THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 29, 1996 TAG: 9607260029
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 35 lines
Regarding ``Maybe the recycling fanatics can be turned into something useful'' (Perspectives, July 13): Columnist Thomas Sowell is criticizing while being ridiculously misinformed. Meanwhile, his view of environmentalists as fanatics rather than humanitarians is shared by many Virginia Beach residents. I know this fact from working with a national environmental organization in the area, knocking on doors daily.
Too bad for Virginia Beach that conservative is not synonymous with conservation.
I ask Mr. Sowell, who thinks we have plenty of natural resources, what happens when we have extracted resources from the Earth to the point of extinction while the population continues to climb? The next 15 years are secured, but what about after that. Am I allowed to have children with futures?
Mr. Sowell obviously is not aware of the importance of old-growth ancient forests, as he babbled about having plenty of trees and no need for recycling. At the same time, while most of Virginia continues to battle recycling, the bottle bill is proving to be the solution in many states to a 1980s environmental concern.
I wonder if the public is aware that environmentalists are not merely saving small furry things but are also cleaning up drinking water and working to protect legislation that monitors the quality of air we breathe.
I suggest that Mr. Sowell, along with those who share his view, present some solutions rather condemning those of us who are working hard investing in our earth rather than oil, timber and mining companies.
KARI BRAYMAN
Virginia Beach, July 13, 1996 by CNB