? ~The Dallas Post: Dallas, PA Wednesday, March 31, 1993 5 A. Case for conservation ‘By ALENE N. CASE There are, as they say, two sides to every coin. A couple of months ago I wrote a column in which I asked readers to consider the consequences of environ- mental degradation. The point was that deforestation, pollution, soil erosion and the scarcity of re- sources (such as water) could all lead to violent conflict. But, what about the other side of that coin? . Cannot warfare also lead to envi- ronmental degradation? As the Iraqis left Kuwait, they set fire to more than 600 oil wells. The smoke from those fires caused black snow as far away as the Himalayan mountains. More than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere before the experts could extin- guish the flames. There are still huge lakes of spilled oil filling depressions in the sand of Ku- wait. This incident was a modern example of an ancient device of warfare - the rape and plunder of the'land. + 4 Last year, there were more th 50 wars of various sizes being waged around the world. In 1991, there were 16 wars that were large enough tokill at least 1000 people during the year. We have seen the results of some of these conflicts in the starvation of people in Ethiopia and Somalia. As bombs deforest the beautiful slopes around Serajevo, we wonder whether time can restore the scenery that we remember from the Olympics. Or will these moun- tains be scarred twenty years from now in the same way that the jungles of Vietnam are scarred by our defoliants of twenty years ago? Perhaps the United Nations could greatly increase its peace- making effectiveness by requiring all combatants to submit an Environmental Impact Assess- ment for approval prior to any armed conflict. Think about it for a moment and you will realize that fewer wars could be fought if environmental as well as humani- tarian restraints were legally in place. In fact, our government is now paying a very high price for allow- ing military activities to be con- ducted outside the purview of our environmental laws. The US mili- tary generates between 400,000 and 500,000 tons of toxic wastes annually - that is more than is produced by the top five US chemi- cal companies combined! In 1990 waste cleanup sites numbered 17,482 on 1,855 military bases within the United States. Some of these dumps are so toxic that they have been designated “na- tional sacrifice zones” that will remain contaminated because it would be too costly to try to clean them up. If we have this big a problem, just imagine what a mess the former Soviet Union must have left behind in the former Warsaw Pact countries! In addition, military activity generates approximately 10% of all the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. It may be responsible for as much as two thirds of the destruction of the ozone layer - partly from release of large quantities of CECs and partly as a result of high flying super- sonic aircraft. It is certainly not necessary to be engaged in active warfare in order to damage the environment. Preparing for war can be damag- ing in a wide variety of ways. But, this is not a new conclusion. In 1953 one of our country’s great- est generals, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, proclaimed that “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in a final sense, a theft from those who are hungry and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. Let us examine more closely. During the Cold War, as many as half of America's scientists were working on defense-related proj- ects. Is it any wonder that we still have inefficient cars and solar cells? Many “developing” nations spend twice as much on the mili- tary as they spend on health care Darlings Farm and Greenhouses Large Selection of Easter Flowers hyacynths tulips daffodils mums hydranges lillies azaleas 1/2 Mile off 309 on Hildebrant Road - 200 yds North from Dallas Elementary School Open 9 - 6 Daily « Open Easter Sunday / Dallas Photo Credit makes it easy to enjoy the \ The new Canon H850 Hi-Band 8mm camcorder lets you have more fun with your videos by letting you add music and graphics easily from a variety of interchange- able memory chips. The Dallas Photo Shop makes purchasing the H850 just as easy. Applying for the Dallas Photo Credit Card is simple and you may be approved in as little as one hour. And with our extended payment plan, there are no down payments or annual fees. ; H850 Stop in today for an H850 demonstration nd a credit card application new H850 Hi-Band 8mm camcorder today! With Dallas Photo Credit you get all the fun of 1850's music and graphics plus easy monthly payments. $1,295.00 Trade-In Your Dinosaur! DALLAS PHOTO SHOP 447-449 Memorial Hwy. ¢ 675-8800 » Music and Graphic Chip functions add pre-stored music and graphics from interchangeable memory chips High-resolution Hi-Band 8mm technology. Precision autofocus 8x variable speed power zoom lens with wide and AF macro. Auto Tracking Focus. o AFM HiFi stereo sound * Combination character generator and digital superimposer. 