Dear Editor,
The world is in shambles, starting with the disastrous day of Sept. 11, 2001, where 89 nationalities lost too many innocent civilians.
Thousands of people were dead, thus starting the "War on Terror." Just recently in Mombasa, Kenya, over a hundred tourists were killed by a truck running into a lobby of the Paradise Hotel.
As this war continues the cost of it will only be greater. Not only in terms of people and money but something else - something that is great and can not be a casualty. There is a hidden assault against the innocent environment.
This time it is not a bunch of fundamentalist Muslims or deranged militia wanting to take control of the U.S. Government. It is happening by our own government, it is being fought through terror, and it is being fought by the President that pledged to eradicate terrorism. This is the same sort of pledge that President John F. Kennedy used to land a man on the moon.
The Bush administration is using the "War on Terror" as a publicity shield to create havoc on the environment with the goal benefitting a few (Perks, et. al. v). Gregory Wetstone, Natural Resource Defense Council's director of advocacy, stated that "emboldened by the election, and unrestrained by serious congressional oversight, the Bush administration is escalating its efforts to undermine our landmark environmental laws."
Predominately, this can be seen by the Bush administration's Fiscal Year (FY) 2002's budget. It cuts money from important environmental programs and shifts money out of alternative energy and alternative transportation.
The budget allows for a greater reliance on fossil fuels, specifically oil.
The Bush administration's policies cause a pervasiveness of harm. The programs that the administration wishes to cut have "reduced smog in our cities, stemmed the flood of sewage and toxins into our waterways, reduced lead in our children's blood, rescued threatened wildlife...revolutionized hazardous waste disposal, protected our wetlands, and preserved many of our remaining unspoiled forests and wild lands" (Perks, et. al. v). All of these programs are beneficial to the world's economies and livelihood. It would be a shame if through ignorance we lost these precious jewels.
The Bush administration lost the chance to act on September 11, 2001, in a manner that would promote peace and unity in the world. They also are losing the chance to help defend one of the greatest parts of United States - the natural environment.
In the name of national security the Bush administration is acting in a dark and dangerous manner.
They are attempting to reduce or ax important environmental programs. This will only lead to more harm than good.
Paul Angelone
sophomore
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