Lead The Way

Mexican President Felipe Calderon's visit to Canada left a bit of a sour taste in its aftermath. A bit of a surprise too, that President Calderon would take the opportunity of the visit to criticize Canada's environmental record, in not at this time pursuing an agenda of leaping four-square into the green movement to the extent that Mexico and many other countries of the world would like to see wealthy countries undertake.

Of course, it was pointed out to him in a fairly diplomatic manner that Canada is constrained to a degree to what it can commit to, until and unless it sees how the United States will meet its own challenges on the environment. Given the inter-relatedness of the two countries in every conceivable criteria from manufacturing and shared lakes management to emissions standards and environmental protection across borders.

It did rankle, no doubt about it, that the president of another country on a diplomatic visit would raise the topic, even as it was introduced initially in a conciliatory manner, with an emphasis on the perception that Canada has drawn back from its leadership role in environmental protection. Canada truly does not need Mexico to remind it that this is a matter that confronts and confounds us all.

Greenhouse gas levels are a global problem, but not quite entirely "scientifically corroborated" with respect to causation. President Calderon's allusive comments were difficult to overlook. And he was out of his depth; had he wished to speak of the matter with Prime Minister Harper in a closed session, that would be acceptable; speaking of his concerns in a public forum as he did however, was decidedly not acceptable.

Of course he is a desperate man, heading a desperate country, facing a dreadful drought: "We cannot wait for the developed countries to make a decision. Some of them, like the U.S., could take another eternity. We will act because we know the quality of life and the future is at risk - I mean the future of a great part of humanity." Noble words, those. And how will Mexico act, one wonders...?

Mexico is in dire straits, people are dying in the streets because their government cannot enforce law and order. Powerful drug cartels are as much the law in some parts of Mexico as is the government. Murder and mayhem appear to be the order of the day, every day, and people in Mexico are aware that their quality of life has plummeted. There is that outstanding concern. How will President Calderon address it?

Municipal water systems in the country are in dire disrepair. Mexico City is depleting its supply aquifer, and the city's watermain infrastructure is in need of upgrading. Mexicans can no longer rely on the potability of the water provided them, and they are sick of boiling tap water to ensure its safety. School children must buy bottled water from kiosks. Street vendors sell litre bottles of water, and in restaurants diners must purchase bottled water.

Mexicans consume more bottled water than any other country.

Empty plastic water containers litter the environment. A mere one-eighth of the 21.3 million plastic water and soft drink bottles emptied every day in Mexico are recycled. The country's former president, Vicente Fox, as a Coca-Cola executive, thinks the soaring sales of soft drink and bottled water represents a brilliant economic-growth phenomenon. Mexico's bottled water market represents 13% of the world's total.

The little official recycling of those plastic bottles that is available is actually done in China, where Chinese plants grind the bottles into fibres to be used in carpeting and other products imported back into Mexico for consumer consumption. Does this sound like a country committed to environmental protection, and the safety and well-being of its citizens?

Critic: heal thyself.