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It took President Bush less than two months to break his campaign pledge to restrict carbon-dioxide emissions from coal-fired electric-utility plants, despite widespread scientific agreement that such emissions contribute to global warming [NATION, March 26]. By doing so, Bush also broke another promise--his pledge to restore honesty and integrity to the office of the President. SUZANNE DYER-GEAR Westminster, Md.
Re the Bush flip-flop on carbon-dioxide emissions: Looks as though we can't read Dubya's lips either! Like father, like son? SUE HEIGELE Duncanville, Texas
Bush's backtracking on emissions won't be the last campaign promise you'll see him reverse. What does my child have to look forward to? Bad air, a depleted ozone layer and no open wilderness areas. Thanks a lot! CATHERINE LE RUYET Morgan Hill, Calif.
Is the President of the U.S. so badly informed about the relationship between carbon-dioxide emissions and global warming and its catastrophic effects that he will not act decisively? Bush has a family he cares for, but his children and future grandchildren may have to survive in an ever more hostile atmosphere. As the most powerful individual in the world, he has the unique opportunity to enter history as the statesman who looked beyond the next election. HENRY E. VAN KETS Drongen, Belgium
Bush broke his promise to restrict carbon-dioxide emissions because of the economic cost. I would like to see his face when he receives the bill for 10 times as much in clean-up costs after floods, droughts, submerging coasts, skin cancer, lost crops, etc. Bush seems to have deluded himself into thinking he is not dumping his garbage in his own backyard, but the weather gods do not respect man-made boundaries. Instead of teaching Americans to respect their planet, he is leading them (and everyone else) to future suffering. SHANNON WALLER Barcelona
The Papal Stakes
Your report on the Cardinals who might become John Paul II's successor [RELIGION, March 26] noted that of the Cardinals under 80 who are eligible to vote on the next Pope, 92% were named by John Paul II. Even if we believe that the Holy Spirit will eventually choose the next Pope by guiding the hand of his electors, we must still admit that the Holy Spirit's hand will have been steered by that of John Paul II. Sadly, the 1 billion followers of the Roman Catholic faith are not represented; they just follow. My impression is that the Cardinals have invested their lives in climbing the lofty hierarchy of the church in a frantic search for power. This is reinforced by the fact that your article says nothing about the spiritual and social values of the church. PAOLO SINIGAGLIA St. Blaise, Switzerland
Practicing Biblical Sexuality