To the editor:
In 18th century England, wise and compassionate people decided that child labour should be outlawed. However, the folks who were profiting from it cried that the economy of Britain would fail without it. It was eventually outlawed, no disasters ensued, and the world became a better place for it.
Then in the 19th century, in the United States, wise and compassionate U.S. citizens decided that slavery should be abolished. However, the people who were profiting from it cried that the U.S. economy, (at the time largely based on cotton) would fail as a result. Eventually, slavery was abolished, with no disastrous results, and the world again became a better place for it.
Now we are in the 21st century and again, the wise and compassionate people have a human rights battle to fight. This fight is over cruelty to human beings just like the last two were. But those humans aren’t born yet and the fight is for the world they hope to live in.
This fight is against fossil fuels, and again the folks who are profiting from it are trying desperately to convince us that we are strong because of the fossil fuel industry and that the economy will fail without it.
Are you going to believe them? Will we make this a long-fought battle like the last two? Will we eventually look back and see it for what it was?
A case of profiteers propagandizing the masses to convince them that the status quo should not be messed with or terrible things will happen.
Can we, once more, take a step in the right direction and make a better world?
Laurie Embree
108 Mile Ranch
