Letters to the editor
Climate must change on meat production
Last Sunday, hundreds of thousands marched throughout the world demanding action on climate change. One hundred and twenty world leaders gathered in New York for the United Nations Summit on Climate Change. What can we do?
A 2006 U.N. report estimated that meat production accounts for 18 percent of man-made greenhouse gases. A 2009 article in the respected World Watch magazine suggested that the contribution may be closer to 50 percent.
The meat industry generates carbon dioxide by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to confine, feed, transport, and slaughter animals. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are discharged from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.
In an environmentally sustainable world, wind, solar, and other pollution-free energy sources must gradually replace polluting fossil fuels. Similarly, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains must replace polluting meat and dairy products. The large variety of widely available plant-based entrees, lunch meats, veggie burgers, cheeses, and ice creams can certainly help.
Our next trip to the supermarket is a great opportunity to start the transition to a sustainable world. Our favorite internet search engine offers ample product lists, recipes, and dietary tips.
Herculates Turnbell
Weeki Wachee
Get rid of the signs on U.S. 19
What’s with the signage on U.S. 19: “Jazzersize,” “We buy junk cars,” “Mattress sale,’’ “Palm tree cutting,’’ “Roofing.”
Are you kidding? Where is code enforcement? For years we’ve been looking at the same signs, day in and day out. Why? I pull them out and i get reprimanded by the sheriff. Really?
Please do your job. These people are breaking the law, not only on U.S. 19 but throughout Spring Hill. It looks nasty and annoying. I hear it every day from people.
Example: At the corner of Northcliff and U.S. 19 on the east side there is a sign for “Palm tree trimming.” This sign has been their for months. It’s nailed to a telephone pole about 15 feet high.
Why so high? Because these people know that code enforcement will not go out of their way to remove it. How about calling that number and telling them to remove the sign or face a fine?
Too many excuses from your office. I’ve call before and I’ll probably have to call again.
Totally disgusted and fed up.
Richard Vena
Spring Hill
A tough assignment
After viewing clips of Obama’s latest Teleprompter recitation at MacDill Air Force Base I thought I would comment on his “audience.” It gave the appearance as if they were all eagerly supporting him. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
I am an Air Force veteran and can spot someone who is there on orders and not voluntarily. Just look at their eyes. To say they would rather be elsewhere is an understatement. When some political bozo, especially an unfavorable POTUS, arrives at any base or post, the base commander is ordered by the appropriate service chief of staff to order a certain number of personnel to attend. It is referred to as a mandatory formation.
Now in that light, if you focus on the troops in the background paying attention to their eyes you will notice they are looking for their clues as to when to applaud. This is how our valiant service men and women begin to lose faith and trust in their leadership. It is always incumbent upon every commander at every echelon of command to have that very faith and trust by those under his/her command. I salute our troops for doing their duty under such trying circumstances.
God bless our troops and God bless America.
George Stansbury
Brooksville
Vote no on marijuana referendum
Quite obviously the medical marijuana drive has little to do with medical use and more to do with recreational use. The medical use is the ability of using THC which is in marijuana to help relieve pain and stimulate appetites. This pill has been available in the synthetic form for over 15 years. This is not about helping the sick; this is a smoke screen to legalize the drug. If you have 20 percent of Floridians hooked on marijuana at the present time, maybe 3 million and legalize it and you double that amount, you have 6 million marijuana users in the state. Who is going to support all these people who have difficulty functioning in society?
So let’s make the November vote easy. If you have a member of your family or a friend who is a user of marijuana and/or alcoholic and their whole life is wasted then vote no. You have seen what this drug does to people, constant use causes brain damage.
How could you vote yes? Most of us have seen the results of individuals who, due to the continued use of marijuana and alcohol live off relatives or the government. They can’t work because they don’t have the focus to hold a job, they steal to buy drugs and you can’t trust them, period.
So the bottom line is if you have never seen anyone’s life destroyed by marijuana and alcohol vote yes with a clear conscience. Be honest with yourself, this is your state and your country. If you want to argue about alcohol vs. marijuana, go ahead and waste everyone’s time and while you are trying to confuse the issue some more kids will get hooked on drugs and alcohol, their lives will be gone, does it really matter which drug it is?
Bart Cassidy
Madison
