Who has right to tell North Korea it can’t have nukes?
North Korea is “begging for war,” the United States said on Monday. My question is this: Just who decides which countries should have the right to test their nuclear arsenal? Is this not the right of all free nations?
Who is the supreme being who allowed the nations that already tested their nuclear arsenal but is saying no to countries such as North Korea to test theirs?
Gordon von Hollen, Chilliwack
What about Israel’s nukes?
The blanket news coverage of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Texas was blown away Saturday evening by the claim by North Korea that it had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb.
The White House and Pentagon generals immediately warned of a “massive military response” should any of its allies or U.S. territory be threatened, and North Korea was predictably labelled a “rogue state” once again. If it does possess a nuclear weapon small enough to fit onto an intercontinental ballistic missile, should the small, impoverished country be treated with more respect, as it obviously demands, or as a huge threat to civilization?
Israel reportedly produced nuclear warheads in 1967 and has stockpiled several hundred since. By contrast, very few questions are asked about Israel’s nuclear capacity.
Bernie Smith, Parksville
Be careful, prevent wildfires
In the first week of August, we had smoky conditions in the Lower Mainland and it’s happening again now in September. There is no question that B.C. faces a public health emergency related to poor air quality.
Smoky and hazy conditions make everyone feel uncomfortable.
The provincial government has spent millions of dollars fighting human-caused forest fires — money that could have spend on people’s welfare.
Every summer we have to be more careful not to spark fires through negligence or ignorance. Hanif Patel, Surrey
Waterways need protection
The federal government is currently reviewing the Navigation Protection Act, the law that should give all Canadians the right to paddle up and down this land’s waterways. That right is very important to me.
In recent years, 99 per cent of Canada’s waterways lost navigation protection under the act. Unless our waterways have full legal protection, we’ll lose our right to enjoy and play in streams, rivers, lakes and oceans.
Worse, when waterways are blocked by development or land owners, sensitive ecosystems are put at risk. There’s currently no law that makes it mandatory to evaluate environmental effects on blocking and obstructing waterways, which can seriously harm fish, fish habitat and water.
Long-lasting decisions are being made right now about our basic right to explore this country by kayak and canoe. Fellow outdoor enthusiasts, I hope you’ll join me in writing or calling your MP to tell them to make sure the Navigation Protection Act protects our environment, heritage and way of life.
Carl Rosenberg, Vancouver
Trump isn’t only one to lie
Letter writer Lloyd Atkins must be a mental health expert. He diagnoses U.S. President Donald Trump with being dismissive, a chronic pathological liar, blustering about fake news.
Former president Barack Obama lied too. He said everything was wonderful, and yet we have Syria, North Korea, Russia, China and Iran — worse enemies than before, all on his watch, due to his weakness and appeasement. Cherryl Katnich, Maple Ridge