Cats are people, too

Dear Editors,

Right in time for the Humane Society’s Adoptathon, Missy Votel subjects us to her appalling treatment of a stray cat. I suppose we were supposed to laugh at the parts about her and her children’s abuse of a starving, sick, stray kitten, then feel her relief when, after putting it outside for the night rather than getting it medical treatment, it disappeared. I just didn’t react that way. The kitten was a teacher with a lesson about compassion to teach Ms. Votel. Unfortunately she didn’t learn it, and sadder still, neither did her children.

– Peg Rogers, Ignacio

Editors note: We didn’t buy the “allergy” excuse, either although plague did cross our minds. Unfortunately, until the Humane Society gets a 24-hour cat drop-off, Durango’s stray pet population will only be subjected to more blatant “abuse,” such as curious 4-year-olds, organic half and half, comfy beds, fresh water and maybe even cans of tuna and fuzzy balls of yarn. While the $5,000 the Telegraph has donated to the La Plata County Humane Society in the form of free advertising over the years may be a mere pittance, perhaps it will go a long way toward more cat-sensitivity training and understanding in these troubling times.

A deeper look at colony collapse

Dear Editors,

On May 17, Mr. Brendan Bombaci wrote that: “There are important scientific connections in regard to recent worldwide effects of honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder, the dramatic deaths of birds, fish, dolphins, whales, fruits, vegetables and trees, and an obvious increase in serious human illness. Weakening the sensitive interglacial-peaking warming world, beyond its current 2800km shifted state of magnetism (North Pole being closer to Siberia now, after only 120 years), is humanity’s own monster: communications arrays, military-weaponized electromagnetic radiation, and weather modification.”

Mr. Bombaci’s suggestion that communications arrays, military-weaponized electromagnetic radiation and weather modification are responsible for the collapse of honeybee colonies in the U.S. contradicts the current understanding of the possible causes of CCD.

The USDA will release a report from the CCD Working Group this month (June 2007) in which they will discuss their progress. The Working Group is comprised of a diverse group of researchers, extension agents, regulatory officials, and even a beekeeper or two. Possible causes that will be discussed are genetic diversity, nutrition, stress, chemical treatments, pesticides and insecticides, among others. Nowhere in the preliminary reports that I’ve read will they suggest electromagnetic radiation as a cause of colony collapse. Not because it hasn’t been considered, but because it simply does not account for the symptoms of CCD.

Extensive discussions have been taking place all over the country, from local beekeeping clubs to numerous internet beekeeping forums regarding this issue. With few exceptions the “cell-phone” theory and electronic interference have been given virtually no credibility. Those dismissing these ideas are experienced beekeepers, both commercial and hobbiest, who are imminently qualified to be discussing CCD. Those who are insisting that there is an electromagnetic connection to CCD are typically non-beekeepers with unsubstantiated claims that are offered up to bolster some sort of agenda that now includes bees.

If those who insist that electronics has anything to do with CCD would be so kind as to provide the researchers at Penn State with their evidence, we beekeepers would greatly appreciate it. Please include the protocol for your experiments if you’ve actually run some, locations and number of hives in your apiaries, which breeds of bee you are managing, management practices such as feed and medications, any movement of hives, crops pollinated, weather, hives collapsed vs. surviving, unusual behaviors before and after the incident, etc.

For those who would like to follow the actual research and discussions regarding Colony Collapse Disorder, I suggest the Penn State University site, or the internet’s two premier discussion forums; the Beesource forums at www.beesource.com and the Bee-L listserver at www.honeybeeworld.com.

– Sincerely, Barry Digman, Farmington

Really bad dreams

Dear Editors,

I lay awake nights frightened by possible terrorist attacks. Maybe we should keep our troops in that part of the world forever, that way they can keep on killing our sons and daughters instead of swimming across the Atlantic with their AK-47s and IEDs to kill us here while we sleep. On the other hand, I know I should not worry since Homeland Security has the borders well secured and thwarted many terrorist attacks so far (George never lies). I ask myself why should the terrorists in Iraq wait until our troops pull out in order to attack us here. Maybe their plan is that after our troops are gone, they will muster their navy and attack us en masse. God Save the King!

