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Hi all, I'm taking Environmental Science and, naturally, the teacher is a strong leftist. Today she told us that "President Bush didn't attend the Johannesburg Summit [on global environmental issues] and sent Colin Powell instead. These are things you should consider when you vote." I'm looking for articles or op-eds that rationalize Bush's non-attendance or reveal some of the anti-Americanism that was present at the meeting. Thank you in advance for all info. -sdk

<p>WASHINGTON - From Aug. 26 through Sept. 4, over 4,000 official delegates, some 3,000 activists from non-government organizations and heads of state from 100 countries have met at the U.N. Sustainable Development Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference was billed as the largest event the United Nations has ever staged, meant to tackle the largest problem the modern world has ever faced: economic development. Yet the entire venture can be summed up in one word: redistribution.</p>

<p>JOHANNESBURG, South Africa A surprising story dominated the U.N. sustainable development summit in South Africa. Unlike other huge environmental meetings, Johannesburg has become suffused with the theme that wealth makes health - or, more specifically, that it is economic growth that leads to a cleaner, safer environment.</p>

US Committed to Development, says Powell Amid Boos at Johannesburg Summit Colin Powell U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has told the World Summit on Sustainable Development that the United States is committed to development. But not all the delegates welcomed Mr. Powell's remarks. Mr. Powell was repeatedly interrupted by boos and heckling from a generally hostile crowd, especially when he spoke about the sensitive issues of climate change, energy policy, and genetically modified food. Heckler is removed from conference by security guards "The United States is taking action to meet environmental challenges, including global climate change. We are committed-...

<p>At the World Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it's apparently great sport even for Americans to take whacks at the United States and its supposed neglect of underdeveloped countries, U.S. representatives have finally started fighting back.</p> <p>They have pointed out, for instance, that the United States gives more money to poor countries than any other nation and, even more important, imports more goods from them, The Associated Press says.</p>