In these horrific times of the coronavirus, when most of the news has been dire, I had found some news that was very uplifting and gave me a bit of hope. As it turns out, while much of the world has been staying home, the air quality has been drastically improving worldwide. It was reported that in places in India, people have reported being able to see the Himalayas for the first time in decades. People who have asthma have gotten relief from the air being so much cleaner as car and truck emissions have been reduced. The sky is bluer. This has been some “proof” that we (humankind) are responsible for much of climate change.
My bit of hope was dashed recently when I read that the Trump administration has gutted an Obama-era rule that required the country’s coal plants to cut back emissions of mercury and other health hazards from coal- and oil-fired power plants. Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler—who just happens to be a former coal lobbyist—was largely responsible for getting the rule reversed. Since most of the news is (rightly so) focused on the coronavirus, I wonder what else the Trump administration might be doing under the radar to dismantle everything the past president put into place to protect us.
NANCY L. HAMMOND
Hampton
Note from KBJ: We elected Donald Trump to eliminate costly and unnecessary regulations, Nancy. If you don't like it, elect someone else.
