Mailbag: Climate change summit emitted too much carbon dioxide
Climate change summit emitted too much carbon dioxide
In the commentary by Mark Reynolds and Mark Tabbert (“After historic Paris agreement, U.S. must lead climate efforts,” Dec 20), I would like to inform the authors, who considered the Paris Climate Conference a “wonderful surprise,” might be somewhat “surprised” by another result, as reported in the New York Daily News.
The conference emitted 300,000 tons of carbon into our very precious atmosphere, due to the 50,000 journalists and politicians (oh, I’m sorry, “scientists”) in attendance for two weeks. At $10 a ton of CO2, each one of those attending should have been assessed about $60.
But, of course, they were not. However, Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Tabbert could plant trees as a “carbon offset” to cover the damage to our planet.
Where do you want to start digging, gentlemen?
Mark Abram
Newport Beach
*
Cautious optimism on climate change
If only everyone were as optimistic about the Paris climate talks as these two citizens’ climate Lobby activists, maybe we could find a solution. What a sign of hope that 12 Republican congressmen have come out of the climate change-denial closet. Maybe climate change action will be like the issue of same-sex marriage and go from impossible to done in the blink of an eye. We can only hope, because the longer we dally, the bigger the problem becomes and the higher the cost my generation will pay.
Farrah Hedayati
Costa Mesa
*
Public art prevents visual blight
I want to add my comments to what I read in the Weekend Business section on Dec. 20 regarding the Tilly’s mural and the artwork of Zio Ziegler.
I just cannot see what benefit the Irvine Planning Commission gives us in removing the mural from the Tilly’s building. Is it because if we let Tilly do it, everyone else will want to do it?
I say, let them. It’s an expression of art in a world of boring, commercial buildings. If we had more of this expression in Irvine it would be a more colorful place. Or do we want what Will Ferrell said about Irvine, his childhood home, as “a place about as dull as Andy Griffith’s fictional TV haven of Mayberry.”
Tilly’s is the kind of expression we need, not what we see on the I-5 in the city of Commerce at the Citadel Shopping center, with its huge, community-destroying, LED billboards, that are so bright and distracting that it’s dangerous to drive the area on many nights.
LED billboards are what the community of Fountain Valley has on its planning agenda for the neighborhood of the 405 and Ellis Street. Will Irvine city officials enforce its vision of artistic expression or can we remain the city of the future?
I think we need to take a hard look at the reason behind the Irvine city’s decision in this matter.
Elgin Deighton
Irvine
*
Santa Claus symbolizes all of us
There’s a lot to be said for Santa Claus. OK, you haven’t believed in Santa since you were 5 years old, because you didn’t get that pony you asked for. Or you got it, but it was, you know, a toy.
(So what were all those brownies by the fireplace for, eh? I thought we had a deal, Santa.)
But, of course, Santa Claus is real. And Santa lives forever. He will never die. He will always be with us.
The real Santa Claus, history (aka, the Internet) tells us, was a bishop named St. Nicholas from the town of Myra. Myra is located in an almost magical, wealthy area called the Turquoise Coast in the eastern Mediterranean.
Hard data on St. Nicholas is scanty. But the reputation is of a very kind, generous person who looked out for other people, especially children. And his reputation has lived for a long, long time. Right up to and including today.
That is, Santa Claus is an archetype. Someone who is exceptionally kind, and generous, and self-sacrificing, resonates profoundly with people! That’s the person everyone wants to be, to have as a friend, a neighbor, a relative.
That is, Santa Claus is a timeless symbol of caring and giving, honesty and fairness, fun and warmth. That’s why we bring Santa back year after year, and introduce him to a new generation amid the lights and the pine, the gifts and the music, the merriment and the good cheer.
Santa Claus is us.
Steve Davidson
Newport Beach