Anchorage Daily News

Thanks to APU for making effort to reduce its carbon footprint

I would like to take this opportunity to applaud Alaska Pacific University for leading our community in the fight against global warming. Recently APU committed to reducing campuswide greenhouse gas emissions by 2 percent per year through midcentury. This will result in 80 percent reduction in the university's emissions, and an 80 percent reduction in all our emissions is what the world's top climate scientists tell us is necessary to avoid the worst effects of global warming. In addition to enrolling in National Wildlife Federation's Climate Champion Program, APU is also a signatory member of the President's Climate Commitment, a group of nearly 500 schools nationwide that have committed to reducing their carbon footprint. Our nation's colleges and universities are preparing the next generation of Americans to tackle the world's largest problems, and APU is leading the way on global warming, a problem that affects Alaskans every day. Thank you, Alaska Pacific University.

-- Jim Adams, director, Alaska office

Anchorage

North buffer zone at Denali might work to protect wildlife

Before we question the money spent saving the snared Denali wolf ("Park Service spends nearly $4,000 to rid wolf of snare," May 11), consider what we spend to annihilate him. The state wastes hundreds of thousands of dollars trapping and killing predators from helicopters and planes. Private pilots are encouraged to do the same.

A dollar value cannot be placed on the Denali wolf, seen and enjoyed by thousands of visitors each summer.

I wonder, however, if the National Park Service's quest to capture the suffering animal was only to create the illusion that it is the compassionate protector of the park's wildlife. Summer visitors obviously would be appalled to see a wolf with a snare slicing through its neck. Questions would be asked and the Park Service would be forced to answer them. Would it tell the public that trappers need to use thicker wire? Would it condone the practice and admit some of its own employees are trappers?

The National Park Service, instead of promoting the education of trappers and encouraging the use of stronger snares, should be vocal in its opposition and strongly advocate establishing a north buffer zone that is needed to protect the wolf packs and other wildlife that stray outside the national park.

-- Tom Roberts

Denali Park

'I Know I Can' program is a bridge to college and career choices

The Daily News' focused attention on education in the May 7 article "Alaska's bent learning curve," is much appreciated but the article missed the point about the "I Know I Can" program. True -- significant numbers of Alaska's young people are forgoing postsecondary opportunities. True -- a pervasive college-going culture doesn't yet exist in our state. But programs like "I Know I Can" and an entire suite of sequenced early awareness programs for K-12 students are key to making positive changes.

The teachers and staff of Willow Crest Elementary exemplify all the "I Know I Can" partners dedicated to planting college-going seeds. The article failed to mention the boy who initially wanted to work at a grocery store. After hearing the inspirational story about four "I Know I Can" characters going to college, and discussing his interests and passions, he instead wanted to become a gym teacher. The negative spin on some children's responses was sad to see with many other positive stories to tell!

"I Know I Can" is in its second year. As one parent commented, at this age their child's aspirations can change weekly -- and there is nothing bad about that. The take-away should be a sense of inspiration by the volunteers and dedicated staff and teachers at Willow Crest and all Anchorage elementary schools engaged in helping students to start thinking early about the connection between college and careers!

-- Lora Jorgensen and Rebekah Smith

Anchorage

It seems very inappropriate to call Kohring a folk hero

I am retired from a local consulting engineering firm. For several years we represented Wal-Mart. One of its early projects was the Wasilla store. Vic Kohring was the chair of the Wasilla Planning Commission. While working on this project I soon became disgusted with him.

He went to great lengths to shine the spotlight on himself. This was a noncontroversial project, yet he called the local access TV station and tried to get it to televise the proceedings. He was trying to leave the impression he was "saving Wal-Mart."

Most disturbing was his inappropriate contact with me. He called me in between meetings of the commission and asked me to allow him to negotiate some "big deal" to show his impact on the project. I told him that his contact with me was unethical if not illegal. I repeated this several times but he ignored me. After later calls I said I could not talk and hung up.

When I heard the accusations against him I was not surprised. The descriptions of his conduct were similar to my experience with him. How has this man become a folk hero to some?

-- Mel Nichols

Anchorage

Democratic convention is where best candidate will be selected

It is appropriate that Sen. Hillary Clinton continue her campaign into the Democratic convention, and not to concede the campaign at this time.

Consider: Arguably, the presidential primaries are popularity contests, whereby voters decide which party candidate pleases them best. This process winnows the total candidates down to a respectable few -- who then receive serious consideration at the party's convention.

The convention must then appraise the candidates in a different light; namely, which candidate will fare best in the general election against the other party's nominee.

Although Sen. Barack Obama has more delegate votes than Sen. Clinton, his lead is not commanding; thus, the "race" between Obama and Clinton is essentially a draw. The Democrats should be careful not to let primary results pre-empt the decision-making process that must occur at the party's convention.

Despite the party infighting during the primaries, the Democrats can save the day by taking a hard look at both candidates during the convention, and by making hard choices as to who is best qualified to campaign against Sen. John McCain.

A well-orchestrated convention, which selects the "best" candidate to oppose the Republican nominee, and which presents a strong sense of party unity, will do much to get the Democrats back on track to making a strong showing in the November election.

-- Stephan C. Paliwoda

Anchorage

Turnagain Community Council a big part of recycling effort

After almost 15 years, last month Turnagain Community Council ended its volunteer curbside recycle pickup program. It all started in 1993, when Sara Peebles and Karen Perry came to a council meeting with the idea of initiating a grass-roots curbside pickup service in our neighborhood and a group of enthusiastic volunteers eagerly joined in. Our goal was to promote curbside pickup of recyclable materials and show the city that people would be willing to separate their recyclables from trash and place them at the curb.

We started out with biweekly pickups of aluminum cans and newspapers, then transitioned into monthly pickup of just aluminum cans in 2003 when curbside pickup of mixed paper was offered to our area. Over time, we got support from Cub Scout Troop of Lake Hood No. 117, West High art students and the Unitarian Church and had great participation of our program from Turnagain residents. We hope our efforts have in some way contributed to where we are today: Alaska Waste is offering curbside recycle pickup service in West Anchorage and the Assembly recently approving phased-in recycle pickup in the Solid Waste Services area.

My wife, Cathy, and I thank everyone who supported the TCC program -- and the handful of dedicated volunteers we had the pleasure of working with over the years. Happy recycling!

-- Dan Gleason

Anchorage

Pedestrians have right of way when they're in the crosswalk

Ahem! Anchorage drivers, remember that pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk. If at a red light and you are about to make a right turn, and pedestrians are in the median waving and grimacing, they are not dancing for your entertainment. They want to cross the street. Please yield the right of way.

Recently, I took my car to get my studs off before the May 15 deadline. The job was going to take six hours, so I walked home, and later used in-line skates to return for my car. I crossed Dimond Boulevard at a crosswalk with the walk sign on. Six cars turned while I was stuck in the median. Not wanting to commit suicide by stepping in front of a moving vehicle, I waved to make sure motorists saw me and stopped. Someone yelled, "What are you doing?"

Hey, I'm following the traffic laws, how about you?

-- Lizzie Newell

Anchorage

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