Air Date: Week of January 19, 2001

Transcript

TOOMEY: Time for your comments.

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TOOMEY: Last week we profiled Robert Lind from San Francisco, who tags SUVs with bumper stickers that read, "I'm changing the planet. Ask me how." From Cleveland, WCPN listener Jeff Barbalics says he was less than pleased to hear us devote air time to this "vandal." "I recycle," Mr. Barbalics writes. "I compost. I sometimes bike to work to save the gas and pollution. I do not own an SUV. But where does this eco-vandal get his mandate? Appointing yourself spokesperson for the human race is egotistical and self-righteous. Where will this end? Will it be accepted if vegetarians tag people eating at McDonald's? Shame on you for giving this person validation in his mistaken and misguided vendetta."

Filson Glanz had another view. Mr. Glanz listens to us on New Hampshire Public Radio and he writes, "One person who had been stickered said there was no harm in using gasoline. Seems like there should be a few minutes listing the consequences for all to hear. Increased lung trouble from air pollution, increased dependency on foreign oil, increased environmental degradation due to transportation of oil, increased threat of war due to need for oil, etc."

Speaking of oil, last week's feature on a resurgence of olive oil production in California sparked this call from KQED listener Cindi Alpieri.

ALPIERI: I thought it was fascinating and really important to try to educate the urbanites of this world as to the value of agriculture, particularly when the Great Central Valley where the Shabika Farm and Shabika olive processing plant that was so much a part of your report is located. And Central Valley is in great danger of being razed over by development.

TOOMEY: Your comments on our program are always welcome. Call our listener line any time at 800-218-9988. That's 800-218-9988. Our e-mail address is letters@loe.org. Once again, letters@loe.org. And visit our Web page at www.loe.org. That's www.loe.org.

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