Letters, July 24

Follow the science

Some say the fires in northern Canada are a result of poor forest management.

However, the science is clear: the more fossil fuels we burn, the hotter the atmosphere gets, resulting in more heat waves.

For every one degree Celsius (1.8 F) the air is hotter, it holds seven per cent more moisture, an effect named the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. With the increase in strong winds from the volatility of the jet stream, caused by distorted global heating patterns, forests dry out faster, storms are worse, fires sparked by lightning and stoked by strong winds blaze into larger conflagrations in the remote, tinder-dry forests. The majority of these forests are too remote for human management.

New fossil fuel projects are incompatible with securing a safe, more environmentally-friendly climate. Instead of pushing “nation-building” (really?) pipelines and hazardous natural gas ports, we need real nation-building projects, such as an east-west-north electrical grid that delivers affordable renewable energy to all.

Oil pipelines and methane gas ports enrich shareholders while endangering everyday people and the surrounding ecosystems.

Why should tens of billions of public taxpayer dollars subsidize a fossil fuel sector that is currently raking in record excess profits? Renewable energy sources abound and are so much less expensive for Canadians, the ultimate consumers.

More pipelines on a burning planet makes no economic sense. Even private industry won’t invest in them.

Gail Faveri, Winnipeg

Military spending is madness

In all the recent letters and articles telling us what we already know about climate change and rising carbon dioxide levels related to our fossil fuel consumption, there is one aspect seldom mentioned — the magnitude of the contribution of the world’s militaries to fossil-fuel pollution and the accompanying destruction of our planet.

Our prime minister, as the former UN Secretary General’s envoy on climate action and finance, warned of the existential threat of climate change. All of that is apparently forgotten, as we are now repeatedly told of the need to increase Canada’s military expenditure to five per cent of GDP by 2035. That is roughly $150 billion a year — more than Canada currently spends on old age security, employment insurance and the Canada child benefit.

Disturbingly, Mark Carney, the first sitting prime minister to address CANSEC, Canada’s arms bazaar in Ottawa, received a standing ovation in May from bankers, generals and arms dealers as he announced plans for Canada’s weapons industries.

Wildfires burn, floods rage, Gaza is destroyed and in Ukraine, Sudan, the Middle East and elsewhere politicians, bankers, generals and arms dealers want more war toys — which will only bring us more chaos, death, destruction and increasing CO2 levels, with accompanying disastrous results.

We can, we must, recognize and speak truth to each other and to our leaders and politicians. We must at the same time take individual and collective steps and actions to preserve what we have and reverse direction for everyone’s preservation, for future generations and for this beautiful planet which we have been given and are privileged to inhabit and enjoy.

Ernie Wiens, La Salle

Good relations will resume

Re: Presidents come and go but Canada-U.S. trade here to stay (July 22)

I would like to compliment Tom Brodbeck’s excellent article.

Our government under the leadership of Mark Carney, along with Foreign Minister Anita Anand, is travelling to different countries of the world to meet with their leaders. Their goal is to promote Canada’s business interests and our products in order to establish trade relations and secure export deals.

I believe that this spreading of our wings across the world at this time is very important. Our world has become such a global economy that maintaining good relations with all the countries of the world is important, not just for trade but also for peace and stability.

I just recently retired from operating a consulting structural engineering business out of Winnipeg, but operating mostly in the U.S. upper Midwest for over 50 years, commuting regularly to Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Most of our clients and business were in the U.S., where excellent working relationships with various architects, developers and builders were established. Most of these became loyal clients, providing repeat building projects for us. I did not need to do any promotion for many years, even though we had competition.

Our livelihood was due not only to good work and service but also in maintaining good relations with our client neighbours across the border.

I firmly believe, as Tom Brodbeck intimated, that we will get over the current political spat and our good, friendly relationships will be re-established and maintained in the future, as our lives have been intertwined in the past.

William Hanuschak, Winnipeg

911 failure unacceptable

Re: 911 outage sparks more concerns about Bell (July 23)

Telecommunications are a key part of daily life. Failures can lead to major disruption to businesses and, in cases of 911 outages, possibly lead to loss of life.

Manitobans need a telecommunications company that is answerable to them and their needs, not to making a profit. We need a telecommunications Crown corporation that is answerable to the Public Utilities Board and focused on delivering affordable, reliable service.

Christian Le Breton, Headingley

Invisibility cloak required?

Re: Judge doesn’t buy remorse, sentences man to 5 years for attack on 83-year-old woman (July 23)

Publicly using a walker or cane, unfortunately, is advertising how vulnerable one is to violent attacks.

I am an octogenarian and proud of it. But, reading the above article yells at me that I am at risk, too. I am defenceless against violence. Now, I feel I should leave my cane at home, walk firmly, and return to my invisible state and be safe.

Having Victoria Comeau’s assailant in prison for five years, for ruining someone’s life, does not cut it, I’m afraid.

Diane R. Unger, Cooks Creek

Zebra mussel frustration

Re: Nearly one in four watercraft fail inspection in roadside blitz (July 22)

There must be much heavier penalties for anyone not checking their watercraft for zebra mussels and transporting them, because of the damage they can do to our lakes and rivers.

Maybe a month-long impound at the owners’ expense, along with a hefty fine, for the first offence, and losing their watercraft permanently for the second will make people think twice before they transport their watercraft without checking for zebra mussels.

How many more lakes need to be infested before the government gets serious about this?

All it takes is one boat, one time and a lake is infested permanently. That should justify the strictness of the penalties.

When one in four boats are found to be contaminated during an inspection, the government must act immediately and forcefully to make sure our lakes and rivers are protected.

Jason Sudyn, Winnipeg