Bush urged to take lead in a green world
President-elect George W Bush is being invited to swear allegiance to planet earth rather than just the US, at an alternative inauguration ceremony in London.
Members of the Green Party and Friends of the Earth are to gather outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square calling on him to take action over climate change.
An alternative version of the US flag will being raised to emphasise the need for the new President to recognise his responsibilities across the world.
A huge globe will be "smoked" to symbolise the threat environmentalists believe is posed to the earth's climate by current US policies.
Jean Lambert, a Green Party Member of the European Parliament, said: "The world will be looking to the United States to take a lead on addressing climate change.
"The US uses the greatest amount of energy of any country on the planet and if it believes it won't be affected by climate change it will get a very rude shock indeed.
"Several of the southerly cities have already been rocked by severe storms and there will be more to come unless we all reduce our greenhouse gas emissions."
She said she hoped the new President would prove wrong predictions that he would not be interested in a world climate change agreement.
Ms Lambert added: "We hope he comes to the next round of climate change negotiations determined to achieve a strong enough agreement so we can go forward to deal with the most pressing problems."
Roger Higman, a senior climate campaigner with Friends of the Earth, said Mr Bush must take action to prove he is not the "burning Bush" some people fear.
