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Published Fri, Oct 29, 2010 02:00 AM
Modified Fri, Oct 29, 2010 12:34 AM

Hard of hearing

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Marvin Woll: Fracking firsts
In regard to the article “GOP divided on fracking,” the legislature needs to address many questions relative to the fracking process. In addition to the problems of water usage and storage, lawmakers should also address the following two concerns before passing any bills allowing natural gas drilling.
Amy Tiemann: Listen to ‘no’
For all the reasons cited in your May 20 article “Fracking carries more risk in N.C.” and more, it is clear that fracking is wrong for North Carolina. Water shortages, unsuitable geology, Shearon Harris nuclear power plant in the shale zone – what will it take for our legislature to take “no” for an answer? Every concerned citizen needs to contact legislators now, during this ongoing session, and let them know that we won’t be appeased by “go slow.” We want our leaders to hear and vote, “shale, no!”
David Streifford: Hope for vigilance
Thanks for the May 20 story “Fracking carries more risk in NC.” In a different light, however, and by omission of any discussion of pending legislation, it raises the more interesting question about why the N.C. General Assembly is absolutely hell-bent on legalizing fracking.
Christina Stableford: Water wedding
Thank you for your excellent article May 20 on fracking in North Carolina. The insight into our state’s distinct geologic vulnerabilities creates a compelling case against allowing this techno-chemical assault on our life-supporting natural infrastructure. Quite simply, human existence ceases without access to potable water. I invite those who consider this a theory to test it by avoiding all beverages that contain water and all foods produced with the use of water for two weeks. Let us know how that works out for you.
Mary Lucas: Frantic on fracking
Does anyone in this state care that our General Assembly is about to sell out our state to the oil and gas industry? There were three public hearings on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources draft study on the viability of fracking in North Carolina. Citizens raised numerous informed, fact-based questions that exposed the many dangers and unknowns about this new drilling procedure. These questions were ignored in the final DENR report and by the General Assembly as it rushes to legalize fracking before the public realizes the environmental, economic, public health and community implications of fracking. The frantic rush is justified because of the myth of approximately 830 jobs over a number of years.
George Horwitz: Our pathetic path
I read May 25 of the sentencing in Pakistan of the very courageous Dr. Shakil Afridi, 33 years imprisonment for the heroic part he played in the discovery and death of Osama bin Laden. Treason, they call it. Disappointing news, but not surprising.
John Melling: Citizen credit, too
I think it noble that our legislators are developing a program that will give a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, not deduction, for contributions to “get more low-income students into private schools.” What is wrong with this is, why are the corporations the only ones given this tax credit?
Chuck Mann: Long ago treaties
A United Nations commission thinks that the U.S. government should return some of the land that it took from American Indian tribes. I agree. It has always bothered me that our government made treaties with Indian tribes that to this day haven’t been upheld. Whenever someone says that we live in a nation of immigrants, try to remember that the American Indians were here first.
Al Hicks: A pardon deserved
Thank you for your story May 19 covering the pardon petition to Gov. Beverly Perdue for Ben Chavis and the six other survivors of the Wilmington 10.
Thomas Paul DeWitt: Madness
The May 24 article “Women challenge combat limitations” reported that the women filing the suit claim their civil rights are violated by denying them full combat roles.