Fidel Castro warns of aftermath of climate change
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Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro warned of the aftermath of uncontrollable climate change and the side effect of scientific progress in an article published on Monday.
"Science created the ability to destroy ourselves and the planet several times in a matter of hours," said Castro in an editorial published by local media. "The greatest contradiction in our age is the ability of our species to destroy itself and its inability to govern itself at the same time."
In the editorial entitled "The madness of our time." Castro listed the catastrophic effects of global warming and pointed to threats posed by new weapons and military technologies of the United States.
He criticized the United States for developing new high-tech military devices such as the recent launch of an unmanned "space plane" by U.S.air force from Cape Canaveral.
These moves "reveal the true philosophy of the United States," said Castro. He also described the role of U.S. President Barack Obama at the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen as "disappointing" and a "painful deception" to the public.
Castro said global warming will lead to the rise of sea levels, the decrease of drinkable water and arable land. It will also result in the pollution of oceans and extinction of many species in a few decades.
Castro noted that genetic manipulation and chemical fertilizers helped meet people's basic needs for food, and he questioned if they can produce healthy food fit for consumption. He also stressed the need for protecting non-renewable vital minerals and energy.
Castro, 83, handed over power to his brother Raul Castro for health reasons in June 2006. Since then he has devoted to work on what he called his "reflections" on issues of global importance through editorials.
