Bad odors over greenhouse gas Dear Editor: Re: Trevor Lautens Dee. greenhouse gases”, What exactly is the point of Me. Lautens rather lugubrious column? That there is no validated scientific evidence of the so- called greenhouse effect? That the present atypical, mild and dry late fall weather we are experiencing has historical prece- dence? That carbon dioxide emissions and their effect on the atmosphere is mereiy anecdotal? None of the so-called skeptics he offers as “proof” against the position that carbon dioxide emissions are causing a harm- ful climatic warming has vet offered anything that can effective: ly discount the arguments that have been promulgated by those big bad environmentalists, whom Mr, Lautens would have us believe are merely a contemporary version of the Luddites whose sole mission it is to destroy our standard of living. Neither did he bother to mention thar most of these skep- tics are nothing more than hired gans for the industries which produce gas, coal, and oil. Unfortunately, these mvopic individuals and the pusillani- mous politicians they support that have managed to delay and obfuscate the debate surrounding the public policies that are needed for us to save ourselves from ourselves. To suggest that “the argument is over how much and how dangerous this (carbon dioxide emissions) would be - and, more to the point, whether mankind's contribution to it through the burning of fossil fuels is to blame, or only inciden- tal to natural movements” is simplistic and obtuse. The scientific evidence and the facts are available: the enlarged aperture in the ozone layer has been measured; the global temperature has warned by at least one degree celsius in recent years, and in fact is accelerating; the current levels of car- bon dioxide have been analyzed by scientists and determined to be at their highest poine tn the past owo hundred thousand years. It is also a fact-that there are more humans on this plan- et than ever before and that more fossi} fuels, including those burned by automobiles, are being used than ever before. The face that all these things are happening at the same time at least requires some form of critical analysis regarding, their connection and their effect. The same argument that Mr. Lautens is presently offering is reminiscent of a time when the tobacco industry and its sycophants denied that tobacco caused cancer, and claimed to have scientitic evidence to back it up. Instead of offering something constructive and useful given the platform thar has been made available to him, all) Mr. Lautens has contributed to this discussion is his usual flaccid commentary which is singularly successful in avoiding an informed and rigorous examination of this vital issue. Simon Holwiil North Vancouver sholwill@direct.ca Bowen needs a bus not a queen Dear Editor: Perhaps your writers have been talking to B.C. Ferries when trying to decide just which vessel sails to Bowen Island. If nei- ther you nor they know which boat we have it might help explain the high cost of travel to and trom the island. Many “Islanders” feel that we just plain have the wrong equipment for our needs and thus are paving too much for ser- vice, We used to have the Howe Sound Queen but that was sev- eral years and many fewer dollars ago. You see, the “Hound” as it was affectionately called by the locals had no frills and was cheap te operate, Much too cheap it seems for B.C. Ferries upscale image. We now have the Queen of Capilano (dubbed “Cappuccina™ by many locals) which is nothing but frills and has out of sight operating costs. In shore, Bowen Isind needs a floating “bus”, no queen of anything but a simple “Betty” or “Bud”. We need no snack bar, ne elevator, nor posh multi-stall washrooms. We do need a vessel that is cheap and reliable to operate. Something with one level would seem appropriate so that passengers, disabled or not, could get on and off quickly. No elevator would then be needed. But nobody asks the users what they think would be appro- priate. Instead we have been saddled with the frills and the costs of the Queen of Capilana. This vessel was placed close to home several Years ago because she was too problem: plagued for the Prince Rupert run she was designed tor. Bob Wiltshire wiltshri@smartt.com column “Hot air over wt MAILBOX POLICY LETTERS to the editor must be legible {preterably typewrit- ten) and include your name, full address and telephone number. Due te space constraints the North Shore News cannot pub- lish all letters. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clari- ty, accuracy, legality and raste. Submissions can be faxed to 985- 7104 but still must be signed and fully addressed. Sunday, December 14, 1997 ~ North Shore News - north shore news MAIL Box WV council needs ecology education ine habitat elements rom year to wear. It has been said thar we have a great deal todearn about the nuled frog, Given this tact, E hope that council uses every available tool, inchiding coaservarion covenants, te protect: LOO metres of streamside habitat for future generations. An amphibian guide states: “Fhe adult tailed frog has no vere.” Thank goodness the children have given it one, Mease listen. Mary-Sue Atkinson North Vancouver clomate with grearcr humudins that is pre terred by wildlite during for weather. TVhev are permanent or temporary habitat and seasonal or daily travel corriders for many wildlife species. The tailed frog. is one of many species, including us, that benetit directly from a healthy watershed. Hydrology and ccofogy are inextrica- Uy linked. A eritical component of an ecological- ly healthy stream system is a fully fune- toning hydrological regime that provides water quality and quantiry and support- Dear Editor: West Vancouver couned mentees have indicated they need more informa: tion about stream ecology, A field tip to the Seymour hatchery’s “Gently Down the Stream” program could enlighten them on the tremendous importance of riparian habitat. There is no habitar type upon which birds and wildlife are more dependent. 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