It's time for leaders to tackle problems

Bravo to Winston Kirby for his Aug. 8 letter, "Candidates ignore pressing problems."

Too many politicians and corporate CEOs are ignominiously disregarding consistent and overwhelming scientific evidence of global warming and other pernicious forms of climate change. Everyone understands the importance of technology in addressing global problems that are looming before humanity. What is woefully inadequate, what is unconscionable, is the dearth of reasonable and sensible leadership by those who have assumed positions of power in the political economy.

Business-as-usual that adamantly and relentlessly favors unbridled industrialization and unrestrained economic globalization could be approaching a point in history when the huge scale and rapid growth rate of endlessly expanding business activities become patently unsustainable on a relatively small, finite, noticeably frangible planet the size of Earth.

Perhaps now is the time for national leaders to follow the wisdom of Kirby by at least acknowledging "a nest of world problems," the reality of which most leaders remain in denial. Given the probability that certain clearly identifiable global problems can be expected to fall into the laps of our kids, it appears somehow not quite right both to willfully leave these problems unattended and, even more disturbing, to fail in the exercise of our duty to warn the children: a duty to warn them of potential dangers to life as we know it and to the integrity of Earth. -- Steve Salmony, Chapel Hill

Be sensitive to residents' views

Thanks to Meiling Arounnarath for covering the Carrboro Northern Transition Area ("Having their say," Aug. 1). It is a breath of fresh air to finally start to get out of the "marginalized" category of news, especially politics. You must agree, this will be an interesting election.

One objection I feel compelled to air regarding the article was the inclusion of an opinion from Ruby Sinreich. She is not a Carrboro citizen for one (which, at least in my view, reduces the value of her opinion), and in spite of what she says now about inclusivity, was rabidly against Katrina Ryan getting the appointed Board of Aldermen seat last time. This really skews the article, in my opinion, and it serves to continue the marginalization of our neighborhoods -- to quote your article, "It's possible you may have a slightly more dissenting voice ... but again, that voice will not be the majority," Sinreich said.

I am sure that it was not your intent to do that, but her stating that there is no way our voice will be the majority speaks volumes about where she really stands.

In closing, please try to be more sensitive to the newest addition to the Carrboro political scene -- the NTA, or as we sometimes call it, PAC 27516. If you want an opinion about how we stand politically, you won't have to go outside of our neighborhood to get one.

I look forward to more articles in the future. I hear rumblings of big news in the Rogers Road area, for example. -- John Kramer, Chapel Hill