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Readers write: climate change, apology from Japan, including Palestinians

Letters to the editor for the Aug. 10, 2015 weekly.

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Thomas Peter/Reuters
A protester wears a horse mask as a police officer stands watching during the third day of demonstrations against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security-related legislation outside the parliament building in Tokyo, Friday. Abe pushed through parliament's lower house legislation that could see troops sent to fight abroad for the first time since World War II, despite protests and a risk of further damage to his sagging ratings.
  • By William H. Cutler Monitor reader
  • Kwang Monitor reader
  • Kate Bradley Monitor reader

Hope for slowing climate change
The message of hope in the July 27 Monitor’s View “As climate goals rise up, so do innovative solutions” can break the political paralysis that is holding back strong climate-stabilizing measures at the national and global levels. The forces of economics are stimulating the transformation to carbon-free energy. But economics alone may not drive the transformation fast enough.
The voice of the people – so far strangely silent given the danger of climate disruption, but now liberated by hope – is needed. Tell politicians to set effective goals for eliminating carbon emissions and to enact the regulations and incentives that will ensure those goals are reached soon enough to hold global temperature rise within safe bounds. Specifically, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris this fall, commitments are needed to drop global carbon emissions 30 to 40 percent by 2030, and to zero or below by 2070. 
William H. Cutler
Union City, Calif.

Time for Japan to apologize
The July 27 cover story, “Why Asia is still fighting WWII,” is probably the most comprehensive and well-written article on this particular issue I’ve read so far. I sincerely hope Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will listen to the advice of his fellow Japanese scholars and use the coming 70th anniversary as an opportunity for Japan to make a clean break from its history of aggression and colonial rule and pave the way for genuine reconciliation with its neighbors.
Kwang 
Via e-mail

Include Palestinians in prosperity
Regarding the June 22 cover story, “Defying drought”: It’s wonderful that Israel has used its wealth and commitment to provide for its water needs. However, much of Israel’s prosperity has been gained by denying Palestinians’ rights and needs. Israel needs to grant Palestinians the dignity and freedom each and every human being deserves – and share the water.
Kate Bradley
Sammamish, Wash. 

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

Dear Reader,

About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review – under the charming heading of “do things that don’t interest you”:

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If you were to come up with a punchline to a joke about the Monitor, that would probably be it. We’re seen as being global, fair, insightful, and perhaps a bit too earnest. We’re the bran muffin of journalism.

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