Profit before principle !

The world has turned it's back on the poor and suffering of Zimbabwe. This former food exporting country has descended into Hell ! Inflation of over a thousand percent has risen off the scale - and famine stalks the land.

President Robert Mugabe is now a dictator. The former president was beaten in an election - and refused to accept the verdict of his people. He immediately sent his thugs into the streets to beat and kill opposition supporters, with the result that the opposing party was forced to withdraw from the run off poll.

Mugabe stood alone as a candidate for president while his thugs manned the voting booths and dared anyone to cast a vote for the opposition. He then declared his result " a great victory "!

The world looked on in horror and there were calls for his presidency to be refused legitimacy.

To their shame, China and Russia used their veto powers to defeat this measure. Both countries gain valuable mineral resources from Zimbabwe and trade took preference over principle.

Their shame is shared by South Africa, Libya and Vietnam, all of which also opposed sanctions - and the timid response from the family of nations that share the African continent - all of whom have skeletons in their own cupboards which must be rattling like kettledrums.

So the poor, unrepresented black citizens of Zimbabwe who looked to the world body for the help they are entitled to expect will be condemned to live under Mugabe's evil rule, subjected to abuse and ill treatment by his thugs while the world looks the other way.

This example of self interest over principle must tell us something about the debate on global warming. Do we seriously expect world countries to impose restrictions that will hurt their trade and exports in an effort to curb Co2 emissions ?

The principle of " me first " will result in pious rhetoric and little action. Trade and profit will triumph over principle - and even though the looming crisis will mean disaster for all. Even small progress will be nullified behind a wall of cheating and deceit.

It is something Australia should seriously ponder before committing our trade base to a cap and trade carbon scheme !