映画が、やはり米国で作られた。『不都合な真実』は、地球温暖化の防止を訴える、アル・ゴア元副大統領の講演活動を追っている。大統領選に敗れた後、ライフワークにしてきた。
 ▼キリマンジャロの雪が解け、南極やグリーンランドの永久凍土が縮小する。映像やグラフを多用して、温暖化の恐ろしさを訴える姿は、世界各国で話題を呼んだ。温暖化を防ぐには、石油など化石燃料の使用を抑えて、二酸化炭素の排出量を減らすしかない。国際世論の高まりに貢献したゴア氏は、ノーベル平和賞も受賞している。▼2015年には、約150カ国が参加する温暖化対策の国際的枠組みである「パリ協定」ができた。さて、これからという時にトランプ米大統領の口から飛び出したのが、「離脱表明」だった。米国の元副大統領が盛り上げた、温暖化を何とか食い止めようとする機運に、現職大統領が冷や水をあびせた形である。
 ▼もっとも米国各地の市長からは、大統領の表明に反発してパリ協定を支持する声が続々と上がっている。米国とは、なんとわがままで、ややこしい国であろう。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Turkey: Pay Up or Step Aside: Tariffs in America’s ‘Protection Money’ Diplomacy

Ireland: We Must Stand Up to Trump on Climate. The Alternative Is Too Bleak To Contemplate

Australia: Australia Boosts Corporate Law Enforcement as America Goes Soft

Poland: Ukraine Is Still Far from Peace. What Was Actually Decided at the White House?

Topics

Ireland: We Must Stand Up to Trump on Climate. The Alternative Is Too Bleak To Contemplate

Canada: Carney Takes Us Backwards with Americans on Trade

Thailand: Appeasing China Won’t Help Counter Trump

Poland: Ukraine Is Still Far from Peace. What Was Actually Decided at the White House?

Ireland: Irish Examiner View: Would We Miss Donald Trump and Would a Successor Be Worse?

Canada: Minnesota School Shooting Is Just More Proof That America Is Crazed

Related Articles

Ireland: We Must Stand Up to Trump on Climate. The Alternative Is Too Bleak To Contemplate

Canada: Carney Takes Us Backwards with Americans on Trade

Thailand: Appeasing China Won’t Help Counter Trump

Poland: Ukraine Is Still Far from Peace. What Was Actually Decided at the White House?