Boomers are volunteers

I wanted to write the minute I read the presidents column about baby boomers not volunteering. Not true! She wrote that 33 percent of boomers volunteer in formal organizations. I’m 54 yrs old and the majority of my friends and cohorts volunteer. I’ve been volunteering since I was 14 years old. I have never volunteered in a formal organization.

My 77-year-old mother has volunteered, but most of her friends have never volunteered. None of my friend’s parents volunteered. I’d say Lois Williams has it all wrong. Baby boomers are very socially conscientious and have been active in this area most of their lives, starting with the inequalities of the 1960s. I’ve lived in seven states and found the same to be true in each of them. Boomers are more involved than their parents were. 
Carol A. Biernat, Roseville

Global warming

Scientists tell us that Earth went through a similar cycle 10,000 years ago (core samples in the Arctic). I wonder how many cars and CFCs, etc. existed then. Should we shut down our economy. No, but we should improve our fuel use and conservation measures.

Please show both views with information from both sides.
Pete Neururer, Waverly

I believe in global warming as much as I believe in global cooling. If I did not, my belief would be clear evidence that I am incapable of comprehending basic facts.

Climate change has occurred many times on Earth. That is why we have coal and oil vast distances below the current surface of our Earth. We also have known evidence that Minnesota was once covered by a glacier.

The global warming/climate change, that we know occurs, is not the concern. The concern is that, as a result of our living standards, we humans are accelerating the effect of global warming.
Robert G. Pleban, Lake Elmo

Retirees have lived through the most prosperous era in this country’s history, a prosperity made possible mainly via the cheap energy provided by fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the planet and everyone on it are now faced with paying the bill for such massive usage.  Global heating (warming sounds too cozy), is the most drastic and far-reaching crisis humanity has ever faced.

We, who have received so much from this era, who have been enabled to live better than any people has ever lived before, have a grave responsibility to do what we can to remedy the situation.

As the Bush Administration has barely been able to acknowledge the reality and severity of global warming, much less act with appropriate effectiveness, it is essential that states, cities and individuals step up to the plate. Thank goodness many are, as scientists warn that we must reduce emissions 80-90 percent.

Minnesota has passed the strongest renewable energy bill in the nation, aiming for 25 percent of the state’s electricity to come from next-generation power sources by 2025. The governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington recently agreed to develop a regional target for lowering greenhouse gases and to help businesses reach the goal. Texas has decided to dump plans for 11 new coal plants.

Mayors across the country are signing on to the U. S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement initiated by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels (www.seattle.gov/mayor/climate/), and the Sierra Club developed the Cool Cities program providing options for reducing carbon emissions, which will be individual for all cities, based on energy usage and resources. Usually, the options save money as well as improving human and environmental health.

Happily, many Minnesota cities are signing on - Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Duluth, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley and Burnsville, to name a few, and we’re trying in Eagan. Check the Cool Cities web site (www.coolcities.us) to see if your city has signed on.  If it has, get in their and help. If it hasn’t, start a group to gather information and pressure the city to take action. Citizen groups are essential to helping to set goals and monitoring progress. The web site includes an Activists’ Toolkit.

And, of course, as we learn about greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them, each of us must become very aware of our own energy usage and take every action we can to reduce it.
Wanda S. Ballentine, Eagan

In-state calling

There is a problem that affects thousands of Minnesotans (many of them seniors) called in-state long distance.

I use an AT&T PrePaid Phone card. When I last used it, I heard a short message from AT&T telling me the in-state rates for Minnesota had changed due to new FCC regulations.

I called AT&T customer service and was told the state-to-state ratio is 1:1, one minute is deducted from my card for each minute I talk (5¢ per minute). The rate for calls within Minnesota is 5:1, five minutes will be deducted from my card for each minute I talk (25¢ per minute).

I called the FCC and was told the FCC regulates state-to-state calls but in-state call rates in Minnesota are set by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

I called the MN PUC and was told the only thing I could do was file a complaint form. I was further told that AT&T Phone Cards are not regulated and that AT&T can change the rates pretty much as they wish.

I can’t believe the state of Minnesota would allow our citizens to be charged five time the national rate.

Please help seniors get the rate back to 1:1 or 5¢ per minute for calls within the state.
Peter J. Szalapski, St. Paul