Letters to the editor

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Re: Sale of NB Power

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It has been in the media all week that Premier Shawn Graham wants to sell NB Power to Hydro-Quebec.

Nice.

While he is at it, why doesn’t he redesign our provincial flag, replacing the boat that is on there with the fleur-de-lis and all of the other logos of the corporate sector that our province is being pilfered by.

In the not too distant future, we will no longer be able to refer to ourselves as “Proud New Brunswickers.” Rather, we will be known to the world as “Citizens of the Corporations of New Brunswick” as our once-great province is slowly sold out to the highest bidder.

All our natural resources, forests and roads have either been sold or are on their way to the auction block. The logo on the license plates affixed to our automobiles should read New Brunswick For Sale.

The fact that our provincial leaders can not manage something as basic as a public utility (aka NB Power) speaks volumes to their lack of ability to represent us or act in our best interest.

It is obvious to all and sundry that by entertaining the thought of selling off NB Power to Quebec, Premier Graham has no interest in re-election and is putting yet another nail in the coffin of his party.

It is time for a change!

Richard Bryenton

Fredericton

There are indeed decent and generous people out there

Re: The kindness of strangers

Last week a letter appeared in The Daily Gleaner regarding roofing shingles that had been stolen from St. John’s Anglican Church in Oromocto.

I can tell you that we received much reaction to our plight and several kind Samaritans stepped up and offered assistance.

Fred Pickard, whose parents were longattending parishioners of St. John’s Anglican, contacted us and offered to purchase replacement shingles.

Al Rogers pledged his support in the form of a cheque.

Thank you, gentlemen, from the parishioners of St. John’s Anglican Church, Oromocto.

And our appreciation goes out to the many people who commented about the letter, feeling outrage to have this happen.

This shows there are indeed decent and generous people out there.

Thank you again to Mr. Pickard and Mr. Rogers.

Karla Hilchie

Vestry member

St. John’s Anglican Church

Oromocto, N.B.

Oil companies, governments don’t want electric cars on the road

Re: Electric cars

Why don’t the money-grubbers offer a guaranteed sum of money to anyone who can solve the energy crisis or make the electric car feasible? According to a local patent attorney, no one would be allowed to put a strictly electric car on the highways of the world because the economy of every country in the world depends on the oil industry.

He said that the federal government would join forces with the oil companies and destroy anyone that attempted to do such a thing.

We, the people, are led to believe that Canada is a democracy, which is nothing but a bare-faced lie.

The money-grubbers’ attempt at solving the energy crisis could be likened to that of little boys playing in the sand.

There is no such thing as clean coal. And with regard to the burning of fossil fuels, not only do they pollute, they use up our precious supply of oxygen.

Those purveyors of ignorance — namely oil company officials and politicians — are nothing but a bunch of liars.

It is not an impossible task to make the electric car feasible or supply the world with a cheap, clean and efficient source of electricity.

Burton Spencer

Boiestown, N.B.

We need concrete solutions now

Re: International Day of Climate Action

This is an open letter to all members of parliament, legislative assemblies, city councils and the general public.

Saturday, Oct. 24 was the International Day of Climate Action. Around the world, people gathered to raise awareness about the urgency of action on climate change.

With almost 181 countries participating and over 5,000 events happening, it was quite clear that this is a global issue.

At a global level, carbon emissions have created an unsustainable future for all.

Arctic warming, hurricanes and other early warning signs have led scientists to believe that we are already above the stable level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Current levels of CO2 are approximately 390 parts per million (ppm), while scientists are saying the safe level is 350 ppm.

Unless we act now to drastically reduce the CO2 levels, we risk irreversible impacts.

While this day of action occurs every year, this year it was especially crucial.

This December world leaders are meeting in Copenhagen to design a new emissions treaty at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

However, the current plans for the treaty are much too weak to have a significant impact on carbon emissions. We need a unified voice to urge Canada to be at the table during these negotiations.

To the general public, contact your representatives and let them know how urgent this really is. If you are a representative, please make what difference you can with your power. The world needs to come to concrete solutions now, or we risk dangerous consequences.

Marylynn Côté

Fredericton

Lots of places to recycle old cellphones

Re: Story published Oct. 24 called Reduce the environmental impact of your technology

Unfortunately, the article mentioned above failed to include New Brunswick’s most comprehensive cellphone recycling program.

In April of this year, the government of New Brunswick and Canada’s wireless industry announced the Recycle My Cell program that allows New Brunswickers to conveniently and responsibly dispose of their old cellphones, smartphones, batteries, pagers, headsets and other mobile accessories at 90 drop-off sites throughout the province.

The program, which is also available in all other provinces, is completely free of charge. There are no fees to drop off a device, and there are no environmental handling fees associated with the purchase of a new cell phone.

And better still, numerous local and national charitable organizations are the beneficiaries from the proceeds of the program.

All of the recycling companies involved with the program are ISO 14001:2004 certified, or certified under Electronic Product Stewardship Canada’s Recycling Vendor Qualification Program, meaning they have an environmental management system in place which ensures accountability.

All phones recovered are recycled or refurbished appropriately and in accordance with international e-waste laws. The webbased initiative is located at www.Recycle- MyCell.ca.

Visitors to the site simply type in their postal code and are supplied with the 10 closest recycling sites. The site also provides free mailing labels that visitors can use to send in their wireless devices and accessories in the mail.

Bernard Lord

President & CEO

Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association