Seven Letters

Hunt adults

Sign on a forestry trail: No hunting children.
(Globe and Mail, 18/08/09)
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Farms before oil

Re: "Alberta drought worst since 1930s," The Journal, Aug. 9.
It may or may not be global warming-- after all, it was not thought to be global in the Dirty Thirties.
But overall indications are that the current warming is global, and carbon-dioxide emissions are behind it.
Then why does our government not pay more attention to the problems we are facing now?Is the extraction of oil for American markets more profitable than the farm products?
The farms will produce forever if allowed to, but the oil will run out some day.
Humans need to eat, and they can't eat oil.
(Edmonton Journal. 11/08/090
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Changing courses

Why are college students like old rivers?
Because they are always changing courses.
(Globe and Mail, 07/08/09)
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MEMORIAL DRIVE HEADACHE

Although Rick Bell (City urged to go with the flow, Aug. 1) has a point, the problem here is Memorial Drive has become a major artery rather than the pleasant drive along the river it once was. The cyclists need room over weekends, residents need rest from week's traffic noise and drivers need to get from Crowchild Trail to Deerfoot Trail or the zoo or the their homes in the East Calgary. There is no solution other than convincing people to take public transit. But it costs money to have a decent transit system which we can't afford. Rick is right -- such inconveniences will grow until the city stops growing. For many of us it can't be too soon.
(Calgary Sun, 06/08/09)

Is United Church Antisemitic?

I suggest that if rest of the world let Israelis and Palestinians sort their problems out by themselves, they will reach a solution before too long. It is the interference of the well-wishers abroad: Islamic countries in the Middle East for Palestinians and the Western governments and Jewish sympathizers for Israel who prolong the conflict. If the United Church and other do-gooders minded their own business and let others mind theirs, the conflicts will be resolved by the parties themselves and wars, if any, will be short-lived and less destructive. (As submitted)
(National Post, 06/08/09)


Two-way street

Re: “cyclists dial up dread when motorists use cellphones.” Letter, July 31.
There have been occasions when I was not considerate enough for cyclists while driving, but there have been occasions too when cyclists were riding without warning gear in dark clothes on dark streets, sometimes in double file. The cyclists have to realize their vulnerability and take precautions with their equipment as well as in their riding habits. This does not remove primary responsibility from the motorists, but dear cyclists, if you help them see you, it might save you from injury some day.
(Calgary Herald, 04/08/09)
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Celtic dilemma

Economist Glen Hodgson (A Celtic tiger stumbles and falls – July 31) unwittingly shows the dilemma that Western economies face. On the one side is to retain lower taxes, one of “the underlying reasons for the 20-year foreign investment boom’ in Ireland and the need to deal with “the huge stack of non-performing mortgages.” On the other is the need to bring government’s budget under control by reducing spending and increasing taxes.
There is no quick prescription for reconciling the two sides of the equation, and that is why the western economies will sputter for a while longer.
(Globe and Mail, 01.08.09)