An Open Ditty to the world leaders meeting in Shanghai this weekend (to the tune of 'Sergeant Krupke', from 'West Side
Story')
Dear kindly APEC leaders
You've got to understand
It's really just not cricket
To invade Afghanistan
I know you want your pipelines
Your gas and crude oil too
But, goodness gracious!
It's not the thing to do.
You cannot quite convince me
That in all your wondrous lands
You do not have the brainpower
To turn a helping hand
To weaning us off fossil fuel
And turning us instead
Towards the wind and water power
And sun-cells overhead.
Let's put an end to fighting
For "the devil's excrement",
Necessitating bloodshed
In office or in tent,
And concentrate our effort
On developing new ways
Of moving, lighting, heating
Without creating haze.
Or hate.
Have a nice long weekend, everyone!
Lea Barker
California
Friday, 19 October 2001