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Show OPINION s ETTE SIGNE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS Philadelphia USA Balancing environmental concerns and the needs of our communities • I would like to comment on a statement made in Friday's commentary by Heather Green concerning the Kaiparowits plateau, located north of Lake Powell which is bing considered by Andalex for an underground coal mmmg operation. My viewpoint is one that is not very politically correct and is rapidly losing ground in popularity in today's environmentally conscious society. My viewpoint is that of a member of an economically struggling s mall community who's only chances for survival have been narrowed down to a seasonal tourism industry, and the Andalex coal project. This project would mean hundreds of new jobs (not to mention supporting service jobs) for Kane county citizens. Does this mean that those same citizens are in favor of destroying environmental resources and raping the land for the sake of financial gain? No, it most certainly does not. Contrary to the image presented by Ms. Green that small towns are full of "ignorance," any person with common sense will know what side his/her bread is buttered on and will not t ake for granted the wonderful diversity that can be found in Utah's wilderness. I think I speak for the majority of us who live and subsis t from environmental resources. Cut down all the trees, and soon you'll cut yourself out of a job. Wantonly destroy pristine wilderness, and eventually you will destroy yourself and your community. In a state where over 53 percent of the total population is located in the Salt Lake valley, it's extremely hard for smaller Southern Utah communities with scarce local tax revenues due to small population to swallow state and federal mandates regarding the locking up of our valuable resources. Especially when existing industries must comply to non-incentive based regulations having barely the necessary funds to stay in business. It's a choke hold on industry born from the notion that industry equal s environmental devastation. I propose that we all look at alternatives to transportation of the coal from the Kaiparowits plateau. One alternative that would be dramatically cost effective, efficient, and would have virtually no impact on pristine wilderness would be to construct a coal slurry between that plateau and the processing plant. Mined coal would be crushed, mixed with water, and pumped through a pipeline across the wilderness to the processing facility. Upon arriving, the water and coal would be separated. The water could be cleaned and reused and there would be n o adverse effect on the quality of the coal. Whether we want to admit it of not, we all need to be environmentalists for the simple fact that we live from what Mother Earth gives us. But if we send entire communities to economic ruin because we don't look at alternatives, we will not be developing the technologies of tomorrow that in turn will save our fragile environment. Robert C. Watson PROFESSIONAL STAFP AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: Editor I.any Baker 586-7751 Campus Editor Jim Robinson 586-1997 Consultillg Sport, Editon Neil Garoner 586-7753 Brett Jewkes 586. 7752 Kellie S. l.ceman 865,8045 Auistant to the Editor Jennifer Morley 586-7759 snJDENT STAFP AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: ANociate Editon JoAnn Lundgreen 586-8226 • Randy Herget 586-7750 Opinion Dittctor Curry Edward. 586-7757 AP Witt Editor Nicole Lui 865-8225 Photo Editor Lonnie Behunin 586-7757 Sports Editor Joe Garces 586-5438 AIU Editon Heather C hilton & Ann Marie Taylor 586-5488 Advertising Managu Trevor Oements 586-7758 Calendar Ass't Jen Lanen 586-7759 The Univusi1y fourno.1 is publis hed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the 1cadcmlc year as a ::~:l::. ncccuariJy ~c ~~:::J'~;?ru~:!v::;!~Ji:i:r;:;:!t°!recoth:eu~:~~~rv~d:t entity univer&ity. 5 15 !