Love letters about living lightly on earth
By Byron Belzak

TONS OF GOOD
Tiffany Welsh of Blue Ridge Computer Recycling, 49 Glendale Ave., Asheville, NC 28803 writes a nice recycling reminder to TheGreenerHome.com that’s worth passing on: “I hope the new year is treating you well. In 2006, we collected over 120,000 pounds of computer equipment. We are shooting for at least 150,000 in 2007. I wanted to let you know that we are no longer charging for computer recycling service. Please pass the word on to all your friends. We offer pickup service for $50 inside Buncombe County ($75 in surrounding counties), which includes a full inventory listing of what was collected. We securely destroy all hard drive information. If you have any questions, please let me know.” Contact info: (828) 232-5766. www.brcrecycling.com. Good guys.

DEAR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
Here’s what Gene Karpinski, president of League of Conservation Voters, suggests writing to those now running for the highest office in the land: “Dear Candidate for U.S. President, The debate is over. The National Academy of Sciences and thousands of scientists worldwide agree that the planet is warming and that human dependence on fossil fuels - such as coal and oil - is the primary cause. The problem is so urgent that the next 10 years will likely decide the outcome. There is still time to rise to the challenge, but America needs the leadership to do so. Solving global warming will place the U.S. at the forefront of developing and deploying the clean energy technologies that will dominate the 21st century. When we solve global warming, we will have established a more secure, prosperous and vibrant America. Nothing short of our children’s future is at stake. As you campaign for your party’s presidential nomination, we ask that solving global warming be a central message and a top priority.” If you’re prone to writer’s cramp and are 39-cents short, you can email this same letter to all the current candidates in one fell swoop by visiting the League’s website at www.lcv.org. Important stuff.

MORE PRESIDENTIAL TALK
“Conservation Insider Bulletin,” published by the Conservation Council of North Carolina, keeps inquiring minds informed with its weekly e-newsletter. Follows is one of their recent choice observations: “President Bush used part of his State of the Union address this week to call for a major expansion in the use of alternative fuels (mostly ethanol and biodiesel) and more-efficient vehicles as a means of cutting dependence on oil. In theory, his proposal asks Congress to cut U.S. gasoline use by 20 percent by 2017. Unfortunately, he once again declined to support the use of strengthened auto fleet fuel-economy standards as a means to pursue that end. As a result, his proposal is likely to be as empty as last year’s Presidential proclamation that “America is addicted to oil.” For example, his coming budget proposal is expected to include $2 billion in loan guarantees for cellulosic ethanol plants. Yes, and the 2005 energy bill pushed by the Administration included (in theory) an authorization for $3.8 billion worth of conservation and renewable-energy programs—most of which have remained unfunded in fact.” To receive your own free emailed conservation bulletin, just ask editor Dan Besse at earthvote@ccnccpac.org. Thoughtful darts.

Copyright 2007 MediaBear

This article first appeared in print in the February 2007 issue of Rapid River Magazine.

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