Letters to the editor: Fighting COVID-19, nuclear waste, protests, global issues

Fighting a war

When I was in Iraq serving in the second Gulf War, there were plenty of times that I didn’t want to don my protective gear to ward against Scud missile attacks, wear heavy and cumbersome body armor even in 100 plus degree temperatures or carry my weapon with me day and night. But I did these things and so did every other soldier, airman, marine and sailor who fought in that war because our lives depended on it as did the lives of those we served with. We could not play our part to win the war if we were dead or became a casualty that required care.

I see the fight against COVID-19 in much the same way and view those who are protesting against the measures our Governor, Mayor and school districts have put in place as selfish and undisciplined. Every war requires sacrifice, perseverance and resolve and those who claim that the current life-saving measures are an unreasonable affront to our Constitution liberties are not the people I’d want in my foxhole because they see their desires to be more important than those of the greater whole.

Casey Jones, Boise

Nuclear waste

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing a change that would allow radioactive waste to be dumped into regular landfills and hazardous waste sites, rather than radioactive waste storage facilities. The nuclear industry has been pushing for such a change since the 1980s, and the NRC has, reprehensibly, decided to try to sneak this through during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Safe disposal of nuclear waste has always been a complicated and costly proposition. And now it seems that the NRC and the nuclear industry are simply trying to bypass long-standing radioactive waste disposal requirements in favor of cheaper, obviously questionable solutions. Up to now, radioactive waste storage sites and transport have had long term monitoring and security protocols, but who will secure and monitor this waste in an ordinary landfill?

Please take a few minutes to tell the NRC that you oppose this change, particularly during the COVID-19 public health crisis! Public comment will be accepted until July 20, 2020 by visiting regulations.gov and searching for NRC-2020-0065-0001.

Julie Hoefnagels, Boise

Stay home

I applaud our governor for taking the correct, actionable, and life-saving plan and execution to control this pandemic.

Ammon Bundy, Heather Scott and Raul Labrador represent the insignificantly small and grossly misinformed population in several states that have made it their mission to risk the health and safety of the people around them or the people they represent. We are in a pandemic. The US now leads the entire planet in infections and deaths because of federal lack of planning, preparation and execution. We wasted precious weeks and months hoping this would just go away. Now the Bundy-Scott-Labrador banter is making headlines, but they are nothing but a high-risk laissez-faire talking point for the extreme right.

What is genuinely disappointing with these people is they have no idea or conception of self-sacrifice. They scream their rights are being infringed upon, while people are dying and their lungs turn into soup. They call out that our economy can’t die, but seem unaware that people can. The virus doesn’t care about our economy, politics, or Constitution.

Imagine if these three had been alive during World War II and had to be drafted, ration food, or ration ration travel and fuel.

Perry Lea, Eagle

Global issues

We – the American people – cannot ignore our responsibility to local, state, national and global communities. The huge human and economic toll of COVID-19 is a stark reminder of this. The pandemic dominates daily news. Yet the information presented is highly variable, with accompanying opinions too often presented as facts and frequently in partisan and self-serving manners. Understandably absent from the current headlines are other topics that could impact current and future generations in ways not dissimilar to the current pandemic if ignored. Issues such as air quality, water availability and quality, food availability and safety, and decreased biodiversity. These are global issues. As is the increasing severity and unpredictability of weather-related phenomena such as tropical storms, cyclones, tornados, droughts, floods and wildfires. As is the increasing incidence of animal-borne and other infectious diseases. All of these issues are connected to how humans interact with Earth’s natural systems. Earth will survive our actions, however positive or negative, but our planet’s inhabitants may not. With time right now to think and reflect – use it to consider what type of global citizen you are and what type of planet you want to leave to your children and beyond.

William Hart, Eagle