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Brown’s plea to US: Save Planet Earth
Joe Murphy and Paul Waugh04.03.09
GORDON BROWN today challenged America to harness the spirit that put man on the moon to save “a planet imperilled”.
In a speech to Congress he urged the most powerful — and polluting — nation to lead the rest of the world in tackling climate change.
“I believe that you, the nation that had the vision to put a man on the moon, are also the nation with the vision to protect and preserve our planet earth,” said the Prime Minister.
In a moment of political history, he addressed both houses on Capitol Hill, striking a confident and upbeat note to tell America it could also lead the world to economic recovery.
“And let me tell you that now more than ever, the rest of the world wants to work with you,” he said.
The US has never ratified the Kyoto treaty to cut carbon dioxide emissions and is the biggest single producer of greenhouse gases. President Obama has pledged to overturn the legacy of his predecessor George Bush by working on a successor to the treaty.
Mr Brown also warned America against the temptation to revert to its protectionist policies in an attempt to save US jobs.
The speech was the climax of a trip to Washington in which he hoped for the magic of Mr Obama to rub off on his own foundering administration.
And in a symbolic gesture designed to win American hearts and minds, he announced that Democratic senator Ted Kennedy was to be awarded an honorary knighthood.
He used the speech to tell of the “great debt we owe to the life and courage of Edward Kennedy”.
But the move immediately caused controversy at home over Mr Kennedy's support for the Nationalist cause in Ireland.
Mr Brown said the world was ready to unite behind American leadership, not in war but to promote recovery.
“So once again I say we should seize the moment — because never before have I seen a world so willing to come together,” he said.
“Never before has that been more needed. And never before have the benefits of co-operation been so far-reaching.”
The Prime Minister used his speech to attempt to engineer full American participation in the London G20 summit on 2 April, when he hopes to unveil a global agreement on investing hundreds of billions of pounds worldwide to beat the slump.
Striking an upbeat tone, he said a return to the prosperity and wealth of the past was on the horizon if countries united behind investment, free trade and a clean-up of the banking system.
“While today people are anxious and feel insecure, over the next two decades our world economy will double in size,” he said.
“Twice as many opportunities for business, twice as much prosperity, and the biggest expansion of middle-class incomes and jobs the world has ever seen.”
He appealed to America not to retreat from the world but to shoulder more responsibility. “And let me tell you that now more than ever the rest of the world wants to work with you,” he said.
Notably missing from Mr Brown's text was his usual mantra that the banking crisis started in America and went on to infect countries like Britain.
Shying away from attributing blame, he said: “An economic hurricane has swept the world, creating a crisis of credit and of confidence.”
As revealed in the Standard earlier this week, he argued for an international crackdown to isolate rogue countries offering tax and regulatory havens to toxic banks.
The economic crisis had given a window of opportunity to draw a line, he said, adding: “How much safer would everybody's savings be if the whole world finally came together to outlaw shadow banking systems and offshore tax havens?”
The Prime Minister was expected to draw an array of Democrat grandees, including vice-president Joe Biden, to the House of Representatives.
The only previous British leaders accorded the honour of a speech to Congress were Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.
Mr Brown's invitation owed much to years of assiduous networking of big-name Democrats and thinkers, including friendships made on annual holidays at Cape Cod.
He pointed out that his predecessors making such speeches had come in times of war in Europe and Iraq.
“I come to talk of new and different battles we must fight together; to speak of a global economy in crisis and a planet imperilled,” he said.
“It is only by investing in environmental technology that we can end the dictatorship of oil, and it is only by tackling climate change that we can create the millions of green jobs we need.
“For the lesson of this crisis is that we cannot just wait for tomorrow today. Our task must be to build tomorrow today.”
His message will be controversial in a country where President Obama is under pressure to preserve the freedom to guzzle gas and to protect American jobs with import barriers.
In interviews, Mr Brown said his rapport with President Obama was strong. “He is a great guy. I get on with him very well,” he said.
Today's speech crowned a successful two days in Washington, where Mr Brown secured the President's support for the London summit and became the first European leader invited to the new White House.
Reader views (42)
Reality check - if you don't sort out the immediate problems, you're never going to have the where-withal to sort out the long term.
On the other hand, if you're trying to divert attention.......
- Rogan, Irving
It's so depressing to see how low Brown has bought us, the whole system that is mean't to be supporting us is crushing us.
Who in their right mind can support the Labour Party there policies fail us over and over again.
- Stephen Curry, Barnet
McBean and NuLiebor are running on empty. Will they get even as far as June 2010?
- David, Fleet UK
God save us from Gordon Brown every becoming an elected Prime Minister.
- Dee, Chesapeake USA formerly Great Britain but not Great anymore
Good speech from Brown; the Yanks lapped up the praise. Nancy Pelosi looked elegant, Biden looked lost.
- Dhanraj, basildon
Watching this speech was like watching a train wreck in slow motion, please we need an election!
- Jeremy, Chelmsford
This was sycophancy of an exceedingly high order - sick bags all round.
- John, Manchester
There is no such thing as climate change
Winters are as cold as ever and summers are as short as ever
WAKE UP AND COME IN TO THE REAL WORLD BROWN!
- Name, nah
does anyone realise just why the government has had to bail out numerous so called financial institutions?they say its because of the levels of bad debt built up from the sub prime market.the reason is to do with who controls the money supply and those that do have intentionally choked the supply for their own ends.a lot of people are going to go bust and whole generations of accumalated wealth will disappear.
- Owen Mulhall, london uk
Yes, creepy, creepy brown (small b)
This repugnant man should be barred from gaining entry back into the UK. Nobody wants him here, except maybe the Scots.
- David, Fleet UK
I watched the entire speech and was somewhat embarrased by what I viewed as some major butt kissing on Brown's part. Was he playing to his dwindling support in the UK ? It seemed to me that those in attendance seemed a bit uncomfortable too. Seeemed like one of those "don't leave us now, we need you..actually I'm desperate...we colonials must stick together' kind of speeches, hardly dignified. Brown pulled out all the available stops...WW1 and 2, Reagan (eek), 9/11 you name it.
Brown constantly referred to 'America'. He was actually speaking to the United States of America. Canada is in 'America' and does not want to be lumped in with the USA or made to feel that it is insignificant either.
All in all a good speech but quite the overkill for the situation, although I did like Brown's socialistic, "it should all be about helping the weak and hungry" angle..just what was needed for this, if you only looked at the facts, 'me first', selfish, wealth driven nation !!
- Dylan Rivis, MONTPELIER, VT
Support a Vote of No Confidence in the Government, install an interim all party National Government,
instigate a fairer form of elections
and we'll all be home in time for tea.
- Harmonyfuture, Stow-on-the-Wold UK
Broon could swing from the chandeliers, jump through flaming hoops, impersonate Elvis Presley wearing nothing but a g-string in front of Congress (and what have they to do with us?) and he would still be vile and risible. Instead of grandstanding abroad he should be tackling our problems...no, come to think of it, he should be resigning, like NOW!
- Judith C, London, England
Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'brown nosing'
Brown and Obama are not the men to 'save the world', they are economic incompetents of equal measure. You can't keep throwing good money after bad without consequences further down the line. They are merely slapping a band aid on a wound that requires far more drastic surgery and rehabilitation, but that doesn't bother either of these men, they want their moment of glory and they will do whatever their deluded minds think is best regardless.
- John, Enfield London
- Neil M., london uk,
"we who are not so easily duped can only wonder at their credulity".
This nation were duped into joining the eu and continues to send billions to europe every year and have been suckered into voting for labour on 3 occasions.
- Steve Byrne, xchuch uk
"England does NOT beg."
As a country, England does not exist. Your passport and mine reads "citien of the United Kingdom" We are all British. You had best get used to it - the rest of the world has
- Keith Price, Luton, England
What a fool old Crash.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
Great speech Gordon. You proved you are a real world statesman today for sure
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Thanks, Prime Minister, but we're not keen on spending increasingly scarce dollars propping up Global Warming/Climate Change. It's based on less than empirical evidence, and is bad science. If President Obama listens to you, I will make certain I vote for his opponent in the next election.
- Sj Langworthy, Chicago, US
Creepy creepy Brown. Talks about the world when our little world, Britain, is falling apart. Charity begins at home Mr. Unelected Prime Minister.
- Judith C, London, England
With whatever respect may be due, Obama is hardly the man PM Brown should be appealing to for guidance and salvation. The fact remains that he is inexperienced and ill-qualified for the presidency, and those facts are revealing themselves with his every move. Look to your own advisers Mr. Brown, and lead... or at least choose a better person to follow.
- F. Wood, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
any fool can challenge another to save the world, or save gay whales, or purple spotted aliens even. a worthy leader, will only harness true support if he/she leads by example. hot air and grand words are never enough and invite ridicule. the wind of change is blowing and as the Chinese have it, the same word for catastrophe is that for opportunity. now is the time for all leaders to unite to bring positive changes from the debris of broken promises and bankrupt policies.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
Hold on, didn't the Broon already say that he'd saved the world?
- Bob, Cheam
Can we get this unelected Prime Minister back here to sort out this country's problems instead of telling everybody else what to do.
- David., Chertsey.UK.
The quickest way for Brown and his inept crew of incompetants to help the planet would be to call an election immediatly.
Then they would see if all their bright ideas and plans add up to the electorate.
Somehow I think they will hang on as long as possible with their noses in the trough.
- Nigel, wimbledon
Oh how toe-curlingly embarrassing the whole thing must have been! Poor Obama with this creepy, pompous person smarming up to him, it must have been so awkward. I bet you he just wanted Brown to go away and never bother him again.
- Cheryl, Hull
What a cringeworthy speech. I felt embarrased listening to it!
Please Gordon, go quickly and quietly!
- Simon, London
Why send the Court Jester to Washington
- Tony, Toronto,Canada
No-one can stop global warming because:
- 1 it was caused by the Sun, not man.
- 2 Every year since 1998 has been cooler than the last and this trend is set to continue.
However, any socialist leaning oil importing western country is not going to turn down the opportunity to play with a few greeny taxes.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
Shouldn't that be Broons boast to the US; I've Saved Planet Earth.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Speeches speeches speeches, fine words and sentiments, we've heard it all before with Mr Bliar.
Now we have Brown Mister "no more boom and bust", and "ten years of growth", etc. etc. while he spent money that like it was going out of fashion. Then he spent money that he didn't have, and now he is spending money that we will never have. His economic miracle has failed, his policies have failed, and he has failed the country. He is a failure of a politician
We simply do not need any more spin and false promises.......what we need is an election
- Ronnie, Billericay UK
Wake me up when the election is called.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
England does NOT beg. Who sent him to speak on our behalf ?
- John Smith, London , England
Neil in Luton and Barrie in Esses - you're totally missing the point. Nobody is suggesting that they apologise for the recession. What he should apologise for is the profligate borrowing & spending policy of the last 10 years, based upon a ridiculous claim/belief that he'd "abolished boom and bust". The result is a UK economy in such a parlous state that the only way Labour can respond to the global recesion is to borrow even more money - which my kids will pay for in increased taxes for the next 10 years or more. That's what he needs to apologise for!!
- Malcolm, London
What utter trash. Obama - the man with no history - can no more save the world than he can put a man on the moon! As Americans gaze up in rapture at their new messiah, we who are not so easily duped can only wonder at their credulity.
- Neil M., london uk,
Why should our PM apologise for a worldwide recession? It makes no sense to harp on about it
- Keith Price, Luton, England
I somehow don't think that the Americans will hear any mention from Crash Gordon this evening about 'British Jobs For British Workers' or 'No Time For a Novice'!
- Dave, Cumbria
Let's face it, Britain, 'Brown offers' ... Nothing!
McLabour, even less.
- Dave, Cumbria
Asking Brown to apologise for the recession is about as daft as expecting Canute to say sorry when the tide came in.
He just needed to learn to sit further up the beach a bit earlier, and stay out of those shark-infested waters.
- Barrie, essex UK
Embarassing. How long can this un-elected figure show continue?
- Georgie, Islington, London
Humility will not save you at the election Mr Broon. Start packing your things now so that your move from Number 10 is less demanding.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
He is responsible for accepting the de- mutalism of the building societies . A true socialist would never have let it continue. Blair and Brown sold their souls to the devil to win power. Why isn't Blair being asked to apologise? Blair was head of government when all this happened. I'm amazed Cherie couldn't tell him that bonuses and high lawyers fees were disgusting. You can't challenge Blairs timing though.
- Terry, Hennebont France
