PLANET Earth is in a precarious position.

That message is coming through loud and clear from the Earth Summit in Johnannesburg. Pollution and the continuing violation of the world's atmosphere by man's relentless march towards industrial genocide signals that Armageddon cannot be too far away.

Understandably, this opinion is viewed with increasing concern by environmentalists, who have been trumpeting the same warning for years, and by persons of mature age, worried about what tomorrow might bring for their children and grandchildren.

There appears to be universal agreement that unless something is done to reduce damage to the environment, man will do what numerous rogue asteroids have so far failed to do: Destroy Planet Earth.

The Earth Summit in South Africa is the biggest conference the world has ever staged, but I am willing to bet here and now that little, if anything, of any consequence will come from it, except perhaps the usual profound statement of intent from politicians of all shapes and sizes, colours and loyalties, intent on preserving one thing above all else -- their own careers.

The Americans are a classic example. The world's worst polluters, users of a considerable chunk of its energy sources, do not seem at all interested in significant change if it in any way threatens their lifestyle. That remark applies with particular conviction to the movers and shakers, whose luxurious lifestyles make even that of oil-rich sheiks look mundane by comparison.

The thought of George W Bush doing anything at all to persuade the Texan oil barons to reduce output and do something positive about toxic emissions is so unlikely as to be laughable.

The men who who helped bankroll the political career of George "Dubya" all the way to The White House are highly unlikely to welcome any suggestion which could affect production or profits.

A number of newsreels I have seen relating to the summit and the eroding effects of pollution on the Earth's atmosphere have featured interviews with Americans. They seemed genuinely shocked to be cast as villains.

Their role as international peacekeeper, often misinterpreted as unwanted meddling in the affairs of other states, is not welcomed by many Americans, bewildered by the hostility which the good ol' U S of A seems to generate in the very people they are trying to "help" -- the Middle East being a classic example.

Small wonder then, that they may well continue to flout requests to pay more attention to the well-being of our planet. However, if George "Dubya" Bush marks the first anniversary of September 11 with a pre-emptive strike at Iraq, thereby alienating the oil-producing Arab world, we won't have to worry unduly about fuel emissions polluting the atmosphere as there won't be any. Petrol that is.

Correction. There will. But it will be flowing from Texas at prices significantly higher than 30 dollars a barrel.

It's an ill wind, etc, etc, etc.

That didn't greatly surprise me. I spent some time in America during the late 1970s and 1980s and while I found the Yanks a friendly, outgoing and civilised race, their knowledge of what goes on beyond their shores was sparse, to say the least. Nor did it appear to unduly concern them.