Letters to the Editors - The Lakeville Journal - 3-19-20

Is this the beginning of the future?

The health and economic crisis that is the coronavirus COVID-19 is just a glimpse of what the coming climate crisis looks like. As devastating as this crisis is, it affords economies around the world a recovery investment opportunity in the future if they are forward looking enough to take it.

So in the United States, should economic recovery investments that are surely coming go to airlines, oil companies, meat producers or other carbon heavy industries? If no, then where?

“... Transportation analyst Alon Levy estimates that for about €60 billion, Germany could build a comprehensive high-speed rail network that would better connect all its major cities and make domestic air travel obsolete. …” Source:  Vox, “Coronavirus’s threat to the global economy — and what to do about it,” by Matthew Yglesias.

What if in the United States the billions of tax and deficit spending dollars that our government is going to allocate to meet this healthcare and economic crisis go to financing and implementing the Green New Deal?

The Green New Deal offers all we need as a guidebook for a COVID-19 national recovery strategy: (excerpt of it as below)

“... Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that - (1) it is the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal (A) to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers; (B) to create millions of good, high-wage jobs and ensure prosperity and economic security for all people of the United States; (C) to invest in the infrastructure and industry of the United States to sustainably meet the challenges of the 21st century; (D) to secure for all people of the United States for generations to come - (i) clean air and water; (ii) climate and community resiliency: (iii) healthy food; (iv) access to nature; and (v) a sustainable environment; and (E) to promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth … (O) providing all people of the United States with - (i) high-quality health care; ...”  As stated in H.Res.109 - Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal. 116th Congress (2019-2020)

Source: www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/text)

You can affect how our government meets this crisis by speaking out, how you spend your money and how you vote. What will it be? To build a new future or prop up a house of cards that climate change will just blow away?

Bernard Re, Jr.

North Canaan

Finding positive inspiration at a hard time

With all due respect to the world’s shared concern of COVID-19, everyone can benefit from “retracing their steps” with awareness of where they were and who they interacted with recently and going forward with a daily journal. Sharing experiences of travels from the past and helpful events online may encourage others that “one day things will normalize.” Keeping in touch by phone, and online in private, local and other forums is also helpful to keep current with best practices in living, working and creating a stronger sense of community.

February found me headed to Hawaii for a program with Dr. Laurie Moore of animiracles.com as part of a small group connecting with positive intentions. Then I went to the Southwest for a few weeks, visiting the Grand Canyon and Prescott, Ariz., and more.

In Sedona,  I got to be part of author Gregg Braden’s program, which included seeing the educational heart-mind film HeartMath Experience (now gaia.com).

I reconnected as well with a couple dozen family members in New Mexico. I had met some of them in a cross-country trip during my Vassar College days in 1983.

The generations are amazing to learn about and will be a nice challenge to keep in touch with in coming years.

Before rules advised otherwise, I attended two events, honoring volunteers and women.

I share more about events and healing ideas over the past decade in Connecticut. Augmenting what is on mainstream media, I highlight insights about our late teen son Kaelan’s heroic actions  and safety ideas on livfully.org.

I appreciate encouragement for decades of outreach, writing and learning endeavors as part of ongoing networking and advocacy efforts.

I welcome ideas and can be reached at thinkingkapp@gmail.com or 347-471-9209.

Many people doing their part to create community online has taken on an urgent meaning.

Hopefully we can find ways to network and keep everybuddy in the loop to stay positive and healthy!

Catherine Palmer Paton

Falls Village

Money-saving trash alternatives

Having long been interested in the field of waste management and recycling of the Northwest Corner, I have watched the demise of confidence in the current contractor that processes garbage, CRRA/MIRA. Towns are being charged exorbitant fees for the weight of water that makes up a lot of the garbage that is collected from private schools, commercial restaurants, hospitals/senior living centers, etc.

To address the problem of mixing trash with wet garbage, the towns should purchase a special vehicle designed to transport this wet garbage to another receiving setting not controlled by MIRA, which currently charges over $80 per ton with a proposed increased cost per ton to $145. By removing water and garbage, the tonnage price would be dramatically reduced. Keep in mind, the weight of trash can be dramatically reduced if liquid garbage is not included in the tipping weight per ton.

To save the taxpayers money, it’s important to cut the weight of trash by eliminating wet garbage. If the area towns were to purchase a wet garbage truck and charge per pound for disposal, this service would be a money maker for area towns.

There is always a use for wet garbage such as the production of compost. Why not go green and save money at the same time?

William Kelsey

Sharon