LETTERS: Yes, we are warming; 'Over the River' isn't art; and more

Debunking an editorial

I read the Our View article on Friday, Feb. 3, regarding the “warming theory dying on the vine” with much disdain. The opening statement about the Earth’s temperature not increasing significantly in the last 15 years sums up the ignorance of this piece. The facts are that of those 15 years, 13 have been the hottest ever recorded, since temperature records were kept. The results have been the extreme weather fluctuation we are now witnessing: record shattering droughts in some areas, killer storms and floods in others.

One of the best temperature gauges we can physically see are the rapid and alarming melting of glaciers around the world, including some right here in Colorado. The 62-acre Arapaho Glacier west of Boulder has dropped 130 feet since 1960. The 25-acre Arikaree Glacier, about five miles north of the Arapaho, has also shrunk about 65 feet in depth in that same time. One hundred years ago Montana’s Glacier National Park had more than 150 active glaciers. Today 25 remain. We are talking about rivers of ice that have been around for thousands of years that are disappearing, due to increased temperatures. The story is the same around the world. The problem is that many of these glaciers supply fresh water to millions of people who have no other access to fresh water for drinking or irrigation of crops.

Finally, half of the 16 “noteworthy scientists” that published the article in the recent Wall Street Journal edition debunking the need “decarbonize the world’s economy” have ties to the oil and gas industry, according to an investigation by DailyClimate.org. These people habitually debunk any efforts to stop the burning of fossils fuels, they need the money. And besides those whacked out liberals, who really needs clean air and water anyway?

Larry Szabelski

Divide

God that must be obeyed

Please spare me — the daughter, sister and lover of artists — the art defense of Christo’s project. The same people who defend Christo’s project based on its valuable art are the first to decry public funding for art for schoolchildren. Where are these art advocates when we need support for artful public television and radio? 

Christo’s fabric over the Arkansas is fine because it may bring money — the god that must be obeyed. I dissent. When money is gone, when I am gone, there will still be earth, rivers and mountain sheep that seek sustenance between them: hopefully. These ecosystems may suffer from being spooked by this “art” and die from denial of full exercise of the land.

Let’s do a risk/benefit analysis: are short-term tourism dollars more important than long-term longevity of natural life, which attracts long-term tourism with fishermen, hunters and people who come to see natural Colorado beauty?

Native Americans say: “Consider how your actions will affect seven generations.” Will our children’s children have to search online to see deer or hear a songbird? I forgot: They can purchase expensive prints instead of Christo’s adulteration of an exquisite land that needs no decoration.

Rebekah Shardy

Colorado Springs

No wolves for San Luis Valley

There has been some recent speculation that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to reintroduce wolves in the San Luis Valley to help manage elk and other species.

It is important to set the record straight: The service in fact has no plans and no intent to reintroduce wolves in the Valley.

The confusion about the service’s intent arose from a draft plan to manage overabundant elk populations affecting vital wildlife habitat on the San Luis Valley’s National Wildlife Refuges. The draft plan references a suggestion by some members of the public that the service consider wolves as a potential management tool. By law, the service is required to analyze the comments and suggestions we receive; we do not, however, believe that wolf reintroduction is the appropriate management strategy for this area. We have instead put forward three other options including public hunting, which we believe will help ensure that the wildlife refuges in the San Luis Valley continue to provide high quality habitat for elk and other species — as well as recreational and economic benefits for local communities.

We encourage members of the public and our partners to review and comment on this important draft plan as we work to finalize it over the next two years. We’re committed to ensuring that the San Luis Valley’s land, water, and wildlife remain the pride of Colorado and the nation for years to come.

Steve Guertin, Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service