Letters: Conserve water | Save our kids | Group effort | Crisis of morality | Seize chance
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Drought or not, statemust conserve water
Re: “Newsom denies obvious: State no longer in drought” (Page A6, March 28).
George Skelton’s column saying that the governor denies that the state is no longer in a drought is meaningless. Skelton seems to want the governor to officially proclaim it’s over. But why do that and what will that accomplish?
We had a deepening-water crisis even before the drought. If the governor declares what Skelton wants that could signal a return to the past practice of waste. Our crisis is of a magnitude that, in my opinion, we seem to need a four- to five-year water reserve to make it through the next drought, which could return next year.
We are in no position to declare anything. This abundance of rain is just a reprieve. If the governor should say anything, it is that we are changing practices, policies and starting new projects to sustain California’s future.
Mark GrzanMorgan Hill
Urge politicians to keepkids from gun violence
Re: “From Columbine to Nashville: 175 shot dead in schools” (March 27).
Do children deserve to die? The answer to this is an obvious no, yet the leading cause of death for children is firearms, and the country is still hesitant on gun control precautions.
Not just children and teens are at risk, thousands are dying constantly in public places that should be considered safe. By pressuring the government for better gun control laws, we could lower the rate of mass shootings and limit who is getting their hands on firearms and also preach firearm safety. Imagine a world in which you don’t have to map an escape route in every public place that you enter.
Please, I urge everyone to write a letter to the Senate urging better gun control laws effective immediately for our kids’ protection.
Dev SniderSan Jose
Come together todemand gun control
In the United States, the leading cause of death for children is guns. I urge opposing forces to come together, for our children’s sake, to end this scourge.
One of the strongest political forces is the anti-abortion movement, closely aligned with conservative religious groups and PACs. If this group is indeed pro-life, especially children’s, it should put all other differences aside and work with groups it might otherwise ignore, such as Everytown and Moms Demand Action, for sensible gun measures. Most Americans support a ban on assault weapons, completed background checks and red flag laws. The combined energy and commitment of such an alliance would be hard for any lawmaker, Republican or Democratic, to ignore.
This cause is apolitical, it is moral and it is most definitely pro-life.
Carol WeissSunnyvale
Climate change isa crisis of morality
Re: “Earth to hit critical warming threshold by early 2030s, climate panel says” (Page A1, March 21).
It was gratifying to see the comprehensive assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change featured on the front page of The Mercury News, but the reporting by Brad Plumer of the New York Times failed to communicate the moral concern about climate justice that permeates the report.
The world’s poorest nations produce a small fraction of mankind’s excessive greenhouse gases, but they are suffering the greatest amount of harm from the resulting climate atrocity. Not since the days of human slavery have modern societies exhibited such a high level of moral indifference. Understanding the scientific parameters of the crisis is all well and good, but it is not enough. An honest discussion about the moral dimensions of the crisis is long overdue.
The climate experts at the United Nations are insisting that we honor our moral obligations, but their heartfelt admonition is not getting through.
Doug PetersonSan Jose
Seize chance to fixour climate crisis
Re: “Earth to hit critical warming threshold by early 2030s, climate panel says” (Page A1, March 21).
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, warning of worsening climate disaster, made me think of my mother.
Doctors warned her about smoking, but she was addicted, eventually just turning off her oxygen tank before lighting up. Her life was short, with years of debilitation at the end. Similarly, we have become addicted to fossil fuels. Oil, coal and gas companies have worked to cast doubt on the effects of CO2, just as big tobacco did with nicotine back in the day.
Climate scientists are giving us another warning but also offering hope: “There is still one last chance to shift course. … But it would require industrialized nations to join together immediately to slash greenhouse gases.”
We should all consider the choices we make. But letting our elected officials know we want stronger action is just as — or more — important.
Anna KosterSan Jose