4-mode high-speed shutter with 1/2000 sec. top speed o 5 lux low light capability. e 180° FlexiGrip™ Wireless remote control ‘canon Canovision 8 We know what it takes to make great video. hig e Keeping peace saves the environment or education. In fact, world mili- tary spending per soldier totals $36,000; world educational ex- penditures per student total only $11,000. As I have asked previ- ously, where are our priorities? According to the Cousteau Society, It would very likely re- quire $774 billion toreverse global environmental degradation over the next ten years. That sounds like an awful lot of money until one realizes that the world spends more than that each year on military enterprises. if the USA saved the money that it would need to build 9 Trident subma- rines, it could instead provide fresh water and adequate sanitary fa- cilities for half of the world’s popu- lation. I think that would increase our country’s security more than the submarines would. And, what would happen if we used the money we saved from not build- ing two B-2 Stealth bombers to provide vaccinations for all the children in the Third World? The list could go on and on. In. order to accomplish this change in spending patterns, we must have an excellent strategic plan. Closing military bases and laying off engineers in defense industries will not help to solve our problems. We need to ccnvert these installations and industries into useful establishments. Per- haps it is not possible to find a peaceful use for a nuclear missile, but it is certainly possible to change from manufacturing tanks to building mass transit systems. Obsolete naval ships could be remodeled into research vessels. Radar installations could be updated to be used in pollution monitoring. Military bases can be converted into hospitals or edu- cational facilities. And we should be involving the workers in deci- sion-making about the future instead of putting them on the unemployment line on into a re- training facility when we all know that no jobs will be available after the training is complete. Let us, then, let our elected representatives know that we want real change. We can then provide a better future for the Earth and all of its inhabitants. Peace. When you borrow money from Mellon, you get a great rate. And free banking services if you qualify. What's more, the interest is tax-deductible! ©1993 Mellon Bank Corporation. Tax deductibility subject to IRS rules and regulations. *Rate shown on a 5-year loan for Smart Accounts Bonus Plan customers on loans in excess of $25,000 when payments are drafted from a Mellon checking account. Rates may vary for different terms or loan amounts. On a 5-year $25,000 loan with a fixed APR of 6.99% you would make 60 monthly payments of $494.97. Assumes first payment is made in 30 days. Rate will increase to 7.24% if Smart Account is discontinued, or 7.74% if payment draft is discontinued. Mellon Bank, N.A.- Member FDIC. Northeastern Region. ed Only yesterday 60 Years Ago - April 7, 1933 PLANS FINALIZED FOR EASTER EGG HUNT Plans for the annual Easter Egg Hunt of Dallas Rotary Club will be held next Saturday at Fernbrook Park are nearing com- pletion and it is expected the af- fair will be one of the most suc- cessful ever conducted by the local service club. For the first time in its history Dallas Borough High School ath- letic association closes its fiscal year showing a profit and with much of the indebtedness of pre- vious yers wiped clean from its books. Lehman Grange will sponsor a gala and colorful 14 act Circus at Lehman High School tonight as a climax to a day's activities which will begin with a meeting of Po- mona Granges of Upper Luzerne and Lower Wyoming counties this afternoon. A prize of 50 lbs. of flour will be awarded to the larg- est family present. You could get - New potatoes, 5 lbs., 17 ¢; sugar, 101bs. 41¢; corn, 2 cans,19¢; Palmolive soap, 5 cakes, 25¢. 