Uribe, 57, started feeling a bit fluish on Friday, the very same day he was at a meeting of South American presidents in Argentina. So now, the leaders of South America are all at risk of infection. The good news is that none of his family or close associates have been diagnosed with the disease.

At the meeting, Uribe was touting his proposed plan to allow U.S. troops more access to Colombian bases as part of his government’s fight against drug traffickers and rebels. Little did he know that a virus was spying on the meeting. Colombia’s foreign ministry is now contacting other countries who were involved in the meeting.

Guess who was also there? Our friend, Venezuelan Dictator Hugo Chavez, who says he feels fine. Well shucks. That’s just disappointing. Though he had nice things to say to his rival Uribe, who he’s threatened to attack militarily several times in the past few months. “I regret this and hope there are no repercussions for the president’s health and that nobody else has caught the disease,” said Chavez. We hope he means it. Though, on second thought, it doesn’t really matter.

President of Costa Rica Oscar Arias has already been infected with the disease and recovered, and the same will probably happen with Uribe, assuming he hasn’t contracted the virulent strain.

Colombia has reported 621 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu, including Uribe’s. There have been 34 deaths from the illness, the government says.

Some of the programs planned by the new administration include:

• Putting 1 million hybrid cars on the road by 2015 by offering tax credits of up to $7,000 for the purchase of these cars.
• Encourage the development and production of clean fuels such as hydrogen and electricity.
• Establish a national low carbon fuel standard to reduce emissions that cause greenhouse gasses.
• Offer funding for further development of alternative energy such as solar and wind energy.
• Encourage domestic energy production, including development from unused domestic oil and gas leases.
• Help homes and business to be more climate friendly with improved insulation and other means to make them warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

The environment and energy independence will receive top priority by the Administration, with the main goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the year 2050.

Alternative energy sources, particularly solar and wind energy are already in use in many parts of America as well as in other countries around the globe. Wind energy turbines, made by such companies as the Indian company Suzlon Energy Ltd, and the Danish Vestas Wind Systems Ltd. Already produce thousands of megawatts of clean, emission free electricity. American companies such as General Electric hope to increase their share of the wind turbine energy market; and wind turbine “farms” are already in operation in California, Texas, Illinois, and other states with sufficient wind velocities.

In addition to encouraging the development of alternative energy sources, greater efforts will be made to make available energy sources such as coal and oil shale much cleaner and economic to use. It is estimated that there is enough domestic coal and oil shale to provide America’s energy needs for years to come. The big question is how to make these fuels environmentally friendly, especially in regards to global warming.

It is apparent that the new Administration will devote much attention to environmental and energy conservation projects, which will not only create badly needed jobs but will help to protect our planet’s environment as well.