Climate is everyone’s concern

I picked up the paper on April 23 and was shocked to find not a single story or photo of Earth Day. This was the 45th anniversary of a date that shook history and ushered in decades of environmental legislation and growing understanding of our connection with the Earth and our dependence on healthy air, water, and soil.

On Parliament Hill concerned citizens held a banner “Hungry for Climate Leadership” and delivered a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper on behalf of 35 civil society organizations. We fasted from Monday till Wednesday and met with MPs and senators to call for: an end to fossil fuel subsidies; a price on carbon; and a renewable energy plan for Canada. Some 130 MPs and 15 senators have pledged their commitment to these changes. Several events were held in Toronto as well.

The Star has been a leader in environmental coverage and advocacy. We urgently need you to play that role, especially this year leading up to a change of government in Canada. Concerned citizens can and are taking action, but we are dependent on the media to carry our voice into the broader community. Lyn Adamson, Toronto

As an environmentalist and social justice advocate, it’s generally not accepted among my colleagues to advocate for population control. But as our society slowly slips into global monoculture, invasive species, global warming/environmental destabilization, habitat destruction and species loss, water rationing, diminishing arable land, unlimited potential for immigration from poverty and conflict, etc., tough decisions will be forced upon us.

A reasonable carrying capacity of the Earth is about 3 billion. Presently, we are expanding at an alarming rate with our current population at an astounding level of about 7.2 billion. Population control is clearly needed. We need to start a serious discussion. Dr. Ed Shields, Neebing