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September 02. 2015 12:01AM Letters to the Editor, Sept. 2 It's about power Regarding the Aug. 26 article titled "Property owners decry Fielder Dam removal": First, quoting Mr. Hunter: "Certainly WaterWatch was willing to enforce the law." WaterWatch, a 501(c)3 nonprofit group, has no law enforcement authority — none. It is very telling on the mindset to arrogate law enforcement authority to themselves. As an attorney, Mr. Hunter should know better. Drunk with power perhaps? Instead, WaterWatch bullies private parties into compliance with their extremist agenda, hiding behind the skirts of their nonprofit status. Second, the quote from Scott Wright is absurd: "We didn't find anything upstream. I don't know why we'd find anything downstream." Contaminants are not salmon and cannot swim upstream, that's why. Worse, there's an inherent conflict of interest for the very company contracted for the demolition to certify environmental impact. While this pales in comparison to the $200 million crony capitalism fraud of the Columbia River Crossing project, it's the same phenomenon, differing only in degree. Third, again from Mr. Hunter, casually dismissing the uncompensated damage done to the private property owners: "But this is a project with huge public benefits." That illustrates the agenda perfectly: elimination of private property rights. This isn't about about fish, but power. Terry Schofield Rogue River Petro-foolishness The plastic we use, synthetic fabrics in the clothes we wear, lubricants and much more besides fuel are derived from petroleum. Obviously it is a valuable resource we should use carefully, yet we burn it like there is no tomorrow. And we are committing to this incredible waste by sinking billions into building more pipelines. This is folly in so many ways! Leaving aside the familiar arguments against burning fossil fuels, which one either believes or denies, and ignoring the moral implications of robbing our descendants of a highly useful resource, here is another thought to consider. Not to give nuts and terrorists ideas, but how vulnerable are these pipelines to pick, shovel and dynamite? It doesn't take much imagination to come up with a formidable list of potential saboteurs, some of whom may have access to serious explosives. Besides arsonists and people hostile to America, some may hold grievances against the corporations that sell or the overseas clients that buy. Or some sociopathic investor might want to make a killing on oil futures. The environmental impact of such an attack could be catastrophic. Are such attacks a realistic concern? Better be awfully sure before you say no. Nicholas Follansbee Medford Job well done The repaving on South Oakdale is a job well done. Hats off to the city of Medford and to Knife River for keeping the traffic flowing while they repaved during the hottest part of the summer. It is a real pleasure to drive on, and my car likes it, too. Chuck Gates Medford We must work together This week I've been involved in "Hike the Pipe", a 232-mile hike along the proposed natural gas pipeline route from Malin to Coos Bay. Talking to people in the Lower Klamath basin has made me realize how dysfunctional our public conversation about climate change has become. Scientists agree we are in the midst of a crisis, but Americans are unable to come together and strategize ways to deal with the crisis. I get my information from sources that view things with the same perspective as I do; therefore, I tried to be an attentive listener when talking with a Lower Klamath Basin farmer. It's hard not to be defensive when words like "tree hugger," "environmentalist" or "you live in Ashland/Eugene" are used. Our worlds may be different, but if we are going to find solutions to temper the effects of climate change, we have to work together. The clock is ticking and every missed opportunity for working together for a sustainable future may have very dire consequences. We have to come together and agree on a path to follow. Barry Peckham Ashland http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150902/OPINION/150909947 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->