Why trees are dying

For over 50 years I have been deeply concerned by the effects of atmospheric change on our trees and forests. Just recently, at a children’s camp, I removed dozens of dead trees that should have been healthy. When the director asked why so many trees were dying, this was my response:

It is very complex. I attribute much of the decline in forest ecosystem health to atmospheric change.

Industrial society routinely emits thousands of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, some in the millions of tons. We have only a partial understanding of the damage a few of them can cause, such as acid precipitation from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide or the poisoning of lakes and fish by mercury from power plants. Then there is carbon dioxide, which is not toxic but is a major cause of climate change. There is little or no research on the thousands of other chemicals emitted into the atmosphere, let alone how they react with each other in presence of sunlight and moisture. This is all being dumped into a very thin atmosphere that Carl Sagan said is “the equivalent of a coat of shellac on a school room globe.”

Trees are one of the Earth’s greatest interfaces with its atmosphere. They are like the lungs of the planet. As air flows through their canopies gases in the atmosphere are absorbed through the stomata on their leaves and needles. Rain carrying acids and toxins is absorbed by their roots. This weakens the trees so that they become more susceptible to insects and disease or just plain die from “unexplained” causes.

Many experts are loath to attribute forest death to atmospheric contamination because science cannot begin to unravel the complexity. Others fear acknowledging what is happening since that would be admitting our modern society is on a path to a dead end.

Gerry Hawkes

Woodstock

Warmington’s the one

I began my political life here in New Hampshire in 1980. Since then I have met exceptional and interesting Granite State citizens, folks who put their economic and personal lives a little closer to the back burner in order to serve their neighbors in government.

Throughout those 40-plus years, I have met no one more qualified, hard working or dedicated than Cinde Warmington, our current executive councilor for District 2, and hopefully our next governor. We have had wonderful women in New Hampshire politics, women beside whom I have been privileged to serve and work. Cinde is in the top rank of those leaders, and she amazes me on a daily basis with her judgment and determination to advance the best interests of our state. She is so smart, capable and, when required, fierce. She listens attentively to her constituents, and not to the political know-it-alls or nut jobs who seem to have “grabbed the mike” in so much of our discourse. She is the very best choice for governor, and her experience and understanding provide volumes of evidence in support for that choice.

This is a year in which all our political selections will make a huge difference. Cinde Warmington is the right choice for New Hampshire.

Peter Hoe Burling

Cornish

The writer is a former longtime New Hampshire state representative and state senator.

Biden’s age isn’t the problem

Like millions of other folks a short time ago, I was horrified watching a bone-chilling presidential debate on national TV.

I was sorely disappointed in both candidates but for polar opposite reasons.

Current, legal President Biden came across badly, slurring his speech, not finishing sentences, seeming to forget his own talking points. Sometimes I could barely hear his words; he had a weak and raspy voice.

Worst of all, he seemed unable to fact-check or counter the endless lies Trump spewed like a firehose.

Do I wish Biden had a stronger voice? Yes. Do I wish he moved with more vigor when he walks? Yes. Do I wish he had been more combative with dangerous clown Trump’s assertions? Yes again.

All those things I wish, but he is still the best man for the job, despite those age-related limitations. Because Biden believes and works for a democracy, the American way of politics. Trump does not. He never has. He never will. He thinks of himself only.

Trump wants to be your king. Our country began more than 250 years ago by rejecting the notion of a king ruling our land.

Biden had a pretty bad 90 minutes in that debate. But he’s had a good half-century serving this country well, and he’s had an exceptionally good past three-and-a-half years as chief-executive.

Biden’s age is not the problem. Trump’s age is not the problem. Trump’s greed and lying ways are the problem, his conviction that he is above the law. You can either promote such a monster, or restrain him.

Robert Roudebush

North Haverhill

Biden should stay the course

I see it this way: if President Biden drops out now, the Republicans will pounce on that, and will have a better chance of taking back the White House. It is, for better or worse, too late to switch horses in this race.

Barry Wenig

Lebanon

An anti-immunity inoculation

How about this? — “AMENDMENT XXVIII: Neither the President of the United States nor any other person employed by the United States shall be immune from criminal prosecution for any act that he or she may take even though such act was taken as an official duty.”

Bill Donahue

Hartland