MAILBAG - April 17, 2008

Stop supporting agriculture pollution

It’s not about changing light bulbs anymore!

When Al Gore’s and Leonardo DiCaprio’s dramatic documentaries alerted us to the devastating impacts of global warming, many people went through the ritual of switching from incandescent light bulbs to the compact fluorescent variety. Unfortunately, in the case of global warming, good intentions and switching light bulbs are not good enough.

The most powerful individual lifestyle solution was suggested in a 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The report found that meat production accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. That’s more than automobiles.

Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, factory farms and slaughterhouses. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools.

Moreover, animal agriculture contributes more pollutants to our waterways than all other human activities combined. Principal sources are animal wastes, soil particles, minerals, crop debris, fertilizers and pesticides from feed crop lands. It is also the driving force in world-wide deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.

The annual observance of Earth Day Tuesday provides an excellent opportunity for every one of us to help save our planet by dropping animal products from our diet. More details are available at www.CoolYourDiet.org.

Harold Undell

Huntington Beach

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Take a look at history of Iranian rulers

I enjoyed reading Michele Marr’s article “Purim joyous despite attacks,” (March 20), but I am afraid some statements regarding Iran may create an inaccurate understanding of Iranians, and build up American public opinion to justify a costly war with Iran.

In her article, Marr mentions the news release from Congregation Adat Israel — “Recently as Iran is threatening to annihilate Israel, the story of Purim seems to be repeating itself...” — as well as the comment of Rabbi Einstein, “Hitler outlined his plan of genocide, and the world thought he was a nut. The current president of Iran claims the Holocaust never took place and has set out as a goal the destruction of Israel. I have no doubt if he had the means to do so, he would actually attempt it.”

Although the current Islamic rulers of Iran spew out anti-Israel rhetoric to gain a leadership position in the Muslim world, the history of Iranian rulers gives us a different picture on relations with Jewish people.

Persian emperor Cyrus the Great is mentioned in the Old Testament as a savior of the Jews for releasing Jews from captivity in Babylon and pledging money to rebuild their temple. Jews have lived in freedom in Iran for centuries under Zoroastrian kings who protected all religious minorities.

Jewish princess Esther was married to the King of Persia who listened to her advice and prevented harm to the Jewish people. Even though Muslim priests of Iran have tried to discourage the people from preserving their pre-Islamic Zoroastrian culture, the people have continued to preserve the Persian language, Zoroastrian calendar and festivals like Nouruz (New Year), Mehergan, etc.

Jews have suffered anti-Semitism much more in Europe from Christian rulers and people, than they ever did under non-Christian rulers. Americans have already lost almost $1 trillion in an unjustified war in Iraq, besides losing thousands of American lives and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives.

Let us not demonize the Iranians and create an excuse for another costly misadventure.

There is a happy confluence of different religious festivals such as Jewish Purim, Iranian Nouruz, Christian Easter and Muslim Id this week, so let us spread harmony and goodwill between all our various faith communities and look forward to peace in the world.

Maneck Bhujwala