This letter is about human-induced climate change. We cannot ignore it! And this is what the Republican Party is doing while kicking the proverbial can down the road. Yes, our climate has changed and will to continue to change even without our intervention. Yet we are here and prospering quite well as we continue to harvest Mother Nature for all it’s worth.
I was first apprised of global warming during the ’70s with news that the ozone layer is being destroyed by fluorocarbons and we then subsequently banned aerosol cans. I don’t recall the Republican’s denying it then and wondering if they still think the banning of aerosols is still valid?
We have been pumping and fracking our land, gulping our water and belching its remains in our air for far too long. Luckily we have scientists who study and report these effects on our environment. Our outgoing mayor, Nancy Tyra-Lukens, attended a Robert Redford summit with mayors with a focus on protecting our environment. She spearheaded the 20-40-15 and with its success this is now the Sustainable Eden Prairie.
The Republicans refuse to accept climate change as fact. Eighteen months ago I called Rep. Erik Paulsen’s offices in D.C. and Eden Prairie and asked if Mr. Paulsen believed in climate change? I did not receive a yes or no answer. I went to his office and asked the staff and again — a bunch of words but without a yes or no answer. A couple of weeks ago I listened to our Eden Prairie candidates for mayor and city council. Again the responses from candidates, Aho and Freiberg, were begun by: “I am not a scientist…” (kick the can… kick the can). This road has to end somewhere.
Mark Voorhees, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie News, October 5, 2018