Editor,
Matthew Delorme’s article, “Anglers see the growing impacts of climate change,” told of the perils of climate change on our Northwest freshwater fish, shellfish beds and salmon. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest and having enjoyed the beautiful outdoors my whole life, it is sobering to contemplate the continued degradation of our environment. What is apparent is that eventually, we will all feel the impacts. In addition, the war in Ukraine has been in the forefront of the news and the destruction of infrastructure, people’s lives and livelihoods, and also the natural world is devastating. Fossil fuels are fueling this war. The additional threat of nuclear exchange that attends this war raises the stakes considerably. The picture of Hiroshima after the dropping of the atomic bomb keeps recurring in my thoughts. Feeling powerless can sometimes overwhelm me but I believe we should write, email, show up at meetings and urge not only our national elected officials but also our local county and city officials to pass policies that will end our dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change and end this war.
Cindy Ann Cole
Bellingham
Editor,
Here’s the vision: Buses powered by overhead electrical wire. (The cheapest and quickest fix for mass transport). This electric bus line runs from citizens’ dock (zilch parking), up to Lake Whatcom, turning around in Bloedel Park. Cars can park at any point on the route. Software keeps buses 10 minutes apart so that there is no schedule, no passenger will wait longer than 10 minutes for a ride, and there’s no charge for anyone to ride. Dogs ride except during morning and evening rush hour.
This would not only make Bellingham a destination, it would be a great, egalitarian use of the public properties, top to bottom.
Lynne Findley
Silver Beach
Editor,
Though possibly the only one, I’ll take up The Hammer’s challenge in the March 23 issue to prove him wrong. Yes, I am an old retired crank (age 77) who opposes year-round Daylight Saving Time, but I eat dinner at 7:30 p.m. Not 4:30 p.m., as The Hammer generalized.
It’s not that I relish the prospect of summer sunrises at 4:30 a.m. or the current reality of winter sunsets at 4:30 p.m. Regarding the latter, the onset of “beer thirty” should be enjoyable whether or not it’s dark out, so long as the variety being consumed is anything but IPA.
And regarding summer sunrise, I love breakfast at home in full daylight, especially when I know I’ll no longer have to go anywhere I’d just as soon not go to, or face tasks I don’t much miss. But at 8 a.m. in June or July, while enjoying pancakes or an omelet, who cares whether the sun rose at 5:30 or 4:30? What I also don’t miss, when I had to be somewhere at 7 in the morning, was darkness lingering at 9 in the morning. We had this for a thankfully brief interlude in 1974, following a Nixonian decree meant to “save energy.” That was even less popular than the 55 mph speed limit which, looking back, wasn’t such a bad idea.
So for you youngsters who never lived through year-round Daylight Savings, think twice about what you wish for. Granted, the early March time change is an abomination. Why not just go back to a time change in mid- to late-April, as it used to be, so we’re not so abruptly thrust back into dark, chilly mornings? And who really enjoys these hour-late sunsets in March, when chances are it’s barely 50 degrees out and raining?
So why not let reason prevail, and go back to how it used to be? By retaining seasonal Daylight Saving Time, but not for eight months out of the year. As an old retired crank might tell you, the shorter Daylight Time seemed to work in the 1950s. Of course, times have changed since then. As to how much of it has been for the better, that’s still open to debate.
Paul Kenna
Bellingham
Editor,
The other day, as I was gathering my groceries, I observed a parent with two young children (I would guess 3 and 5 years of age).
They were not under-dressed nor over-exposed. There was no high-tech equipment clipped to their ears, strapped to themselves, nor pulsing in their palms. They, three, were in caring conversation, selecting their grocery needs of the day; no haggling, nor furtive bargaining for things wanted; just a good understanding of what was needed.
At one point the mother placed several of like articles in the cart, whereupon the 5-year-old asked, “Why so many of those today, Mom?” The mother related to the girl that those goods are not perishable and are on sale, so today is a good day to buy them. OK!
What mentoring! That relationship was all about building good habits, values and appreciations with her children.
I did not interrupt them. They did not need that. They were perfectly comfortable in the “now.”
Thank you, young family. I needed that.
Tony Noordmans
Ferndale
