Dear Editor,

Let’s be clear about what we say and write, because someone might be listening.

When flood waters rise, or a mighty wind or ice storm knocks trees down on the wires, it can be a great inconvenience or a local disaster, but it is not a war zone. It’s nothing like a war zone. I refer you to the internet, through which you can view pictures and articles on the various places (way too many) where people are raining destruction upon their fellow humans, In Ukraine, Gaza, and Yemen, hospitals, schools, houses, railways, power stations have been reduced to rubble by other people on purpose because they want to hurt the people who live there. That’s a war zone. Canada has not been invaded recently, so we have become jaded about how easy we have it, relative to places upon which war is currently being visited.

And enviro-nerds, quit claiming to save the planet. The planet will do fine, with or without humans. Humans are amazing creatures with a unique ability to turn any amount of food and energy into noise and stink. We may have messed our nest to the point of no return, but like the dinosaurs who ruled Earth for hundreds of thousands of years, we can be replaced by species that feed off our wasteful and wanton ways. If you, like me, would rather see our children have a place in history, let’s clean house and reduce our toxic effluent.
It is said, “The meek shall inherit the Earth”, but the meek may be cockroaches or microbes or new lifeforms created in a lab by accident. So, save the humans, avoid war, and keep your bedroll as dry as your sense of humour. The planet can take care of itself.

Robert Wills, Thorne and Shawville