MAILBAG - Feb. 15, 2007

Traffic distractions must be stopped

If I am not mistaken, it is illegal to drive with headsets on or use or any other similar devices (i.e. iPods, loud stereos) that would distract a driver from hearing emergency vehicles. Well, then why is it that more times than not kids are plugged into their iPods as they whip around the streets?

Then there’s the issue of on-board videos and global positioning system devices. It would be one thing if most drivers were trained pilots who use heads-up displays, but let’s be real — most drivers nowadays, between cellphones and other embellishments let alone excessive speed — are just one step away from a train wreck. Of course, they would be the first to cry and moan if they were the victim of such inattention.

Where is law enforcement and, more importantly, where is the common sense of the car manufacturers? They spend all kinds of money to assure that your car is not stolen yet no money on assuring that drivers are attentive and are not distracted.

I guess it is more important to walk out of a bar and find your car with your beeper than it is to pay attention to what that 2,000-pound vehicle does under your control if you do not pay attention.

DREW KOVACS

Huntington Beach

Eat veggies, reduce global warming

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which included hundreds of scientists from 113 countries, recently determined conclusively that man-made greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming. They predicted devastating droughts and hurricanes, and extensive flooding of coastal areas that would displace millions.

A report released by the United Nations in November blamed animal agriculture for 18% of these emissions. That’s more than automobiles. Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, factory farms and slaughterhouses.

The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from the digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.

We don’t have to wait for Earth Day to help save our planet. We can start with the next trip to the supermarket. Meanwhile, we can check out the details at www.veggiesforecology.org.

HENRY REDFIELD

Huntington Beach

Don’t let Poseidon

pollute our waters

Mike Shrubsole’s letter (“Poseidon water hard to swallow,” Jan. 25) raised the cost issue of Poseidon’s desalinated water.

The cost of this water, measured in dollars per acre feet, is to a significant extent dependent on the cost of energy to produce it.

While this cost in the future when (or if) the plant becomes operational is open to speculation, it is unavoidable to admit that the cost of desalinated water produced by Poseidon, as a result of anywhere near current energy prices, will be prohibitively expensive (many times more than costs from current sources that will be serving us fine for decades).

The City Council majority and Poseidon supporters are fixated on alleged economic benefits this project will bring to our city, while ignoring all of the risks and negative impacts.

Along with this mind-set, Poseidon backers have accused opponents of somehow being anti-progress. It is time for this specious contention to be refuted and laid to rest.

Any progress experienced by Huntington Beach in the future will come in spite of the Poseidon project and not because of it.

The concerns about the project are compelling and overwhelming to anyone not in cahoots with the applicant and their backers.

For project supporters to simply dismiss these concerns out of hand with either sunny optimism or jaundiced disdain shows that it is they who lack an understanding of this project’s overall impacts.

Progress is measured not on how much is done to a community but how much is done for it. It is high time for us to put people over profits and to tell Poseidon to pollute somewhere else. That would be my idea of “moving forward.”

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach

Private desalination shows progress

Letter writer Mike Shrubsole believes that basic human rights are being taken away by privatizing desalination of sea water. (“Poseidon water hard to swallow,” Jan 25.)

Does he then believe we should shut down Arrowhead Drinking Water purveyors and other companies that provide us with the alternative of purchasing bottled water?

“BANANAS” (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) are now grasping at any waterlogged straw to stop progress.

Shrubsole can turn his back on the probability of future generations standing in line eager to fill empty buckets.

As for me, I believe that progress now will eliminate catastrophes that may come to later generations.

BOB POLKOW

Huntington Beach