Poisoning our planet

Richard Mason’s column, “A future without insects,” was right on. Humans are poisoning our beautiful Earth with lawn chemicals, insecticides, and more—even though the good Lord has already given us everything we need for a healthy, happy life.

The majority of insects are beneficial, and without them we wouldn’t have songbirds, flowers, and most of the food we eat. They also kill the bad insects more efficiently than insecticides, which kill not only the bad and good insects but also build up in the environment. Thankfully, scientists in the Xerces Society are convincing farmers to work with nature and plant some of their acreage in weeds and wildflowers which the good insects need to survive, and they are reaping the benefits—without the use of insecticides.

Note: The damage done by farmers using insecticides is outdone by everyday people sterilizing their lawns with chemical treatments. Instead, let them be natural; replace part of the lawn with native perennials that attract birds, bees, and butterflies, and you’ll be delighted at the diversity of your yard. Plant some milkweed, and you’ll be treated to monarch butterflies and witness firsthand their incredible life cycle.

Mother Nature is a precious gift from God. How he must be hurt by human disregard for the wonders he created, here for our enhancement and for the good of all life on Earth. In his column, Richard included frightening statistics of how humans are driving other species to extinction, and the pace is accelerating. There is no time to waste.

KATHY WINKLER

Lakeview