The most dangerous weapon for many of us is still our forks
Once again, it's time for New Year's resolutions, particularly those to improve our diet and exercise routine.
Although gun violence and traffic accidents remain the leading causes of death among young people, the most dangerous weapon for the rest of us is still our fork. Well over a million of us are killed each year by high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and other chronic diseases linked to our meat-based diet.
But times are changing. According to Gallup, 22 percent of American consumers are avoiding meat and 12 percent are avoiding dairy products. Supermarket chains, along with Target and Wal-Mart, offer a growing selection of delicious and healthy plant-based meats and dairy products. Animal meat consumption has dropped by 8 percent in the past decade.
Hundreds of school, college, hospital and corporate cafeterias have embraced Meatless Monday and vegan meals. Fast-food chains like Chipotle, Panera, Subway, Taco Bell and White Castle are rolling out vegan options.
Let's make this New Year's resolution about exploring the rich variety of plant-based entrees, lunch meats, cheeses, ice creams and milks, as well as the more traditional green and yellow veggies. The Internet offers tons of recipes and transition tips.
— Art Doddermyer
Anchorage
Meeting Alaska's energy needs
"Copper Valley region to rely on renewable energy in summer" made the Alaska Dispatch News headline on Dec. 23. As a resident of the Copper River Basin, the Allison Creek hydro project is appreciated. This small, local eco-friendly hydro project is an intelligent solution to our area's summer energy needs and is an example of energy development that does not destroy salmon runs, wildlife and habitat.
In contrast, the proposed Susitna Dam (currently on the back burner because of the state's spending crunch) is an ecological nightmare, as an entire river corridor will be altered. Salmon will be greatly harmed, caribou access to calving grounds will be impacted and many other animals will be flooded out. Alaskans need to recognize the difference between small local hydro, such as Allison Creek, and a mega project like the Susitna Dam, and encourage their legislators to seek clean, low-impact technology to meet Alaska's energy needs.
— Linda Rutledge
Copper Center
Audacious disconnect between King Cove and rest of the state
King Cove, again (ADN, Dec. 23).
If the small village of Teller on the Bering Sea coast experienced a serious medical emergency and Nome was weathered in, a 2-3 hour drive to Nome's well-equipped hospital over an already built public commercial state highway could potentially save a life — except during the 6-7 months a year it is unmaintained and impassable. Yet, with Alaska in fiscal freefall and federal funds drying up, King Cove demands a private road be constructed and maintained year-round for a handful of medevacs per year that cannot safely go by air. This is but one example of the audacious disconnect between King Cove and the rest of the state.
Mayo Clinic could open a branch in Bethel and save lives, but it would be just as fiscally irresponsible. There are risks to living in Bush Alaska. I am qualified to comment on this road. Not having been to King Cove does not disqualify me. I am familiar with Aleutian weather and terrain, having traveled to Cold Bay, Dutch Harbor and Adak.
This road provides an easy opportunity for anti-wilderness politicians to poke a finger in Sally Jewell's eye and compromise the Wilderness Act under the convenient altruistic cover of claiming to save human lives. If this proposed road corridor was on private, state or nonwilderness federal land, I doubt it would have garnered much attention, or support, outside of King Cove.
Physical and sexual abuse of women, neglect of children, violence, suicide and substance abuse all plague rural Alaska. If the money it would cost to build and maintain this road were instead carefully channeled into community-based programs to combat these ills, many more lives could be saved and countless more lives improved, or stabilized.
— William M. Cox, MD
Anchorage
Puff piece pandering to Pfeffer
In Saturday's ADN there was a PR-penned puff piece pandering to Mark Pfeffer, developer of the embattled LIO building.
Titled, "A deal is a deal" more accurately could have been, "A deal is a steal."
No matter, the commentary suggests the landlord is willing to help. So here's a suggested solution:
Rewrite the lease to reflect current prevailing local rates, verified by respected local agents unbeholden to the Pfeffer faction.
Renegotiate the contract some years in the future.
The owner will have a long-term tenant. Our imperious legislators won't have to move. And downtown will be spared the specter of yet another shuttered building.
— Ken Flynn
Anchorage
I don't think so, Trump
Trumpy the Clown won't register his gun but wants me to register my religion? I don't think so.
— Al-Hajj Frederick Minshall
Anchorage
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.