Stop Damaging, Wasteful Ways

I am responding to the letter printed Jan. 9 regarding “Conserving Runoff.”

While H. E. Mullvain is at least someone concerned enough to offer suggestions in this time of crisis, he is also an example of the “progress can solve anything” mind-set that causes many of our current environmental problems. As co-tenants of this planet with millions of other creatures, we must constantly remain aware of the fact that every action has a reaction (a slightly modified version of a natural law applicable elsewhere).

Trapping water where it falls prevents it from replenishing the ground table or a local watershed. That could have a very unpredictable effect.

Every citizen who wants the right to use the resources of the land should be required to take a biology course--to learn how things live and what is required to live--and one ecology course so that they may better understand the way the world works and the systems required to maintain life.

Most people would be extremely shocked to learn about the damage done to the Earth’s systems; if it were a car, it wouldn’t run. Changing the systems further will not solve our problems; we have to remove the problem--mankind’s damaging and wasteful ways.

Conserve water--don’t steal it!

KYMBERLY VILBRANDT

Newbury Park