| Soaring oil and gas prices and the | | | | lifelong sentence of some measure of |
| devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita | | | | disability. Airborne pollutants are also |
| have finally brought an issue into sharp | | | | responsible for an exponential increase in |
| focus for the public: When it comes to | | | | asthma, particularly in children. Increasing |
| energy, we're in trouble! We import far more | | | | the use of coal without implementing |
| crude oil than we produce in the United | | | | immediate pollution controls would only |
| States; fully 70 percent of our oil comes | | | | intensify the pollution and its |
| from five countries in the Middle East, | | | | consequences.Environmental experts familiar |
| arguably the most volatile and politically | | | | with coal burning plants estimate that it |
| unstable region in the world.We need to | | | | would cost a million dollars per smokestack |
| develop sustainable, renewable, safe sources | | | | to decrease the pollutants emitted to |
| of energy to provide power for our homes and | | | | acceptable levels. The utility plants |
| businesses. One real danger is, however, that | | | | themselves have resisted this expenditure, |
| as the memory of Katrina fades and the prices | | | | and have lobbied successfully to stop |
| drop at the gas pump, the public will also | | | | governmental enforcement of environmental |
| lose focus, and fail to continue the pressure | | | | regulations; the fledgling Bush |
| needed for politicians to generate change. | | | | administration quickly stopped lawsuits, |
| What we need is a standard bearer - a big, | | | | begun by the EPA during the Clinton |
| vocal, powerful, charismatic standard | | | | administration, which would have forced these |
| bearer.So, Donald... When are you going to | | | | plants to implement pollution controls.So, |
| build the world's first off-the-grid | | | | Donald, where do you come in? With your |
| skyscraper?Just think of it - wind turbines | | | | visibility, your cult status, and your |
| on the roof, sheets of solar panels covering | | | | corporate clout, you could easily raise the |
| the south side of the building, and, to heat | | | | money to fix every smokestack in the country. |
| and cool the building, biodiesel, | | | | NFL and NBA players, CEOs, Hollywood actors, |
| manufactured on site from discarded vegetable | | | | producers, and directors, multimillionaires |
| oil collected from the best restaurants in | | | | with old money and new - and don't forget |
| Manhattan. In the interior, piped-in sunlight | | | | Oprah - all have the means to donate a |
| brightens the living area while saving on | | | | million dollars, or more, to adopt a |
| electricity; a gray-water system recycles | | | | smokestack. We could virtually eliminate the |
| water throughout the building and can be | | | | pollution problem from these coal burning |
| reused for showers, baths, and lush gardens | | | | plants in short order - much more quickly |
| on every floor. Bamboo flooring and other | | | | than will be accomplished by lawsuits and |
| renewable materials create a rich ambiance | | | | governmental interference. We could offer to |
| while promoting the concept of green | | | | fix these smokestacks in exchange for one |
| living.While you're at it...How does an | | | | promise - that the utility plants do not sell |
| "Adopt a Smokestack" campaign sound?In | | | | their pollution credits to anyone else.All of |
| talking about decreasing our dependence on | | | | the technology needed for both of these |
| foreign oil, one alternative being discussed | | | | projects is available today, and would put |
| is relying more on domestically mined coal. | | | | this country on the path to sustainability |
| At this moment, coal burning is already | | | | and energy independence in short order. And |
| responsible for generating more electricity | | | | Donald, you could pull it off, in grand |
| in the U.S. than any other method. | | | | style.I can see into the future: a Newsweek |
| Unfortunately, much of this coal is being | | | | cover with a picture of a towering Donald |
| burned by obsolete, highly polluting utility | | | | Trump, and the title, "Donald Trump Saves the |
| plants. In the Midwest alone, over a hundred | | | | World." Has a nice ring to it.Aldene |
| aging coal burning plants spew out pollutants | | | | Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in |
| responsible for acid rain which has killed | | | | southwestern New Hampshire and frequently |
| hundreds of lakes, streams, and rivers in the | | | | contributes to Tips and Topics. She has |
| Northeast. Large amounts of mercury from | | | | published numerous articles in local and |
| these plants are deposited in the water and | | | | regional publications on a wide range of |
| end up in both freshwater and ocean fish, | | | | topics, including business, education, the |
| turning one of the healthiest sources of | | | | arts, and local events. Her feature articles |
| protein into one of the most dangerous - | | | | include an interview with independent |
| mercury in fish threatens the unborn children | | | | documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature |
| of women who ingest it, threatening | | | | on prisoners at the New Hampshire State |
| neurological damage which results in a | | | | Prison in Concord. |