Saving, not trashing, the earth
Bronx: Today is Earth Day. Every day, New Yorkers throw away 20,000 tons of garbage, often without thinking about where it goes and what it does to our environment. It’s appropriate then that we pause once a year on Earth Day to reflect on how we might all help the environment. People don’t normally associate the commercial carting industry with being environmentally conscious or interested in sustainability. But, at our company, we recycle nearly 500 tons of material every day at a state of the art recycling facility in the Bronx that employs more than 100 local residents. That helps the Earth by using less landfill space, requiring a lot fewer trees to be cut down.
Our industry has grown more sophisticated and the professionals who work in commercial carting take their jobs quite seriously. We provide our informed workers with proper equipment, training and trucks with cleaner burning fuel — benefiting the planet and the people who live on it.
On Earth Day, we take the time to reflect on our contributions to customers, employees, the public and, yes, the Earth. You should do the same.
Ron Bargeman, CEO, The Action Environmental Group
Diet or Earth dies
Manhattan: As thousands across the U.S. get ready to protest environmental budget cuts, each of us can also help with our driving, our recycling, and our diet. A 2010 United Nations report blames animal agriculture for 70% of global freshwater use, 38% of land use, and 19% of greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, meat and dairy production dumps more animal waste, crop debris, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants into our waterways than all other human activities combined. It is the driving force in wildlife habitat destruction. In an environmentally sustainable world, meat and dairy products in our diet must be replaced by vegetables, fruits and grains, just as fossil fuels are replaced by wind, solar and other pollution-free energy sources. On this Earth Day and every day, let’s cherish our environment with eco-friendly plant-based eating. Our next trip to the supermarket is a great starting point.
Nelson Yancy
Global warming’s alarm
Lindenhurst, L.I.: Humanity has become arrogant. Our species act as though the Earth were ours to pollute and satisfy our needs foremost, without accountability to the Earth. Nature cannot defend itself against the damage humanity creates. Reduction in greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, smoke emissions and pollutants are plans that have not really gone beyond the words, understanding humanity’s prosperity, progress and lifestyle. What steps shall be taken for reverting progress and forfeiting the modern conveniences enriching the lifestyle combustible fueled by greenhouse gases? Modern conveniences are unlikely surrendered anytime soon. It is ironic that advanced high-tech commerce, transportation, industry and prosperity which has gifted humanity prolonged life span is paid at the cost of a spirally downfall spin of the Earth’s doomed life. Thus, humanity’s greed is our mournful countenance. That being said, I ask if the futuristic earth’s fate is doomed. The global warming alarm has been heard — yet, with the wakeup call we go back to sleep. Alas, the global warming alarm may only prepare us against the eventuality of the end. Susan Davniero
No Russian help, Rex
Brooklyn: I hope The News will be reporting on the ExxonMobil request for a waiver of Russian sanctions to former Exxon CEO and current Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. That sanction should not be lifted just because Tillerson is now in the White House and wants to get around sanctions to make big money. That’s the same as self-dealing.
Shelley Mitchell
Better services, please
Brooklyn: Re: “Trump signs ‘Buy American, Hire American’ executive order in Wisconsin” (April 19): A week ago, I flew on American Airlines from Philipsburg, St. Maarten to Charlotte, N.C. To we passengers’ surprise, there were no TV and radio on that American Airlines international flight — four hours and 16 minutes without any entertainment! Airlines do not forget to charge passengers for bags, snacks, preferred seating arrangements and etc., but they constantly fail to provide quality services. The CEOs of Delta, United and American have recently contacted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson complaining about the “massive subsidization” of their Gulf rivals. They urged our President Trump to review agreements that allow Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad to fly from the UAE and Qatar to any U.S. destination. It is clear that until American companies learn how to provide quality products and services to consumers, Trump’s new executive order would be just a piece of paper. Ilya Rubinstein
Protect the teachers
Astoria: It is sad that the Daily News doesn’t understand due process (“A tale of two educators,” editorial, April 20). Unfortunately, teachers are falsely accused every day. If teachers were just fired. The teaching profession would be left in dire straits.
Jose Palmer
Doggone outrage
Elmont, L.I.: Well...how wonderful for this evil, sick piece of trash (“No jail for terrier terror,” April 19)! Why didn’t the judge just reward him with a basket full of fresh puppies and a lighter?! No justice for the poor dogs he nearly burned to death — and now another psycho is out there to do more harm. Disgusting.
Kate Ratigan
Lost Patriot-ism
Secaucus: Tom Brady should have put on his big-boy pants and gone to the White House with his team instead of claiming “personal family matters” as his excuse for not attending (“Pats’ turnout is sad,” April 20)! We all know that his wife put the kibosh on the trip. If this is really the case, he should man up and say so. Boo-hoo, Gisele, if you can have your campaigns so can your husband. Shame on you, Tom! Thought you had a happy marriage — guess not, if you can’t be your own man!
Edith Cardaci
The judge’s final hours
Manhattan: One thing hasn’t been considered in Judge AbdusSalaam’s sad demise — accidental death caused by an altered mental state (“Video clue in judge suicide mystery,” April 20). Here is my reasoning: The judge may have been taking medications for high blood pressure. Such medications increase females’ fall risks she may have been taking anxiolytics, which also increase females’ fall risk; she may have started a new medication, such as a psychoactive drugs which can cause individuals to enter an altered state of consciousness, and may increase fall risk. If any, or all of the above fits, the death should be ruled an accident. The poor woman merely fell and no recovery is possible.
Sharon R. Kahn, Ph.D
Presidential facts
Toms River, N.J.: Voicer Kristine Woods: How stupid are you? President Trump has golfed more in 100 days than Barack Obama did in all the eight years he was President! Were you living under a rock this past year? And, in regards to Obama’s tax returns, at least he released them — unlike Donald Trump who failed to released them due to numerous audits during his campaign as well as his very, very much undeserved election to the highest office in this country. Shame on you, Kristine Woods! Shame on you! Get your facts straight. Oh, I forgot, Steve Bannon fed you this bologna. Nicole Massa
Golfing scorecard Thin-skinned Yanks
NASA Bridgeport, Conn.: To Voicer Kristine Woods: Through Monday, Donald Trump had played golf 17 times since beginning his presidency compared to none for Obama at the same point of his presidency. That’s the reality. But never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Bob Birge Huntington Station, L.I.: Wow! My letter about the back cover of the paper yielded two responses from some thin-skinned Yankee fans! I’ve been writing to the Voice of the People for years and have not garnered this much attention. To Voicer Rich Russo: It’s funny that you brought up the other teams from the other seasons. I do notice that the coverage is slanted there, too. I would have included that but thought the letter would be too long to get printed. My intent was not to “whine” and I do, in fact, read the inside of the paper (and two others front to back). It was to merely point out a fact (that you substantiated with your letter). Don’t you look at the front and back pages of a paper? The Yankees have been on a roll and are getting back page coverage daily as it should be, but you probably don’t care, right?
Nancy Macri Kennedy