MAIL CALL.

Looking Toward The Year Ahead

Our special "Issues 2001" edition on the people and topics likely to dominate the new year garnered letters from readers concerned about a dim outlook for the planet--many critical of the United States. Referring to our "Environmental Scorecard," one reader was perplexed at how America, "the biggest emitter of greenhouse gas in the world, could rank high on any environmental index." Another said, simply, "We can cover our eyes and ears to the problems, but the results will be the same."

New Year, Same Concerns

It is amazing to see the United States, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gas in the world, ranking high on any environmental index whatsoever ("An Environmental Scorecard," THE WORLD AHEAD, ISSUES 2001). Miserable living conditions in some countries are partly the result of actions taken by international organizations under the influence of rich countries, the United States first among them. A good environmental scorecard should sum up the problems caused by a country whether they take place within its borders or not.

Jean-Marc Jancovici -- Orsay, France

Your environmental scorecard map is the greatest joke I've seen this year. I couldn't believe that Russia was in the second-best category. There is poor air quality in all of Russia's obsolete industrial regions and a lack of sewage treatment everywhere. The Aral Sea is dried up and dozens of old atomic submarines are rotting in harbors and atomic waste. Outside of the big cities, there is little access to safe water, health care and other basic necessities. Russia does not respond to eco-challenges. But on your map, it is level with Germany and higher than Italy and Belgium. That must be a joke, because there is no other explanation.

Wojciech Weinert -- Poznan, Poland