Barks ought to read up
Inga Barks' recent column ("Stop putting fish before the needs of real people," June 20) demands a response. First, her comment that the current "man made drought" is because of a "a fish too dumb to stay alive" suggests that she is not aware of the lack of rainfall, the depleted reservoirs or the lack of snow pack. Sure, some additional water will result if we ignore the plight of the smelt. But if we ignore some species, which ones do we protect? Is Barks aware of the current concern about over-fishing in our oceans, or the contamination of the oceans? Using her argument, we would allow over-fishing because people's jobs and food are tied to fishing those waters. Dumping raw sewage into the oceans should be permitted because those people do not have the resources to process their sewage.
Whether or not we accept that we were given dominion over this earth, we are responsible for its inhabitants and their survival. If sacrifices are to be made, then let us prepare to make them. There are other options to the distribution of our water resources. The primary one is conservation: let our lawns turn brown, let us bathe once a week, let our cars be dirty on the outside.
The earth is of a whole. When we destroy one part we injure the whole body. And we have already done significant harm to our one and only earth. May the earth be protected from the Barkses of this world.
ALBERT ABRAMS
Bakersfield
