Don Gaede & Alexander Sherriffs - January 10, 2017 - Bird captures impact of climate change on public health

Bird captures impact of climate change on public health 

January 10, 2017

Hats off to Dr. Ken Bird, Fresno County’s Public Health Officer, for highlighting the importance of climate change in last month’s online newsletter To Your Health. This outstanding series has previously shed light on important public health issues like the nationwide opioid epidemic, hepatitis C, and the insufficient numbers of health care providers in our Valley.
In his December article, Dr. Bird writes, “We in Fresno County and the Valley cannot afford to ignore climate change and its health consequences . . . We are very much more at risk (from climate change) due to the bowl-like topography of our environment, the tenuous nature of our water supply, and our economic dependence upon agriculture.”
Dr. Bird’s call to action echoes that of several other health organizations: the American Public Health Association declared 2017 to be “The Year of Climate Change and Health,” and the American College of Physicians recently issued a call for physicians to “help combat climate change by advocating for effective climate change adaptation and mitigation policies.” Our Fresno-Madera Medical Society and the California Medical Association endorsed similar policies this past year.

Thank you, Dr. Bird, for keeping us informed about these timely topics.

Don Gaede, M.D., and Alexander Sherriffs, M.D., Fresno

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article125435499.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article125435499.html#storylink=cpyThank you, Dr. Bird, for keeping us informed about these timely topics.

Don Gaede, M.D., and Alexander Sherriffs, M.D., Fresno

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article125435499.html#storylink=cpy

 

Bruce Ratcliff - January 6, 2017 - Shake-up call: We aren’t helpless against climate change

Shake-up call: We aren’t helpless against climate change 

 January 6, 2017

One hopes our recent earthquake will serve as a shake-up call to those who believe we humans are in charge of the planet. Everything from the pyramids to the interstate highway system shows we’re the top dog around here, right? But no. Mother Nature is in the driver’s seat.
Though we can prepare for nature’s disasters like earthquakes, we can’t stop them – just like climate change, right? But no. Recent extreme weather events – record rainfalls, hurricanes, droughts; global temperatures rising, cannot be blamed on Mother Nature. We’re in the driver’s seat (literally) for this one.
Fortunately, we humans can slow, even stop climate change. A sensible plan to do just that has been proposed by Citizens’ Climate Lobby: a slowly increasing fee on fossil fuels, all returned to the public, that uses a free-market solution to get citizens to cut their fossil fuels consumption voluntarily.
One morning back in 1957, I was caught exactly half way between my friend’s house and mine during the worst earthquake since the 1906 San Francisco temblor. I froze, helpless, paralyzed by fear. We needn’t feel helpless – or hopeless – about climate change. We caused it; we can cure it.

Bruce Ratcliffe, Fresno

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article125000354.html#storylink=cpy

 

Twyla Smith December 18, 2016 Congress’ bipartisan work on water sets good example for climate change

Congress’ bipartisan work on water sets good example for climate change

 December 18, 2016 11:50 AM

I’d like to express my thanks and congratulations to Congressmen Jim Costa, David Valadao and Kevin McCarthy for their support of the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act.
In times like these, when it often feels our nation is tearing itself apart along red and blue lines, it is inspiring and hopeful to see both parties come together to work so diligently towards a thoughtful, balanced solution to one of the most multi-faceted and pressing issues facing our state.
I hope we can find such bipartisan leadership on another vexing issue – climate change. Perhaps it would be helpful to note that whether you believe global weather disruption is happening or is merely a big hoax, a revenue-neutral carbon fee, like the one just enacted by Canada, can actually drive job creation and spur economic growth by harnessing the power of the market while inhibiting government intrusion. That’s something we can all support.
Let us turn our attention away from the finger-pointing and bickering that follow such a polarizing election and focus on understanding that each of us, red and blue alike, truly want what’s best for our families, our nation and our world. But to accomplish that, we must work together.

Twyla Smith, Madera

http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article121351293.html

Vicki Hellenas- December 2, 2016 -I’m hopeful Trump’s flip-flopping favors climate change

I’m hopeful Trump’s flip-flopping favors climate change

With indications that the new administration plans to dismantle the Paris climate agreement, an accord that was 20 years in the making, many of us are hoping the president-elect will come to understand that backing off from this agreement is not in the best interest of our country for many reasons, including those of economic and political persuasion. 

Our country would not only slip in leadership stature in the eyes of the world; we would also be letting down our next generation. For once, I’m hoping that with Trump’s evident ambivalence and flip-flopping, the climate change coin lands “heads up.” Because turning tails on this issue is not an option.

Vicki Hellenas
Fresno
December 2, 2016
http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article118349158.html

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article118349158.html#storylink=cpy

Ruth Afifi - November 2, 2016 - Louie J. Campos will address climate change

Louie J. Campos will address climate change

In “A crystal clear choice on climate change” (Oct. 13), a Bee editorial says Hillary Clinton is the obvious choice for anyone who cares about climate change. The editorial points out that the issue has been ignored “by far too many Republicans in Congress, and now by their nominee for president.” 

Yet, The Bee has endorsed Devin Nunes to represent the 22nd Congressional District. Unlike eight of his Republican colleagues, who have joined the House Climate Solutions Caucus, Nunes is unlikely to support policies to fight climate change.

For example, he has voted to prevent the military from preparing for climate change. Also, he has written that a carbon tax or carbon fee-and-dividend (proposed by what he calls environmental extremists) will damage the economy.

Instead, Nunes advocates “massive investment” in the development of all energy sources, “including oil, gas, coal and nuclear power plants.” With its emphasis on fossil fuels, this sounds just like the America First Energy Plan promoted by Donald Trump a few months ago. 

A climate voter in the 22nd district will find a better candidate in Louie J. Campos,a Democrat who is committed to addressing climate change.

Ruth Afifi

 http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article111869912.html

Twyla Smith - November 1, 2016 - Debates ignored world’s biggest crisis

Debates ignored world’s biggest crisis

We’re facing the world’s biggest crisis, and it wasn’t even brought up during the presidential debates. It’s just unreal that not one moderator decided to ask why it is that 2014 was history’s hottest year ever recorded, until it was broken by 2015, of course. Any bets on how long that record will stand?
Talk about same old, same old! Let’s just continue doing nothing and see how many more heat records we can break, how many hurricanes, droughts and forest fires we can bring on, how many species we can wipe out, glaciers we can melt, how many island nations and coastlines have to drown before we realize we are in serious trouble here?

In fact, one of our presidential candidates actually refuses to accept what global scientists, our own defense department and even the major oil companies are all saying about climate change.
Get real, folks. You can start by tuning in to National Geographic Channel’s new documentary series, “Years of Living Dangerously,” which airs Wednesday at 10 p.m.

Twyla Smith, Madera
  November 1, 2016
 http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article111668027.html

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article111668027.html#storylink=cpyhttp://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article111668027.html

Bruce Ratcliffe - October 22, 2016 - Trump’s faulty climate ideas

Trump’s faulty climate ideas

Whenever I hear a a statement of “fact” from Donald Trump, I scratch my head and wonder how he thinks he can get away with saying such a thing. But there’s always the benefit of doubt. Maybe there is a grain of truth in his pronouncement.

Kudos to Bee editors Bill McEwen and Gail Marshall for serving up such a huge platter of climate-denying nonsense The Donald has delivered as to remove all doubt.

Bruce Ratcliffe, Fresno
October 22, 2016
http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article109525672.html




 

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