Letters Aug. 8: Healthy environment; returning to school

Healthy environment means so much more

Re: 鈥淪olutions for environment must include people,鈥� commentary, Aug. 6.

This commentary says it all, although some readers may not quite realize what the author is getting at when he mentions inequality and race.

I think that many thoughtful people and hard-working politicians like Bernie Sanders, and Canada鈥檚 Tommy Douglas and David Lewis who helped develop the NDP, have brought this 鈥渉olistic鈥� or whole-thinking view forward.

Not many of us are pursuing this line of thought, but are trying to work on 鈥渢he environment鈥� independently from economic and 鈥渏ustice鈥� values.

It would be helpful to look at some nations which are trying to embed all of this in their national plan: Costa Rica? Germany? the Scandinavian nations? Switzerland?

It probably requires a national taxation scheme tied to a national 鈥渧ision鈥� that will frustrate some one-percenters. But they might actually prefer the outcome 鈥� business thrives in Scandinavia and they have chosen a plan that allows large numbers of their population, who would otherwise be without the means to support themselves, to gain a foothold in the economy, through continuing training, adequate salaries, health services, and supports, along with preserving the health and beauty of the land.

Our Blenkinsop Road farming community in the middle of metropolitan Saanich as well as the author鈥檚 Salt Spring Island illustrate what we must preserve with care and economic supports.

Janet Doyle
Victoria

Let children return to聽school

I am nearly 84 years old and I would like my say regarding children going back to school in September.

Dr. Bonnie Henry has shown excellent leadership throughout this pandemic, and I have no reason to think that her expertise is any less in this decision.

My generation have had our 鈥渋nnings鈥�, and what the future may or may not hold for us is a very minor consideration, when the serious well-being of our grandchildren is concerned.

During the Second World War we went to school as always, and no doubt our parents were very anxious during the many, many bombings.

Yes, some of us did not survive, but, the future of the next generation is paramount.

No doubt there will be some mishaps, but that is how life is, and with the forethought that is going into the new arrangements for school preparedness, we have to move ahead with confidence.

Life is risky at the best of times, and this situation could go on for some very long time ahead as Dr. Theresa Tam has suggested. The children need school for so many reasons, let them go!

Joan Ormiston
Brentwood Bay