Dear Editor,
From: Julian Lang
In the hills Near Los Osos
Columnist Michele Oksen is a woman with her head on straight. Her writing is a breath of fresh country air. Keep up the good work with the publication.
From: Melanie Kirk
Los Osos
There are so many great birders in the area. I moved here several years ago but never got interested other than looking at the ones in my yard and pictures in your Journal. Lately your Mike Stiles' page caught my interest, especially this month's about beginning birders. Has Mr. Stiles ever thought of writing a book for people who don't know where to start in figuring out who the local birds are? Central Coast Journal's Birding for New Residents. That would be a good title and a book the local chambers of commerce should distribute. For now I'm learning from the Journal how to know about the birds I see every day near my house. Thanks Mike Stiles!
From: Joel Metcalf
Morro Bay
Whatever happened to Fausto & Julia's restaurant reviews? The wife and I had been following up on each and every restaurant recommended. We loved the commentary.
[From the Editor: Both Fausto & Julia live on, dine out, and continue to savor the flavors of the Central Coast. Unfortunately, they are too busy right now to concentrate on reviews. Perhaps they will be back. Or maybe someone else with discerning taste will step forward to offer up their opinions. Until then, we are left to take our chances.]
From: Lynn McAfee
Florida
A good friend lives in Los Osos. She told me about the Journal back when the third issue appeared. It is fun to read about her home town and the area around it. What a beautiful place you live in. One of these days I'm coming to visit and see it all in person.
There is one alarming truth in what I have learned from moving to a small town. My finding is verified by each issue - Opie and his Uncle Andy sure were living in a make-believe world.
It looks like politics are the same all over. When I was living in New York I thought I had seen the dirtiest form of politics around, but now it looks as if small towns are where the sleaziest of the sleazey prey. What's with that new mayor in Morro Bay? I'm watching from a distance, but feel your pain. How sad, how sad.
Turn your head away, Aunt Bea. Don't look! |
Dear Fellow World Inhabitants,
After reading Pt 2 of the article on Agricultural Run Off into rivers and waste outlets and on into the Pacific Ocean, it is clear to me we share a global problem in this the so called developed world. This is a practice that by degree is happening all over the globe and the question is can it continue as the price we pay for cheap food?
Risk assessment is the modern day terminology, but we are probably thinking having read this article at our breakfast tables that this is the price we pay for cheap food and a modern life.
Are there alternatives and can we ask for the farmers to use other agricultural management techniques? The answer is yes there are better ways. What we have to do is re-educate those who fell under the influence of the chemical industry and redesign land management techniques which dovetail into the eco system approach to our holistic lives.
In the Western World we have epidemic levels of obesity and this is partially due to the chemical disrupters we eat every day in out foods. Small amounts in one portion but bio accumalative in our fatty tissues. We have entrusted our global health into the hands of the chemical industry who do not understand the long term implications of multi chemical cocktailing in our environment. Nobody has had the time resources or inclination to do this study. This is before we even consider the effects of genetic modifications on food stocks or species. We behave like children in a sweet shop with no responsibility or sense of right or wrong.
Nature is waiting in the wings for us and her signs are there for all to see. Global meltdown of fish stocks means not only do we not have food security but we are impacting on the marine environment and eco system. Seals have migrated north from historic feeding sites because the food has run out. Otters have shown clear signs of falling populations meanwhile frogs found in the sewerage outlets and agricultural discharge pipes have been genetically changed with multiple heads. It is the stuff of nightmares.
So what do we do? Nothing is not an option.
I was grateful the owners of the strawberry farm moved on but I fear it was probably due to the fear of corporate action against them but I would prefer to think it was due to responsibility to our neighbours and their health. For my part in England I send my complete endorsement to Carol Georgi and Karl Kempton for their efforts.
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