Letters to the editor, April 16, 2008

Bill Kirk's letter has been corrected to replace a word that was deleted in the second to last paragraph.

Needless deaths of teens at bunkers

I am writing this letter because I want to first of all let Bodhi’s and Cody Thompson’s parents know that I feel sorry for your loss of the ones you loved so much. I have lost a dear wife and know all too well the pain.

The deaths did not have to happen. The Air Force knew what was going on at the “Bunker.” For years their excuse for not taking action was printed in the paper was the environmental impact on the desert tortoise, holding up demolition.

In other words lack of action and environmental freaks means the tortoise prevails over human life. No action was ever taken to secure the site but now that it is finally going to be demolished a special fence is going to be put up at a total waste of money, and a biologist is going to be on site looking out for the tortoise, not human beings.

The sheriff’s department has known of the parties for years and have taken no action. Again, on April 7, the sheriff representative said no trespassing complaints had been filed that night. All it would have taken was a call to Edwards EOC and inform them what was going on at the bunker. And just ask, “Do you want us to run them off your property?”

So much for ignorance and stupidity.

Bill Kirk
Barstow

It’s not just about changing light bulbs

When Al Gore’s and Leonardo DiCaprio’s dramatic documentaries alerted us to the devas-tating impacts of global warming, many people went through the ritual of switching from incandescent light bulbs to the compact fluorescent variety. Unfortunately, in the case of global warming, good intentions and switching light bulbs are not good enough.

The most powerful individual lifestyle solution was suggested in a 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The report found that meat production accounts for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. That’s more than automobiles!

Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, factory farms, and slaughterhouses. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools.

Moreover, animal agriculture contributes more pollutants to our waterways than all other human activities combined. Principal sources are animal wastes, soil particles, minerals, crop debris, fertilizers, and pesticides from feed croplands.

The annual observance of Earth Day, next Tuesday, provides an excellent opportunity for every one of us to help save our planet by dropping animal products from our diet.

Bart Challen
Barstow