~es,.u~;:,d~: reflect the opinion of the fourntJl or any oi the Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number. Only the name Will be printed. Nam~ will n0t be withheld under any circunutanccs and the CWtor reserves editing privilege.,. Lettcn must be submitted by noon Fridays for Monday editions, Tuesdays for Wednesday editions and Thursdays for Frid-y eWtlons. Grinances; Any individual with a grievance agabut the fournal shouJd direct such problem fi rst to the editor. U unresolved, that grievance should then be directed co the fournal Steering: Committee, which is chaired by Dr. Frain G. Pearson, 586-7971. The secrewy is Lois Sulloch, 586-7710. IJn1-my Toumol: Offioos in SUU Technology Building 003. Mail at SW Box 9384, C«lar City, Utah 84no. FAX 1801)586-5487. E-mail addrc,s: journakl,uu.cdu 0 PRINTID ON RECYCLED PAPE,.. PLEASE RECYCLE nDS COPY. I ---. .... II ··= ··;;;.;,;;.;.;. LAQUETTA CARPENTER COMMENTARY ' .. ,'<"-~ --·------ . Guess you know who I am So, I was standing in the chicken tenders line at the Thunderbird Circle, which was 20 and half years long, and this girl, this evil, "I'm so cool I can hardly stand it and don't you wish you were this smart" girl just stood next to me when I got close to the front. There was a faculty member in front of me and they were speaking with someone, so I was hoping she would leave with the speaker; she did not. The woman in front of me asked her, very politely, Are you aware that the line is back there?" She responded, "Yeah, it's really long." Then she stepped in front of me and ordered two chicken tenders, one with mashed potatoes and one with fries, and all I could think was, "No cuts, no butts, no coconuts" as I was instantly transported to elementary school play time. That was kind of rude, don't you thirlk? Rude people are a pervasive breed, it seems. Granted, I have spells on occasion, but they are not the same as purposely stepping into a line that people have been waiting in for an eon or two. It's all about the degree of rudeness, the manner in which it is delivered, and the true intent of the behavior. Last weekend, I went for a relaxing day in Red Cliffs with my fellow resident living staff members. I am still not allowed to be in direct sunlight since my surgery, so I had to sit in a tent for the day, but I brought my journal, sketch pad and The Family of Pascual Duarte, the book that I have to read for English 353. I was set for a day of relaxation. Then, just as I got settled, a man in a foam fronted, net backed greasy hat with equally greasy wranglers and snap front flannel came over to the people outside of the tent and said, "Well, I guess you know who I am ... " Why no, sir, we don' t. He insisted that he had reserved the picnic table [can you even DO that??) and he would like us to leave ... now. He said to us, "You can go over there." and pointed to the all dirt, yucky ant covered, no shade, sloping, "go ahead and TRY to pitch a tent there" site. So two of my co-workers 11 went ahead to pitch the tent, and I wrapped a blanket around myself and began to haul all of the dutch oven equipment up to the van. The man (guess I know who he is), with his wife on their vinyl lawn furniture with their huge glasses that change color in the sun and their igloo cooler of Keystone, WATCHED me do this. They did not offer to help, or even say, "Hey sorry you had to move a whole campsite to a gross, dusty area because I lied and said I reserved the stupid picnic table." Oh, no. Actually, the man laughed at me for wearing a blanket and remarked, "Stupid girl must be a southerner, she thinks its cold. He he he." He he he, jerk. Okay, sorry for the tirade, I know I promised to work on the negativity, but I just don't understand why we all can't get along. I have a friend who went to eat at a buffet in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve last year and, when he went to look at the buffet (not try to orde r chicken tenders ) was assaulted by a woman in a bejeweled sweatshirt as she stuck her finger into his side about three inches and said, "The line's back there, (insert profane epithet here)." I ju~t don't understand what is wrong with Ame rica anymore that people can go around ordering chicken tenders and poking ribs and stealing shady campsite with their ugly hats and that's just the way that things are supposed to be. I just don't like that idea. Yes, I walk on the grass, but I seriously got upset when I killed a caterpillar by accident at Red Cliffs, so I do respect mother earth, so that should count for something, right? Maybe I am rude and just don't realize it. Maybe everyone's rude and that's just the norm so color me critical and I'll just shut up. Whew! I'm off of the soapbox now and I feel okay about life now. To the chicken tenders girl, "Guess you know who I am ... " Laquetta Carpenter is an SUUSA senator. |