– C. Kummel, via e-mail

Put heat on the administration

Dear Editors, Almost 70 percent of Americans believe that certifiable benchmarks should have been included in the Iraq war funding legislation just sent to President Bush on May 24. We, the La Plata County Democratic Party, wholeheartedly agree with them. But, as frustrated as we are, we also must acknowledge a political reality: Democrats narrowly control the House but don’t have an effective majority in the Senate since Sen. Joe Lieberman (CT) votes with the GOP on the war and Sen. Tim Johnson (S.D.) is still too ill to vote. In short, Democrats have enough power to make Mr. Bush’s life more difficult, but not enough power to impose our will (which, in this case, is the will of the majority of Americans) on this most stubborn man. We encourage each of you to use this democracy to make your voices heard on this, both to our representatives in Congress and to this administration. We expect our representatives to represent us and stand up for what is right. Speak up! Public pressure is the only thing that will bring our troops home with the care and support they deserve and to make sure our political representatives listen to us. Support our troops bring them home!

– Erich Bussian, Chair La Plata County Democratic Party

A war on peace

Dear Editors,

I would like to respond to Pat Sipperly’s letter to the editor. It was a well-written, thoughtful letter. There is no doubt he is a good man with good intentions. I appreciate his service and strong feelings for our country; I pray his spouse makes it home safely. Like many who support the war in Iraq, he mentions a global war on terror and defending our country and freedom. I am not opposed to defending our country. However, I AM opposed to the invasion and destruction of a country that had nothing to do with an attack on the United States or its allies, a country that posed no threat to us. There is absolutely no connection, whatsoever, with Iraq to the terrorist attacks of 9-11. None. This war was justified with lies in the name of corporate greed. Most folks that are pro-Bush and pro-war believe we are fighting the Iraqi people. How sad is that?

From the very beginning, this war has been a disaster. In the first week or two, when people looted the Iraqi national museum, I knew we were in trouble. By not protecting their national (and world) treasures, they would soon see our intentions were not really about them, but about their oil.

I support our troops. It is the Bush Administration that I cannot support. They are the ones that are putting our troops in a no-win situation, with no clear strategy or plan. They are the ones who have ruined our reputation as a caring, responsible nation. They are the ones that are helping terrorists recruit new members on a daily basis. Imagine if your mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter was killed by a bomb in your own back yard. You would probably sign up to fight them.

And this is what it has become. We got attacked by the terrorists of 9-11. Instead of focusing on them, we invade a country causing more hardship and individual tragedies. They will certainly “defend” themselves and want revenge against us. It is the most vicious, never-ending cycle.

I think this administration is waging a war on peace, reason, and freedom. If only they declared a “war on peace,” peace might have a fighting chance.

– William Holden, Durango

The cost of Wal-Mart

To the Editors,

Wal-Mart has distinguished itself as our nation’s largest private employer with stores that deliver consistently low prices. But a new Wal-Mart store often signals the death knell for local retailers who cannot negotiate low prices on cheap foreign goods. Wal-Mart’s pricing pressure is not only pushing local stores out of business but American manufacturers as well. As Wal-Mart purchases the majority of its products, or their parts, from China it forces suppliers to move jobs overseas.

Wal-Mart’s stewardship of its workforce, now 1.3 million strong, is a sorry story. Amidst staggering profits, the company has failed to provide health care to more than half of its employees, and shockingly, its executives are scheming to make further cuts. It hides behind a stingy, high-deductible plan that can take two years to join for a part-time employee. As a result, Wal-Mart’s employees are top recipients of public health care, paid for by our tax dollars, according to studies.

And Wal-Mart has amassed a shameful record of gender inequality. Women who work there are paid less and promoted less than their male coworkers. Last year the company was sued by 1.6 million current and former female employees for gender discrimination, the largest class action suit in history.

The next time you buy a box of Tide or some school supplies from a female cashier at Wal-Mart who is underpaid and undervalued, remember your tax dollars are likely helping pay for her or her child’s health care as well as the subsidies her company enjoys. And on the drive home, don’t forget Wal-Mart helped harm or eliminate numerous local businesses by selling products manufactured mostly overseas. Those savings, perhaps several dollars, just can’t feel that good.

We must raise our expectations. We don’t have to let Wal-Mart bargain away our security. Together we can hold Wal-Mart accountable to its employees and their communities. It is time for this industry giant to conduct all its business in ways that respect our American values, from hometown to headquarters.

– Sincerely, Dave Adler, via e-mail