Editor, The News:
Re: Overall, the world is improving (Letters, April 11).
I was reading the well written letter by Wendell Krossa and nodding my head, saying yes, yes, and yes. And then all of the sudden, I was shocked by a statement made by the man I was in awe of just a sentence before.
Quote: “ As people grow and develop economically, their environment improves because once basic needs are met people can afford to focus, on their environments. The only areas suffering serious environmental degradation are areas of poverty, where economies are not improving.”
First, the great wealth that many of us enjoy is temporary and it is mostly at the cost of others and the exploitation and depletion of natural substances. I am loathe to call them natural resources. It’s easy to amass great wealth if you exploit the poor in other countries.
So I’m not surprised that the only areas suffering serious environmental degradation are areas of poverty. What else could possibly happen to the exploited poor and their land, water, and air?
Then he takes me further into disbelief when he says “to be anti-progress is anti-human.”
I get the impression Mr. Krossa believes progress to be primarily, financial growth. Many of us focus too much on the dollar and not enough on humanity.
Shame on us all for buying all that cheap crap, and shame on us for falling for every new gadget that cost this world so much.
Grant Baker
Maple Ridge