'Greening' is key to city's future
I could not agree more with Linda Schade and Kevin Zeese that a serious plan for long-term sustainability and a green economy can raise Baltimore out of its current problems of grit and crime ("Envisioning Baltimore's greener future," Commentary, June 2).
The potential here is exhilarating, and this opportunity is quite the opposite of the depressing and frightening prospects we usually associate with climate change and environmental damage.
Baltimore's new Sustainability Commission has made a good start by adopting an inclusive process, eschewing jargony language and planning for public input in its work.
And the mayor has earned my respect by putting real muscle behind the idea of a cleaner, greener Baltimore.
I hope that The Sun will begin systematically covering the many exciting developments in our city that fall under the general rubric of "The Greening of Baltimore."
We have new environmentally certified buildings coming on line and in planning. We have watershed associations developing significant collaborative approaches to protecting our rivers and streams.
We have hospitals and schools improving their food purchasing policies and supporting local farms.
There is something exciting happening in every corner of our civic life.
Rebecca Ruggles, Baltimore
The writer is a volunteer for Baltimore's Sustainability Commission.
Eating less meat will curb the fat
Another way to reduce the amount of bacon grease ending up in the Chesapeake Bay and in our sewage systems is to consume fewer meat products derived from pigs ("Fat is bad for public arteries, too," June 3).
The same fat that clogs our pipes clogs our arteries.
One day, perhaps, there will be warnings on meat similar to those on cartons of cigarettes: "Caution: Consumption is hazardous to your health."
Carol Ann Varley, Baltimore
Campaign ignores bloated budget
Many thanks to Robert Scheer for his column "Wasteful weapons" (Commentary, June 3).
Mr. Scheer exposes an issue that has hardly registered on the radar screen in this election season.
As he notes, "Defense spending has become enshrined in our political system as a totem to be worshiped rather than a policy program to be critically examined."
