Influences Over Climate Changes
* Re “Climate Change Linked to Decline in Amphibians,” April 5: Research reported in the latest issue of the journal Nature describes a variety of factors that may have caused damage to toad populations. Climate change is only one of those factors. The unusual congruence of El Nino and the inexplicable spread of a toad-killing fungus only demonstrates the rarity of this phenomenon. Other species also suffered massive die-offs and disease during the last El Nino, including sea lions and other marine creatures. El Nino is a known natural event that causes widespread climate change, and whether or how much mankind’s influence on Earth contributes to climate fluctuations is unknown.
It was irresponsible for ecologist J. Alan Pounds to speculate that there is a “need for a rapid transition to cleaner energy sources if we are to avoid staggering losses of biodiversity.” Pounds reveals political bias rather than the cautious neutrality of a proper scientist.
BROOKS A. PANGBURN
Duarte
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* In his April 3 column, “The Heck With That Global Warming Stuff,” Robert Scheer failed to mention that he, himself, like millions and millions of others, is a part of the global warming problem. To wit: their demand for electricity to power their computers and Web sites (that are active 24 hours a day, seven days a week).
Seemingly, a man as smart as Scheer should be able to write a column on how all, or, at least, most, of our global warming problems could be solved.
Am I part of the problem? Of course, I am! Aren’t most of us?
JIM HULGAN
Banning
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* One of the most disturbing side effects of the president pulling the tablecloth out from under the Kyoto global warming agreements is the U.S. losing any credibility it has had in dictating its own environmental concerns. If Bush allows the United States to excuse itself from what the rest of the industrial world will do, we will never be able to persuade Brazil, India or Korea that they have obligations to protect what we so selfishly destroy.
JIM WESTFALL
Los Angeles
