Uranium mine near Grand Canyon a bad idea
To the editor:
My family has lived and worked in Southern Nevada for four generations, and like so many of those who have been raised here, we have come to feel deeply connected to the geography of the West. One of the greatest defining features of the West is the Colorado River and the magnificent gorge the river has carved: the Grand Canyon.
Las Vegas has become the jumping-off point for millions of visitors to Grand Canyon National Park, while the river itself has given us a safe and reliable water source for all of our needs. The river and the canyon are more than symbols of the great American West, they are economic engines that provide jobs for thousands of people in Southern Nevada.
Today, unfortunately, the Grand Canyon and the quality of the water in the river are threatened by a misguided effort to allow uranium mining just 100 miles northeast of Las Vegas, upstream from Lake Mead. As a young person attending school in Colorado, I saw the effects of uranium mines established decades ago. Today, we still have toxic and radioactive contamination leaching into the river from those mines. We do not need new mines even closer to Lake Mead, contaminating our water supply and disrupting the scenic wonder of the Grand Canyon.
The Interior Department has proposed a 20-year moratorium on new uranium mines near the canyon. That’s a good start. Some in Congress from Arizona and Utah want to overturn the Interior decision. Our congressional delegation on both sides of the aisle should oppose that effort, protect the Grand Canyon and preserve our drinking water supply.
Melissa Petersen
Las Vegas
Nevada heritage
To the editor:
I agree with letter writer Connie Brady and her rant about the hypocrisy of the BLM not saving our wild horses (Thursday Review-Journal). But let me point out to her that there are indeed many horses and bighorn sheep — even a tortoise — still with us. If she looks closely, they are all scattered along Interstate 15, from Tropicana Avenue to Sahara Avenue.
Unfortunately, these remaining animals can’t move or jump or run. You can’t enjoy their beauty or wild majesty. They are made of steel.
Instead of taking care of Nevada’s natural wildlife for everyone to appreciate, politicians have chosen to eradicate our wild horse herds, the magnificent wild sheep and our famous Red Rock burros, leaving us with a heritage of “once was” — steel statues.
In the name of progress, land-grabbing or development — or whatever special-interest reason — all our wildlife will soon be extinct. But never fear, the statues will stand like bleak, rusting sentinels to serve as one last reminder to millions of tourists and Nevada residents alike what living in the Wild West was once like.
Ron Moers
Henderson
Caucus support
To the editor:
Interesting to read about three Republicans entering the race for a new, yet-to-be-approved state Senate district (Wednesday Review-Journal). What’s more noteworthy is how the Senate Republican Caucus has already decided for all of us here in this new district to support first-term Assemblyman Scott Hammond.
How did this decision come about? So how does this caucus support this candidate? Why?
Robert Palmer
Las Vegas
Full disclosure
To the editor:
In an effort to increase tourism and make up for lost gaming revenue, travel magazines now feature ads touting Nevada as an outdoor paradise — a great place to hike, camp and enjoy the outdoors. In the interest of disclosure, however, I suggest that these ads contain the following disclaimers:
“Warning, outdoor activities in Nevada increase the risk of injury due to steel animal traps placed along the side of trails and streams. Children and family pets are particularly at risk. Hikers and campers are advised to wear bright clothing, as there are men in the woods shooting at brown creatures. Their actions can cause serious injury or death.”
Robert V. Strejc
Reno
World War I
To the editor:
Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, originally Armistice Day and intended to honor those who served in World War I. But we have done a huge disservice to all of the thousands of men and women who served and died in World War I.
Nov. 11 should be Armistice Day and nothing else. We must not let the world forget what happened. We must teach our young people about the atrocities of World War I — and about what set it off. Those who don’t know what happened in the past are most likely to repeat the same mistakes in the future. Everyone should know on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, exactly what that means.
We are raising our young people with no feeling of what sacrifices were made by others so they can enjoy this wonderful life in America.
Veterans Day should be the day after Memorial Day or the day after July 4. I am a veteran and I think this would be better. We must not forsake our past.
Alan Bachman
Las Vegas
White face
To the editor:
Why is everyone so upset because Andre Agassi went to a costume party as Mr. T (Norm Clarke column, Thursday Review-Journal)? In 2004, the Wayans brothers made the movie “White Chicks,” in which they dressed as white women — with white face and everything. The movie was very funny and no one got angry about it.
So now just the opposite happens, and you would think a murder was committed. Give it a rest. Don’t be so thin-skinned.
Rodney T. Elkins
Las vegas
