Rain of Terror

As pouring rains brought the most widespread flooding Britain has seen in 50 years, Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested yesterday that global warming is contributing to the disastrous weather. "In the longer term, we have to try and work to deal with these problems on not just a national level, but on an international level. We have to ... work to deal with the issue of climate change," he said. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott also said the storms should serve as a "wake-up call for everyone" about the impacts of global warming. Meanwhile, the first comprehensive scientific assessment of the effects of climate change in Europe, released this week, predicted more flooding in northern European countries like Britain and more heat and drought in southern European countries.