Letters from Our Readers: Winter 2009

Whatever It Takes

In your Fall 2008 cover story, "Delta Blues," Barry Yeoman quotes a community leader in the Sacramento area who fears that in the event of a disastrous flood, "the delta will be the region that's written off, like New Orleans." Who is writing off New Orleans now? During the Katrina catastrophe, Dennis Hastert, then Speaker of the House, was perhaps the loudest among those who questioned the continuing existence of the Crescent City. But he's not around anymore. President Bush has promised to do "whatever it takes" to rebuild the city. New Orleans sits at the mouth of the Mississippi River, and its wetlands, damaged as they may be, still provide protection against violent storms. We will not write off New Orleans. Nor will Americans write off Galveston after Hurricane Ike, or West Coast cities that may become victims of the "Big One." We are all connected, and no city or region should be written off because of poor levee planning or other human folly.

Earl Higgins
New Orleans, Louisiana

One Reader's Beef

I am continually disappointed by the lack of understanding of the environmental benefits of a vegan diet. It was not mentioned at all in Sharman Apt Russell's essay "How to Save the Planet Over Dinner" [Fall 2008], yet the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined. Animal agriculture is also one of the leading sources of methane and nitrous oxide emissions. And did I mention the devastating effects of animal agriculture on the rainforest? Nearly three million acres of rainforest were destroyed in the 2004-2005 crop season in order to grow crops that are used to feed chickens and other animals on factory farms. I could continue to list the environmental impact of a diet that includes animal products, but it would be more productive for OnEarth to publish an article on this matter; that would have a far greater effect than any letter to the editor.

Marina Iandoli
Boston, Massachusetts

I have a friend here in Eugene, Oregon, who reminds me to explore my personal sphere of influence and work within it. For some that is politics, some their neighborhood-but for me, I like to have conversations with strangers in the produce section to encourage them to eat local. And yes, I forget the cloth bags in the car, but I have a demon at home waiting to rant me out if I come in with plastic, so I've kept many a clerk waiting to bag while I sprint to the parking lot, or I carry small loads out, unbagged.

posted online by Pat F.

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