Letters to the Editor
Readers write about fuel taxes, global warming affecting sea turtle populations, the Sanskrit revival movement, the global warming generation, the Charles Taylor trial and the effect of off-road vehicles on the land.
A gas tax can efficiently reduce the use of fossil fuel
As the June 5 editorial, "Al Gore's Inconvenient Tax," points out carbon taxes are both regressive and unpopular, even if they were to take the place of Social Security taxes.
However they are also the most efficient way to reduce the use of fossil fuels. The solution is easy. Simply rebate the tax annually on a per capita basis. This would encourage energy efficiency and provide a subsidy to the poor who, generally speaking, use less carbon than those with more financial resources.
Charles Lidz
Sutton, Mass.
Regarding the June 5 editorial, "Al Gore's Inconvenient Tax," I am of the opinion that a gas tax is a wonderful way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use. It should have been done a long time ago. Kudos to Al Gore for proposing what is right and not what is politically convenient.
Even though I am not wealthy, I would gladly pay even $10 a gallon if I knew the majority of it was going toward building alternative forms of transportation and energy sources. At $3 a gallon, gas is practically free considering what it does for us. Ever try pushing your car?
Carl Olsen
Vashon, WA
Global warming's effect on sea turtles
I thoroughly enjoyed the June 21 article "Climate turns up the heat on sea turtles." I was part of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation's turtle research in 2005, patrolling the beaches on night walks, measuring and counting turtles that came ashore to lay eggs, and generally educating people about this barometer species.
If they had it tough before as a species, global warming, as the article stated, is really going to turn up the heat on these poor creatures. Thanks for focusing in on the sea turtles!
Judi Lindsey
Candia, N.H.
Sanskrit movement spreads
The Sanskrit revival movement in India as well as here in the US is beautifully captured in the July 5 article "Sanskrit echoes around the world."
The article rings true as I attended a "Speak Sanskrit" with my family in 1998 and we have been speaking the language ever since. There are at least 100 families like ours here in the Bay Area who use Sanskrit as one of the languages in their daily life.
A knowledge of Sanskrit is required if one is interested in going to the source of yoga, ayurveda, and philosophy that originated in ancient India. I hope this article inspires others like me who are interested in knowing more about India to learn the divine language of Sanskrit.
Govinda Yelagalawadi
San Jose, Calif.
Off-road vehicles as threat
I completely agree with the July 3 article, "Off-road vehicles rev up controversy in public lands." I spent 31 years with the National Park Service. In that time I watched off-highway vehicle (OHV) use go from a minor hindrance to an all-out war on the environment.
The Blue Ribbon Coalition has only promoted and publicized irresponsible motorized recreation. Even their educational messages are lost amid their articles and photo essays glorifying the destruction of the land by motor vehicles.
I worked for many years with some responsible members of the OHV community. Their efforts were appreciated but are now futile amid a flood of such vehicles. In my opinion OHVs should be banned on all public lands.
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