Green technology, student tuition, China currency, etc.
We have the green technology
Re “Californians to open wallets for energy fund” (Capitol & California, Nov. 30): As a clean energy activist, one might expect me to applaud the University of California’s decision to invest in the Breakthrough Energy Coalition. On the contrary, it’s disheartening to see billions poured into the development of new clean energy technologies when we already have tried-and-true technologies ready to be massively scaled up but for lack of cash.
If Bill Gates, Tom Steyer and other investors committed themselves to financing existing non-nuclear, low-carbon technologies instead of squandering their money on technotopian pipe dreams, we’d be well on our way to solving the climate crisis.
Erica Etelson, Berkeley
What about rising student tuition?
Right next to the article about Californians funding a new green energy fund was this story: “Are state’s public colleges harder to get into now?” So, why is the University of California committing $1 billion to energy when student tuition is being raised because of budget concerns? Where are the priorities for the education of our young people?
Ada I. Towers, Lincoln
Brown responsible for oil, gas, water
Re “State’s oil and gas division supervisor is calling it quits” (Capitol & California, Dec. 1): Steve Bohlen’s term at the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources was marked by major problems, including the ongoing injection of toxic oil wastewater into aquifers and the Refugio oil spill near Santa Barbara.
However, the responsibility for reducing the severe impacts of the oil and gas industry ultimately lies with Gov. Jerry Brown, who has previously replaced regulators to accommodate the industry. In order to protect California’s precious water resources and to fight climate change, Brown must hold the industry accountable by taking actions to ban fracking and empower regulators to enforce laws.
Adam Scow, Oakland
California director,
Food & Water Watch
We’ll soon be province of China
Re “China’s renminbi OK’d as one of world’s reserve currencies” (Business, Dec. 1): We used to manufacture the most automobiles, but not anymore. We used to command the seas and have the most powerful military, not anymore. We used to be able to build bridges, skyscrapers with steel we manufactured in the U.S., not anymore. We used to be No. 1, not anymore. With the lack of leadership, focus and direction, our nation will soon be a province of China.
Art Taylor, Sacramento
There is difference in other attacks
Re “Double standard frustrates Muslims” (Letters, Dec. 2): How is it that Timothy McVeigh, Robert Dear and Dylann Roof are called Christian terrorists? That is quite a stretch to attribute their wave of murder to Christianity. The major difference between the Muslim terrorists in Paris or the shooting at Fort Ord is that the Muslim individuals or groups all shouted, “God is great.”
This definitely shows the motive and ideology behind the attacks: It is all in the name of Islam. Not one of these other heinous acts of murder and mayhem done by the so-called Christian terrorists called out in the name of Jesus or any other Christian terms prior to slaughtering people as the Muslim terrorists have clearly done. It is specious and ridiculous at best to compare the two.
James Darrell Reeves, Carmichael
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This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Green technology, student tuition, China currency, etc.."