We can not carry on as we do. Take the ecological route and say we're trashing the planet, or take the brutal truth that, at some point, the tap of black gold will run out.

Fact.

This isn't faith or religion or belief.

This is fact.

Don't want to get on board, it should cost you, dearly, because it's costing the rest of us.

The UK throws out about 10 tons of CO2 per capita. The US, double that. France, slightly more than half.

Lessons on how or why we should be changing can come from a lot of places. The US is not one.

We need tax breaks for green technology. We need increased taxation on carbon emissions. One can be paid for by the other. We need to be in a situation where ecological and economic soundness are one and the same. It can be done - but it seems the US will be dragging and screaming behind, like the stupid kid keeping the rest of the class back.