Letters from Readers, Aug. 20: Who will fight global warming?; Human ... - Journal Times

2012-08-19T16:41:00Z Letters from Readers, Aug. 20: Who will fight global warming?; Human trafficking exists here; Change needed in deer hunt; Smoking bans go too far; Some thanks, and a reprimand JournalTimes.com

Who will fight global warming?

I’ve given some thought to heroes and our environment.

Most heroics are spur-of-the-moment, without thought of risk. Heroes are driven by “It’s the right thing to do.” One of my heroes is Sam Johnson, whom I’d call a premeditated hero. After science provided data that fluorocarbons were destroying our planet’s protective ozone shield, Sam took on the chemical industry and government resulting in a ban on them.

He was a big man who took a gigantic personal and business risk to do the right thing, knowing that his business relied on these chemicals as propellants.

Today we face a far worse problem without a Sam to lead: Global warming. It is absent from the media like a dirty word. The airwaves are filled with accolades proclaiming the wonders of fossil fuels, minus their environmental costs, while Congress is well-oiled by lobbyists and their money. It is beyond belief that most members of Congress and industry lack the science understanding of the peril that we face and its impact on their own children’s future. It is money and power first.

Virtually all of the climate scientists’ predictions are coming true, only faster than predicted. We must influence and elect lawmakers who will act on this looming crisis.

This should not be a party issue. After all, we’re all in this together.

Harvey H. Radke

Racine

Human trafficking exists here

The news article in the Aug. 14 issue of The Journal Times drives home again the fact that human trafficking exists in our own community. This form of “modern-day slavery” often is so hidden that little signs of it go undetected.

Yet, it is one of the fastest-growing criminal activities! Because of its mobility and easy marketing, the underground nature of the trade and its ability to “sell” its victims over and over again, it is highly lucrative.

Networks exist everywhere: urban and rural areas; U.S. citizens or new immigrants; domestic or business locations; and on and on! The operations may be organized on a small scale or with many different players. Watch for the red flags of power and control! And call law enforcement if you are suspicious.

Sister Jeanne Kimler

Racine

Change needed in deer hunt

As a landowner in the CWD area, and after reading Dr. James Kroll’s report, I would like to see Gov. Scott Walker reject the October hunt in the CWD rule.

I sat on the CWD stakeholder committee and went to numerous Conservation Congress hearings over the years. The Conservation Congress voted to eliminate October hunts, but that recommendation has been ignored. As a landowner, I have been through many October hunts and want to see the traditional hunt return. My grandson, who turned 10 earlier this year, is looking forward to his first hunt this year.

So I would like to see deer to put a little excitement back into the hunt again. This has been nearly impossible in the past few years.

With all the fall hunts, deer have become nocturnal by the time the November season rolls around. We have spent millions of dollars, and the incident rate for CWD has been the same. Hunters in my area have become very frustrated with the CWD program. A passive approach, as indicated from the report, is what is needed and will go a long way in restoring hunter confidence in the DNR.

Scott Maves

Oregon

Smoking bans go too far

Really? More smoking bans? Now the City Council wants to ban smoking in Monument Square, the Racine Zoo, the beach, etc.

It would be wonderful if half as much effort was put into banning all illegal drugs. All cigarettes, pipe tobacco and other smoking byproducts are still legal products. This is something that seems to be overlooked by those who want to ban smoking.

If this keeps up, smokers will be lucky if they can still smoke on their own front porches and backyards. Those who chose to smoke should be able to do so without this constant harrassment. I was a smoker for 40 years. I no longer smoke, but still will fight for smokers’ rights. This is the United States, where we are to have freedom of choice! If you choose not to smoke, that’s fine, but don’t infringe on my right to smoke a still legal product.

Carol A. Hochfeld

Mount Pleasant

Some thanks, and a reprimand

I would like to give the Racine County Sheriff’s Office and Wind Point Police Department two thumbs up on handling the missing boater case that happened in the early morning hours of Aug. 13.

As a family member of the missing boater, the Sheriff’s Office and Wind Point police were very compassionate and kept us very well-informed as news was developing on this story. They really showed exceptional professional service.

As a side note, WISN-TV was not so compassionate. They had stories that were not true, such as finding the missing boater sleeping next to the garage. If they truly found him next to the garage, why didn’t they show it? They deliberately fabricated this story because the family wouldn’t make any comments. They stated they needed a story, so that’s how they will make it.

The facts are he was found walking down the street more than a mile away. I would like to suggest they report facts and not dramatize stories just for their own ratings. Everyone needs to be more catious as they receive stories from these “news stations.”

Jim Herek

Racine