Denying Global Warming I think Sharon Begley is the best writer at NEWSWEEK. When my issue arrives, I always read her article first, not because I’m a scientist but because I am an English teacher and she is a master of the language. Her piece on global warming, “The Truth About Denial” (Aug. 13), is a masterpiece and should be required reading for all the presidential wanna-bes and every serious American voter. Ed Becker Partizanske, Slovakia
Reading your article on global warming, one realizes there are different kinds of rogue nations. The United States is one such. Its energy lobby should be held accountable for the damage done to the planet. The well-organized campaign to undermine the credibility of the scientific studies is a shame. That this happens in the Senate and the House makes it worse. Don’t these people have any decency? Why should the majority suffer the effects of their greed? Any time a village is ravaged by floods, or a town hit by a hurricane, something must be done. The citizens of the world are tired of the arrogance of American politicians who never take into consideration the fact that we all have to share the same planet. Let’s hope they come to their senses soon. We may still have time to stop the warming trend and all that it implies. Sergio Rivas Fuentes Mexico City, Mexico
In her long article, Sharon Begley uses the same kind of nonscientific argument as the one she reproaches her opponents for using. In her opinion, every scientist who expresses doubts about global warming or the involvement of human beings belongs to a “denial machine” of “naysayers,” a cabal well funded by vested interests and supported by lobbyists. By refusing any scientific dissent, she proves her opponents right when they state that global warming has become an article of faith for many, “the most popular religion to come along since Marxism.” Actually, in Europe, where the global-warming machine is roaring, many “Reds” disguise themselves as “Greens” and use all available means to fight against capitalism and the free market. Alain Cerri Annecy, France
Many of us do not deny that global warming is taking place, and many of us—myself included—think factory and auto emissions should have been lowered decades ago. The “denial crowd” is debating what is actually causing global warming, not if global warming is taking place, since data already prove things are warming up a bit. But how can we accurately and informatively debate the cause of global warming without addressing weather-modification technologies in use by many different governments around the world? I’m not just talking about cloud seeding, either: that’s yesterday’s news. I’m talking about the use of the HAARP system, in which electricity is used to “heat” the ionosphere, thus altering jet streams and the weather. I think mankind has potentially screwed up our weather patterns in our race to find the best weapons for war. Todd Whiting Via Internet
Extremely fickle weather events associated with climate change, resulting in greater frequency of droughts, floods and freak disasters, can no longer be ignored. Abnormally heavy torrential rains in Northern Europe, sweltering heat waves in Eastern Europe, monsoon flooding and landslides in Asia, snowfall in South Africa and unprecedented tropical cyclones are all telling reminders of drastic and unpredictable changes taking place in our interconnected, ever-shrinking world. In Asia, monsoon flooding has caused irreparable damage to poverty-stricken peasant farmers, destroying croplands, livestock and property, while raising fears of disease and new health crises. Heat-trapping carbon-dioxide emissions cause global temperatures to rise and polar ice caps to melt. The steep impact of global warming will be felt by everyone in the world. It’s wake-up time—a concerted effort to heighten awareness and actively respond to this alarming crisis must happen now. Charles Frederickson Bangkok, Thailand
Your article on global warming’s naysayers was informative. But some scientific evidence of its causes seems misguided. I recently read an article saying that photosynthesis is exothermic—it produces heat. Does that mean we should cut down all trees and stop growing fruits and vegetables and get rid of all algae in the sea to reduce heat produced by this process? I think not. How soon would the supply of oxygen start to diminish? So maybe the naysayers have reasons to question the “overwhelming scientific evidence” or reasons for climate change? You cited Hurricane Katrina as evidence of climate change. But what about last year’s dire prediction of another horrific hurricane season? That was wrong. And you did not mention that. Bill Meyer Via Internet
A Boring New Beijing? It looks like Beijing is well on its way to becoming one of those boring new, modern, soulless Asian cities that have eradicated everything a visitor might want to see other than a few historic monuments (“Beijing Rising,” Aug. 13). The three days I spent in Kuala Lumpur a few years ago were two days too long. I found nothing there I couldn’t have found in any other city anywhere, or in most shopping malls. What a pity Asians, unlike Europeans, have not learned to modernize without destroying the charm of the original culture and architecture. That is why Europe is still the No. 1 destination for tourists from all over the world—including Asians. Jef Westing Isle Sur La Sorgue, France
I was in Beijing recently and was delighted to see more men and fewer machines at work—something unthinkable in the West—building formidable structures. I stayed there for five full days but did not experience the eye-stinging air pollution you mentioned. To think that the Western model is the only model for development is naive and wrong. The West must acknowledge that the Eastern model of economic ascendancy and development can be different. To suggest that China is giving a face-lift to Beijing only because of Olympics 2008 is also not totally correct. The whole of China—now the world’s third largest trading country, after the United States and Germany—is changing, thanks to the economic boom. Every sixth person in the world used to be Chinese. Now they say every sixth consumer product sold in the world is Chinese. Is there any country that does not buy/use Chinese products? Today the world economy needs China, rather than the other way around. S. Ganesan Hyderabad, India
Fighting for Water Thanks for focusing on the global issues of water scarcity, contamination and mismanagement in “Troubled Waters” (June 11). Obtaining water for consumption and sanitation is the main daily concern of millions of people in the developing world. To achieve access to safe drinking water, we must work with governments and NGOs. But I’m disappointed you did not mention Latin America’s great need for clean water. In El Salvador, 70 percent of the rural population has no access to potable water. In “my” village, El Amatón, water from the single public faucet is rationed. In the dry season, each family receives as little as seven gallons a day. For drinking water, women and children travel an hour down a steep bluff to shallow springs; for washing, people must travel two hours to a river contaminated with sewage. This causes other problems: infant mortality, diarrhea, parasitism, low school attendance and productivity (due to morbidity and the long hours spent procuring water). The community here is working to solve this problem. We now have plans for a solar-powered system to pump water from a recently drilled well, and a bio-sand filters project to purify water. But financial support is difficult to find—since 2004, USAID has refused to fund water and sanitation infrastructure in Latin America. Megan M. Gregory Environmental Education Volunteer, Peace Corps El Amaton, El Salvador
Tempers have risen over the monopoly of water resources in India. The dogfight over distribution of the Cauvery’s waters between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the increasing tension between India and Pakistan over various water-related projects, and potential conflicts are threatening India’s integrity. Ensuring a steady supply of water led to mindless digging, which lowered the ground level of water. Above all, the direct outpouring of industrial wastes into major rivers like the Ganges and the Yamuna is killing these rivers and limiting the supply of fresh water to the cities situated on their banks. Ways to save water must be found to avoid conflicts’ turning into major crises. Checking the flow of industrial wastes into rivers would ensure longevity of these rivers. It is also imperative to control population. Arvind K. Pandey Allahabad, India
Mexico ’ s Drug Worries Your article “Calderon’s Unwinnable War” (June 18) presents a biased position on Mexico’s drug war. It talks about all the inconveniences the president and the military are having, but doesn’t mention the 73-year-old woman who was raped by soldiers supposed to be fighting drugs. There is no mention of families that had nothing to do with the drug war who were also killed by the military. And none about the ties between the current president’s campaign and large amounts of drug money that were recently found. Mexicans are more worried about the government’s covering up for the military’s atrocious acts than the idea of becoming another Colombia. The fact that even some politicians in power may be involved in illicit drug trafficking or drug-money campaign contributions is worrying. And instead of comparing Mexico to other countries with drug issues, the common man’s worry is more focused toward whether it is really a war against drugs or a war between drug lords. Amaya Ordorika Imaz Mexico City, Mexico
