Wildfires in the west

The SR Sunday editorial, “We must not forget Malden and Pine City” quotes Hillary Franz, Washington State Public Lands commissioner, as saying about the fires, “We’ve got to do a better job of people knowing how to prevent them.”

A key way to prevent these fires is to address global warming. For over 40 years scientists have been studying the issue and warning that we need to stop spewing the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane (natural gas) into our atmosphere. There had been some progress in cutting back on the burning of fossil fuels which create these greenhouse gases, but our current. president, Mr. Donald Trump, denies that global warming is happening. He has cut back the power of the Environmental Protection Agency by putting it under the leadership of other climate change deniers, and has urged increased mining of coal and drilling and fracking of oil.

We need to do just the opposite. We need to stop subsidizing fossil fuel production and instead subsidize renewable green energy resources. If we don’t make these changes we can just expect more forest and field fires with homes getting burned, too.

We need to elect leaders who will work for the welfare of our planet. Look for resources that tell you the perspectives of the candidates. 350 Spokane is one such resource. The League of women Voters is another. Please study the issues and vote wisely up and down your ballot.

Pauline Druffel

Spokane