Why is county still clear-cutting?
Editor,
It’s past the eleventh hour for Mother Nature, and even now, projects go on that stun with their destruction. Back in the Kingswood subdivision off Waters, a 30-year old forest has been clear-cut for a county flood abatement program.
In the eyes of the engineer, it is a ‘corridor’ not a forest. And yet, until recently, it teemed with over 62 different species of wild birds, and was a stop-over for migrating birds that move along the Atlantic coastline every year. No wonder, as a recent study pointed out, so-called common birds are declining worldwide.
Sandy Beasley of the Audubon Society, who kept a bird journal for decades, is now watching that once wonderfully overgrown, dark and lush area go from a Living zone to a Dead zone. The neighbors around here had no idea it would be this drastic.
Nobody denies the need for flood abatement projects. But what’s not understood, is why there’s a slash and burn mentality, instead of coming up with creative ways to “Let Nature Live.”
The county urgently needs to hire engineers that can understand the Big Picture of earth sustainability. It was not necessary to do an environmental impact study, because federal funds were not used.
We need innovative, visionary engineers, planners and developers that will care about nature, even when not legally required to do so. Who know that trees have an inherent value, and are motivated to come up with forward-thinking solutions that don’t crush urban-suburban wildlife.
Isn’t it possible that you can design plans that improve drainage, while allowing trees that are not even in the canal to remain standing? It’s hard to put a price on what a teeming, lively forest full of birds gives.
But what we’re losing when such a heavy hand falls on a fragile eco-system is priceless to those that care about our last wild places. We can live in harmony with nature, when we reach for creative solutions and refuse to ‘cut corners’ that will harm living things.
Molly Hall
Congrats on GHS marker
Editor,
I wish to congratulate the Georgical Historical Society for the dedication ceremony commemorating “Weeping Times”. My grandparents, Jesse and Rebekah Butler were “Butler Slaves”. I have done extensive research on my family genealogy of which has been accepted by the Library of Congress. You can view a photo of my grandmother Charity Butler on the website of Uncrowned Queens of Western New York.
Zola Crowell
Go, carts
Editor,
I am sick of the carts at the mall, you know the ones where they harass you to come by their products. The cart that most annoys me is at the Oglethorpe Mall. The cart in question sells sea salt lotions, special nail files and other beauty aides.
First off I am offended that you would think I need such beauty aides, why mess with perfection? Secondly I am a guy and not a metrosexual in need of such lotions. Leave the shoppers alone and go sell your wares on QVC or late night infomercials.
Still, someone must be giving them enough business to stay out there. I am all for someone trying to earn an honest buck, but leave me the hell alone when I am trying to shop.
Shopping at the mall already is a pain, you have the traffic, parking, rude sales people, and dirty bathrooms (especially Barnes and Noble), trying to bug me to death into buying your stupid lotions only adds to the negative experience.
Thanks for smiling at me and flirting, but no you cannot talk to me for a minute, and no you cannot show me what you are selling. No you cannot rub that lotion on my hands.
I am sure these various carts make the mall money for leasing the space, but is it worth it to sacrifice the mall experience for these low class flea market types?
Harvey Dent