50 Years Ago - April 2, 1943 FARMERS SAY NO TOMATOES FOR WAR A whirlwind one-week scrap drive to raise funds for the Ameri- can Red Cross will be launched Monday morning by students of Dallas Borough Schools. At the same time a special drive for tin cans will be conducted by 6th grade students. Similar drives during the month of April are being conducted by Lehman Township, Lake and Kingston Township schools. Jane Lohman, Trucksville, first and only woman postmaster is leaving the postal service. Mrs. Lohman has served alternately at postmaster and assistant post- master in Trucksville for the past 18years and is turning the keys of the little office to Gwylm Evans, of Chase, newly-appointed postmas- ter. . For the second time in as many years farmers and truck growers in the Back Mt. rejected all ap- Looking for some snow? This week’s old photo must have an interesting story. and what are they doing? Fixed Rate Hom RAS peals to their patriotism and to their community spirit Monday at Dallas Township High School and turned down the suggestion of County Agent James Hutchison to grow tomatoes for defense as their first step in establishing canning contracts here. Now playing at Shaver Theatre, “China Girl” starring Gene Tierney and George Montgomery. 40 Years Ago - April 3, 1953 MINERS BANK BUYS OUT DALLAS BANK Announcement was made yes- terday that purchase of the First National Bank of Dallas-by the Miners National Bank of Wilkes- Barre has been approved by the directors of both institutions. The announcement was not a com- plete surprise for the purchase has been under consideration since April 1951. Blood Donor Day at College Misericordia netted 138 pints collected by a staff of 29. College students from freshmen to sen- iors contributed with parental permission. Fourteen Sisters also donated. Alfred Bronson, chairman of Committee of Entries for Sweet Valley Annual Memorial Day Pa- rade, urges that all entries be reported as early as possible. Churches, lodges, school bands, business floats and fire compa- nies, horsemen and comics are welcome. Antique car owners are specially urged to enter. You could get - Legs O’Lamb, 59¢ lb.; smoked hams, full shank half, 59¢ Ib.; fresh baked peach pies, 39¢ ea.; bread, 2 Ig. loaves 27¢; oranges, 35¢ doz. 30 Years Ago - April 4, 1963 CONTRACT FOR NEW HIGHWAY AWARDED A brand new “Time ‘n Temp” clock will be installed on the front of Miners National Bank, Dallas in the middle of May. In addition to filling the need for an outdoor clock in the center of Dallas, the clock will have the inevitable consequence of stimulating busi- ness in the vicinity. Low bidder for the proposed new Dallas-Luzerne highway, H.J. og UT And it’s easy to apply. Just stop by any office. Or call 1 800 245-4920. @ Mellon Bank Youre why we do our very best? Skis, but rocks not snow. So tell us who are they | IBA Zs. = ; Insialiment Loan Applic pt Williams & Co. Inc. expects to move equipment into this area five weeks after acceptance of the bid in Harrisburg. In event of approval of the $3,352,271 bid by the Department of Highways in- the near future work would- probabaly commence June 1, according to base president,* Robert Bartell, York. Couples Club of Dallas Meth- odist Church will sponsor a Sun-- rise Service at 6 a.m. on Easter Sunday, regardless of weather at’ the Dallas Outdoor Theatre. Per- sdns attending are seated in the comfort of their cars. & Anniversary - Mr. and Mrs. William Davis, 52 years. 20 Years Ago - April 5, 1973 POST EARNS AWARDS FOR FLOOD COVERAGE Greenstreet News Co., which. publishes The Dallas Post, the! Abington Journal and the Moun-* taintop Eagle, was cited recently: by the Professional News Media’ Association of Northeastern Penn- sylvania for dedication and un-- selfishness during the flood emer-, gency lastJune. Greenstreet News. published several special editions. during and after the flood emer-, gency. : A twin engine jet seaplane made’ several illegal landings on Har-' veys Lake Saturday. Residents reported sightings of the plane’ earlier in the week as well. The’ state will deal with the illegality of: the landing itself. Spokesmen of, both Pennsylvania Fish Commis-, sion in Sweet Valley and at the: main office in Harrisburg report, that a landing on Harveys Lake is, definitely illegal. Aplan to finance Lake-Lehman' new elementary school by issuing- general obligation bonds won the- unanimous support of the dis-: trict’s school directors at a special meeting of the board, March 27.» The plan which came highly rec-i ommended by Pennsylvania Econ-, omy League makes use of the Local Government Unit Debt Act (Act #185) passed last June. Dave Longmore, senior at Dal-* las High School and wrestling’ coach Jim Bamrick, have been? named recipients of the George? Hooper and Fred Hennebaul wres-» tling awards. od 1] [i) EE Ee a a Eee TS he NE 51 8
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers