IF OUR ENVIRONMENT IS ILL, NATION IS TOO

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 26, 1992                   TAG: 9202260345
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
IF OUR ENVIRONMENT IS ILL, NATION IS TOO
THE UNITED Nations Conference on Environment and Development, or "Earth summit," is to begin in June in Rio de Janeiro. The hope is that 6,000 delegates from 150 countries and 100 heads of state will adopt a program to fight the destruction of our environment and promote environmentally sustainable economic development. But so far, President George Bush has not agreed to attend.
Sen. Timothy E. Wirth, D-Colo., says, "The Earth summit will be the most important environmental meeting ever - and it may become the most far-reaching worldwide conference in history."
Where is the candidate for the presidency (Democratic or Republican) who has the wisdom to think globally; who has the foresight to understand the urgency of dealing with our environmental apathy; who has the moral strength to confront the moneyed lobbyists who represent multinational companies?
It's about time we challenged our president and those candidates who claim such progressive programs. If our environment is ill, so are we as a nation. BETTY C. NORTH ROANOKE

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB