It’s not exactly like he’s been interested in international dialogue before, except when it comes to rallying support for different wars, his special area of interest.

Bush’s tendency to ignore most international topics, while expecting support for his “war on terrorism,” is ironic, especially when it comes to his ignorance of environmental issues. The United States is a major contributor of everything from green house gasses to solid waste.

Last week, representatives from countries around the world and major businesses, gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss environmental issues during a 10-day conference organized by United Nations. The topics were pollution, overpopulation, the use of cancer-causing chemicals, unsanitary water supplies and climate change. According to the Washington Post, one-third of the world’s population lives in countries that have a problem with water shortage. And according to Los Angeles Times, 3 million people are dying each year from air pollution. Not to mention the flooding in central Europe that has caused billions of dollars in damages this summer. There is no question to doubt the need for such a meeting.

However, among the 40,000 people to attend, the president of the United States was missing. While 100 prime ministers and presidents were in South Africa discussing the environment, Bush was at his ranch in Texas, enjoying his vacation. He sent Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to attend the last day of the meeting.

Bush’s absence is especially controversial since United States is a major contributor to the problems being discussed. According to the United Nations Environment Program’s website, the United States uses more fuel, emits more greenhouse gases and produces more solid waste than any other nation.

Not only does this call for a strong moral argument for participating in environmental conferences and dealing with these issues, it also means that no significant improvements can be made without the collaboration of the United States. Bush, however, has made clear that he isn’t very interested in global or international issues.

In the area of environmental problems, he has been especially negligent. He has rejected several global treaties, including the Kyoto Protocol, restrictions on green house gasses that was a result of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Throughout the world, there is a feeling that the U.S, especially Bush, has a lack of interest in the rest of the world, and that this disengagement has increased following the focus on the war of terrorism.

For many, his decision not to participate at the World Summit was the last straw. Several leaders expressed their resentment of his absence. Some delegates were wearing T-shirts with the message, “What should we do with the United States?” During Powell’s speech on the last day of the meeting, resentment escalated into commotion, as environmental activists and delegates booed and shouted, “shame on Bush.”

Evidently, the position Bush is taking on global issues is not popular, and if he continues ignoring them, it will deeply hurt U.S relations with the rest of the world. When the president of the United States refuses to take part of international meetings and treaties, it sends a message to the rest of the world that he simply isn’t interested, and at the same time he expects support for irrational wars like an attack on Iraq.

His actions send a message that he is more interested in creating conflicts than solving them, and in compromising the stability of the Middle East than saving the world’s environmental problems, and that he is arrogant enough to ask for cooperation although he refuses to give any himself.

As a result, other nations will be less interested in cooperating with the United States, and the Earth will continue to suffer from problems directly caused by human presence, problems that are taking human lives this very moment.