Letters to the editor, November 2023
Comments from readers.
COURAGE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE
Great piece from Teresa Cotsirilos (“The dark side of America's sheep industry,” October 2023). I still remember where I was when I was investigating one of Towards Justice’s first cases on behalf of a sheepherder, a man from Peru who made $2-$3 per hour, and I read about industry’s use of the term “runaway.” The piece includes some terrible stories about exploitation, but there remain so many systemic challenges here.
Towards Justice continues to fight for sheepherders against the wage fixing that has suppressed wages to absurd levels.
Very big shout-out to all the courageous people who continue to come forward to tell their stories, and of course to the amazing advocates and direct service providers, like Jen Rodriguez from Colorado Legal Services, who fight to remedy so many injustices.
David Seligman
@daveyseligman
Executive Director, Towards Justice, via X, formerly known as Twitter
The H-2A story grabbed my heart and had me condemning those who abuse these hardworking family men. The abuse they endure and the starvation and harassment tactics have got to stop! They’re human beings who are working for a better life for their families, much like the ranchers who hire them. My eyes are opened. There’s more to this story than I could have ever imagined. Thank you for this superb reporting.
Montoya Whiteman
Brighton, Colorado
BEE COGNIZANT
I read your wonderful article about protecting bumblebees (“To protect wild bumblebees, people have to find them first” October 2023). This excellent piece reminded me of a recent struggle in California, where environmentalists were working to protect pollinators by listing them as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. This listing would be unprecedented, as it’s the first to give invertebrates this level of protection.
The struggle to get this work done was met with the usual pushback. The agricultural community does not want this to happen, mainly because the listing could impact the use of pesticides that harm pollinators.
Humans are the only species on the planet cognizant of the challenges wildlife faces, and only we are positioned to do anything about it.
Scott McMorrow
Inverness, California
COMPLICATED CONSERVATION
Conservation work is complex, as demonstrated by the bass invasion currently threatening the Grand Canyon’s native fishes.
“Staving off a bass invasion” (October 2023) provides a look into the way conservation scientists and professionals mitigate bass population growth to allow threatened fish species to thrive.
Theckla Spainhower
Via LinkedIn
EXCELSIOR!
I first read HCN in the late 1970s, when I fought fire for the BLM in Wyoming and Colorado. I’ve subscribed off and on — mostly on — since the 1980s. In the ’80s and ’90s, I wrote HCN postcards suggesting that you cover more multicultural and Indigenous issues and union activists, and I am glad to see you do more of that now.
Perhaps now you might devote articles to the region’s children and young people, and continue profiling leaders and organizers. Keep going!
Sesshu Foster
Alhambra, California
TAX-FREE FARMING
Brilliant presentation of a serious concern in just two pages. “Who owns the West?” (September 2023) is symptomatic of what significant disposable income and “wise” investing by billionaires and foreign ownership can do. I was stunned to see that the State of Palestine owns 11,420 acres in my state.
Time to dive into the tax-exempt status accorded churches and religious organizations. My farming friends have to factor taxes into their calculations in planning each year. It is substantial. Why would churches get into competition with farmers by hiring others to farm their land ... tax-free?
Forest Tapolca
Camano Island, Washington
INESCAPABLE ROAD NOISE
To a road ecologist, noise is pernicious precisely because it isn’t confined to cities (“Wildlife and the inescapable impact of road noise,” September 2023). Road noise also afflicts national parks and other ostensibly protected areas, many of which have been gutted by roads to accommodate tourists.
@ecofriendlywest
Via the X platform
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