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Environmental protection is important for us all
Dear editor,
Environmental protection is perhaps one of the most important agencies in the United States. Recently, I heard a prominent pastor talking about the natural beauty of nature in Eastern Appalachia in Kentucky and Western Virginia. I understand how he feels.
However, what he failed to mention was what the mountain top removal for coal has done to that once healthful area. What one cannot see from a distance is revealed by residents and homeowners who live in the Appalachian Mountains area. Once-fresh water streams have been polluted by the runoff of strip mining and the leveling of mountain tops in pursuit of coal. Underground wells in places where residents live have also been made undrinkable.
As yet, there is no such thing as clean coal. Although that term is politically used to keep coal mining going, mining poisons the soil, water and pollutes the air.
Many inhabitants experience respiratory ailments and even lung diseases that result in a terminal diagnosis in humans. Aside from that, animals and fish in those streams have greatly suffered due to deregulation efforts for years now by right-wing politicians.
Here in Weatherford, Texas, our drinking water is constantly under threat. Lake Weatherford being our drinking water reservoir is also a recreational swimming area for visitors with motor boats, which require oil and gas and is certainly a health concern for residents.
Our officials over the years, who have provided other local towns with our reservoir water supply, has severely affected our ability for water usage in dry months. Weatherford lake spillway “return back pipeline,” was constructed a number of years ago from Lake Benbrook. Now Benbrook’s water level becomes lower even before Lake Weatherford’s — mainly because Lake Benbrook also serves Fort Worth.
Another threat to water in Weatherford is the litter debris and trash that remains in local creeks here, and streams feeding into Lake Weatherford. Creek pollution also works its way into our water ponds and ground water.
Our local and city leaders need to address all of these issues.
Buying bottled water, which many times comes from tap water somewhere else, is another scam.
Because of greed in the political system in the United States and Texas, 98 percent of the people are at risk from corporate polluters whose resistance to regulation benefits them, and the 2 percent with massive money profits. Is there anyone else out there concerned with this reality?
Darwin Yeary,
Chairman of Adopt A Country Road
Viewpoints
Letters to the editor, Thursday, Oct. 4
- Viewpoints
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CNHI EDITORIAL: Seizure of AP phone records an insult to independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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NOW HEAR THIS: ‘What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate’
This famous quote addressing communication failure is a classic line from the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” starring Paul Newman. Strother Martin, who played the role of the warden in a southern prison, would use this phrase every time he gave Luke a good whack with his baton. The concept resonated so well with moviegoers that it was voted No. 11 of the 100 all-time favorite movie quotes according to the American Film Institute.
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Letters to the Editor – May 19, 2013
Do you remember the “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” sign that the personnel on the USS Abraham Lincoln displayed to greet President Bush when he went out to greet them?
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Guest opinion: Campaign with honor
All politics is local and personal! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful summer, filled with relationship building experiences and times of relaxation. As you do all the things that re-charge us for the next round at work and involvement in community and political activities, let’s reflect on the 2013 local elections for a moment.
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TISCIONE: Woe for calling evil good
You don’t often see “woe” used in an article. It’s a word that has fallen out of usage in our day. But it’s a word that ought to be understood and taken seriously.
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Letters to the Editor – May 17, 2013
As mercury pollution threatens our waterways and carbon pollution-fueled climate change worsens extreme weather, we need someone in Washington who knows how to get things done.
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Letters to the Editor – May 15, 2013
I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to the slobs, idiots and inconsiderate people who continually decorate the beautiful Texas landscape with their trash. I guess it’s really a form of art with beer bottles and cans, boxes, plastic drink containers, food packaging and just about anything else you can think of. It just doesn’t appeal to me. Thank you.
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NOW HEAR THIS: Not by the hairs of my chinny chin chin
I had never really considered this possibility, but every one of the Three Little Pigs was almost certainly a guy. I know that assumption is not particularly popular from an equal opportunity standpoint, but the fact is fairly certain. How do I know? They all three had hair on their chinny chin chins.
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ESTES: Securing a bright future for Texas
Texas businesses have created more than 500,000 jobs since November 2011. Our economy is growing nearly 50 percent faster than the rest of the country and our cost of living remains low.
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TISCIONE: ‘It’s not about me’
“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.”
- More Viewpoints Headlines
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