Conservation effort overdue

The price of gas is skyrocketing and we now know that oil supplies worldwide are finite and limited (even without the political unrest in the Middle East, Africa and South America). In addition, global warming and its consequences, which are one result of the world's overuse of oil-based fuels, is scarily real.

So why is there no loud cry for conservation and a real push by our elected officials to develop alternatively sources of energy? Where is the leader that can "call us to arms" to actively conserve and be part of the solution? Are Americans just too selfish, too interested in instant gratification today that they are unconcerned about the future of the planet - the only home we have?

Many of us care deeply and do what we can as individuals, but we need a focused, concerted national effort on the part of our elected officials and leaders.

Claudia Craven

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman Review

Give peace a try

What constitutes violence, what causes it and its cures are all very debatable. That it's here andnow is hardly open to discussion and the debates are slowing down the process of reduction.

We can't develop and practice nonviolence by rational thought. Not because it's anti-reason, but because it's unnatural. If somebody hits you, being nonviolent requires that you not hit them back. Difficult, to say the least. Violence is the easier path to follow and leads only to temporary outcomes. While nonviolence comes without a guarantee of success, it's often less lethal.

Many of us, myself included, are not ready to be completely pro-life. At most, we can only be pointed in that direction. A person can be against abortion and favor the death penalty. That's possible, but it sure is inconsistent.

Here's some more inconsistency. You don't have to be anti-war to support other nonviolent causes. War's a biggie and only one issue amonth the many issues of nonviolence.

Peace is much more than the absence of war. Peace is also about well-being. Start small, check on a neighbor. Can you or your family do something to improve their well-being? Maybe small is not the right word.

Jon J. Tuning

Spokane WA

The Spokesman Review