Conflicts Over Resources

Re “ ‘Liberty Rock’ Yields to Shovelers,” July 5: It is interesting and disheartening to read that 90-year-old Helen Wilson feels that the existence of the bull trout is of less importance than a road into the forest, and Scott Traudt is angry about government telling people how to use our natural resources, such as quotas on the squid he fishes for. Once again, people are more concerned with their own immediate gratification and have no care for what will be remaining for future generations.

Maybe if people who feel the same way Wilson does had instead been more concerned about our natural resources and fought in the past to ensure that we use wisely those we have, Traudt would not be worrying today about the catch quotas on squid. Unfortunately this did not and still does not occur, so the federal government is forced to use a heavy-handed approach to ensure that enough of our natural resources do remain for future use. Roads come and go, but extinction is forever.

KEVIN LaPIERRE

Coto de Caza

* Last I remembered, federal lands belonged to all of the citizens of this country. They are administered according to rules enacted by our elected representatives. The Jarbridge Shovel Brigade is made up of anarchists who are trying to take our natural resources for their own personal use. Hopefully the organizers of the event will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

ALAN COLES

Long Beach

* I strongly object to your July 1 photo caption (and accompanying article), “A big sea lion enjoys a barracuda stolen from a fisherman’s hook.” You’ve got it backward; it is we humans who have polluted, destroyed, overfished and stolen the fish from the sea lions. After all, we have a vast array of foods to choose from, including vegetables, fruits and grains, while the sea lions have only fish to eat. Will we humans never be satisfied until we have obliterated everything on the planet including ourselves?

JAYCIE INGERSOLL

Beverly Hills