Bleak future may await our children

Humankind inhabits a tiny celestial orb that is miraculously set among of sea of stars. As far as we know, life as we know it exists nowhere else in the universe. Perhaps we of the human family have the responsibility of assuring the security for the future of life in our planetary home.

April 22 was Earth Day. Our many Earth Day celebrations focus attention on the pressing need for human beings to protect and preserve the finite resources of Earth and its frangible ecosystems. If we fail to achieve this goal, then an unimaginably bleak future awaits our children.

If 6-plus billion human beings live on Earth now and 9-plus billion are expected to populate our small planet by 2050, then we simply cannot keep doing what we are doing now because the Earth has limited resources. Without adequate resources and ecosystem system services of Earth, life as we know it and human institutions would collapse.

Some portion of the world's human population conspicuously over-consumes the resources of our planetary home. Other people, in charge of huge multinational conglomerations, are doing business in a way that recklessly dissipates natural resources. Still others in the human family are overpopulating the planet. The leviathan-like scale and rapid growth of global human consumption, production and propagation activities are putting the Earth, life as we know it, and the human community in grave, clear and present danger.

Since Chapel Hillians live in the overdeveloped world, we are among the people who are ravenously over-consuming Earth's resources. We could choose to consume less. People in the developing could choose to limit overproduction of unnecessary things and contain industrial pollution. People in the underdeveloped world could limit their number of offspring. Perhaps these are ways the family of humanity begins to respond ably to the human-induced global challenges that loom so ominously. -- Steven Earl Salmony, Chapel Hill

Writer clears up reporting on arrests

I write in support of the students who were arrested May 2 in UNC Chancellor James Moeser's office.

The students' requests for dialogue with the chancellor were denied repeatedly for three years, and they felt civil disobedience was their only option. I was in South Building at the time of the arrests and would like to correct the facts reported in your May 4 article "Charges follow sit-in at chancellor's office." You state that Salma Mirza "refused to get up from a chair and was wheeled out of the building." Videotape of the arrests will confirm that Salma was dragged into the chair by police officers and subsequently carried out of the building. This distinction is pertinent because Salma suffered injuries from the arrest.

Ironically, the first student arrested, Linda Gomaa, is charged with "failure to disperse" although she was arrested long before any order to disperse had been given. I suppose it could have been me in that squad car, instead of Linda, since I was in South Building at the time.

These students want the university to enforce its own Codes of Conduct with regard to UNC-logoed apparel. Why won't the chancellor facilitate meaningful dialogue with them on such a reasonable human rights concern?-- Altha Cravey, Chapel Hill

Boycott would hurt other businesses

In response to the letter by Rani and James Gallagher in The Chapel Hill News on April 30, I would like to say that it is not fair to penalize the shops at Eastgate for the actions of Federal Realty, which is the company that owns Eastgate Shopping Center.

In reality, the shop owners have no control over the actions of Federal Realty. Indeed, we were also saddened by the loss of a wonderful shop like Somerhill Gallery. Let's not compound the problem by hurting the other businesses at Eastgate that support the community.-- Sue Kopkind, Coordinator, Womancraft Fine Handcrafted Gifts

Town Council refuses to listen to residents

The recent Town Council approval of the UNC Student Government proposal to install extra lights and blue call boxes in the McCauley-Ransom historic district should be questioned as badly justified and not evidence-based. Compelled by the passionate, though poorly grounded, arguments of students and a loving parent, the council summarily dismissed long-term residents' concerns and requests for additional discussion.

However, the tone of the council, rather than the uncritical approval of the badly conceived proposal itself, compels my writing. Ten years ago I came to the United States from Russia to work in a nonprofit research organization, driven and attracted by, among other things, the ideals of freedom and democracy in the United States that had been imprinted in my brain since childhood.

Unfortunately, many of these ideals were impaired if not dismantled in the last eight years by the domestic and international policies of the Bush administration. But some, such as taking into consideration the opinion of the minority and the positive impact of open discussions at public forums, had remained -- until Monday's meeting, when the mayor and Town Council blatantly ignored the opinion of long-term neighbors, failing even to politely recognize their input.

For almost 30 years of my life in Russia, I had been accustomed to the idea of discussing hot social and political issues "in the kitchen." Why bother to speak up publicly if nobody would listen anyway? I decided to live in one of America's most liberal communities hoping that "evening talks in the kitchen" would not be the only option of political and social expression.

After Monday's meeting, I must swallow the disappointment of yet another American "grand illusion," and will only repair to my kitchen for discussions about local issues. The attitude of our Town Council has discouraged my participation in any future public forums. Why bother? -- Vera Halpern, Chapel Hill

Tribute to teachers was a big success

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation deeply appreciates the many generous contributions from our community that, in turn, helped to honor teachers and staff members in our school district at the fifth annual Teachers First Breakfast on May 2.

Through this event, parents and supporters purchased more than 1,800 tickets for teachers to enjoy breakfast at Squid's restaurant before school started on Friday morning. This was a wonderful way to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week. Generous parents also contributed to provide beautiful fresh roses (almost 4,000 in all) to teachers and staff to say "thank you" throughout the week.

The donation of food and staff services from The Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, owners of Squid's, Spanky's and 411 West in Chapel Hill and 518 West in Raleigh, and the new MEZ in Research Triangle Park, once again went above and beyond to make this a memorable event for teachers. Greg Overbeck, in particular, was enormously helpful and gracious in organizing this event and welcoming us to Squid's.

Restaurant Group partners Greg, Kenny Carlson, Pete Dorrance, Mickey Ewell and their exceptional staff of Andy Wilson, executive chef of Squid's and 411 West; Ben Robinson, sous chef; Tom Herzog, general manager; and Omar Jimenez, David Hensley, Jenn LaFleur, Mark Jagentenfl and Eusebio Diaz made Squid's restaurant the perfect venue for the event for the fifth year in a row.

Additional thanks go out to Christine Parton, marketing team leader, and Tricia White and Jen Delaney at Whole Foods Market for their donation of 750 beautiful roses. We are also grateful to Ron Stutts and Johnny Jones of WCHL for broadcasting live during the breakfast.

The event raised more than $55,000, and was our best response ever. The proceeds go into the Teachers First Fund and will be allocated to projects that directly benefit teachers and staff. Thank you. -- Stephanie Yost, Chair, Teachers First Breakfast; Lynn Lehmann, President, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation