02/23/2007: "We All Need To Do Our Part"

(The follow letter is response to a column by Ron Keeshan)

To the Editor:

Yup, the world is warming up. Some of it is a natural cycle for we are coming out of a glacial period and temperatures are still a few degrees colder than normal. Along the way, humans evolved and this time are probably contributing to both the speed and the intensity of the final warming.

We don't really know by how much or how fast we may have influenced climate change but one way we can all help is by making choices in our individual lifestyles to lessen our personal impact. So it seems rather ironic for you to beat up Mike for not sharing your views when after all it was you who flew in a jet to Alaska and then probably boarded another smaller plane to fly to the viewing sight.

The bears don't need us burning more fuel, producing more CO2, just to watch them and write about the sorry state of global warming. The bears will do fine without the ecotourists. In fact, they've survived a couple of previous interglacial periods when the ice cap was much smaller than it currently is. They'll adapt and survive this one too. That's not to say that it will be an easy change nor will it be a pretty one. For our part in that, I'm sorry so I'll work to lessen my impact. i hope you'll do the same.

Greg Hertel
San Juan Island