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The Racism Is Virulent

To The Editor:

On February 20th, 1939 the German American Bund a/k/a the American Nazi Party rallied in New Yorks Madison Square Garden. Their aim was to Stop Jewish Domination of Christian America. Charlottesville had some very fine people shouting Jews will not replace us!

Congresswoman Marjorie Green advocates the Q-Anon conspiracy that a cabal of cannibal Jews are kidnapping and eating Christian children. Only a very few members of the Republican Party find reason to reject her rantings.

Asian Americans are attacked nationwide following Trumps claims that COVID-19 was set upon the world intentionally by the Chinese. The Hong Kong Flu as Trump called the virus has his supporters raging and determined to seek retribution. Asians who have been vilified during American history by the Exclusion Act and other legislation are once again walking the streets of the nation in fear.

One year after the murder of George Floyd, Congress has failed to pass meaningful legislation. African-Americans have paid an enormous price over 400 years of our history allowing the nation to achieve economic success, while making the ultimate sacrifices in our wars. African-Americans and Jews have manned the front lines from the Boston Tea Party till today in the sands of the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Perhaps it is unfair to believe those who attacked our democracy on January 6th from outside the nations Capitol and on the Floor of the House to dispute the legitimacy of a duly elected President are anything other than racists. Yet they support conspiracy theories which at their core simply mean they reject anyone not white and Christian. It is hard not to visualize the Nazi salute, the burning cross, the pogrom and the lynching.

Ed HornBaldwin, LI

Zero Waste

To The Editor:

Conservation is getting a make-over with updates that reflect the lessons learned from the past; challenges of climate change, and a lean toward environmental equity. I am referring to the definition of conservation that focuses on a careful preservation and protection and planned management of resources to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect with a particular focus on waste or trash. And yes, to recall a popular phrase from 2020, I am adding that We are all in this together; although judging from the mounds of sidewalk trash, pet waste, discarded masks, shipping boxes, furniture and gloves, we are in an ever growing worsening garbage nightmare. We can continue to view this scene from the sidelines, or think about taking our personal responsibility and aiming it at this problem. I generally do not scold or chastise folks for their actions, but like every parent who has ever admonished their child for not picking up after themselves, I am standing in for Mother Nature here to unapologetically raise the volume and create a picture to hopefully spark a bit more attention to waste management in our neighborhoods and city.

Time has run out on the pandemic excuses for why we have let things slip, so lets get started on getting informed and busy taking whatever steps, large or small, to improve the quality of life in our Queens neighborhoods; then consider tackling the larger picture through our vote and active citizenship. You may be surprised to know that the free orange shopping bag that you might have been given or have seen others using, with references to Zero-Waste, leads back to the first ever Mayors Office of Sustainability committed to reducing or eliminating waste to landfills and incineration by 2030 because of the social, environmental and economic implications of waste and pollution. This is also compatible with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development initiative proving that what we do locally (right now) will affect global outcomes related to the larger goals of eliminating poverty, ending hunger and food waste, ensuring universal access to clean water and sanitation, improving infrastructure, as well as conserving and restoring ecosystems, land and marine areas. Other goals include living a less wasteful life and implementing community-based solutions. For those who think that this is too boring and they would rather watch a show about a zombie apocalypse with doomsday action; be advised that such scenes may soon hold more reality than fantasy.

Looking back to the history of waste management in New York City, it might surprise you to know that ocean dumping and incineration represented progress for the crowded 19th century neighborhoods of New York City where, according to Robin Nagle, anthropologist-in-residence at the Department of Sanitation and author of Picking Up, gunk, horse urine and manure, dead animals, food waste and furniture crap was found everywhere; and throwing it out simply meant that it wouldnt go anywhere. People were engulfed in filth under disease promoting conditions that eventually led to the creation of the New York City Department of Street Cleaning in 1881, under the leadership of Civil War veteran George E. Waring, Jr., described as an American sanitary engineer, civic reformer and advocate of sewer systems that keep domestic sewage separate from storm runoff. Clearly, the mixing of sewage and water produces serious potential for threats to public health then and now. The idea of street cleaners in the dirtiest targeted neighborhoods led to the residents of tenements meeting this new initiative with hostility. It is reported that they threw bricks at the street cleaners and came out to fight them with sticks. Waring supposedly said to his men: You keep going back. You show them what youre going to do and see if you dont change their hearts. When I read this, I immediately developed a fondness for this champion reformer. It is said that After two weeks, residents of the tenements became ardent fans because they cleaned their streets. During her presentation in the first session of the Zero Waste Academy that started May 8 (concluding May 28), Nagle talked about how the street cleaners wore white uniforms and became celebrated as heroes among the other uniformed public servants beginning at the 1882 Labor Day Parade that also included tailors, bricklayers and cobblers. They wore hats and white gloves like the police, took a vow to serve and were called White Wings with a military style operation that included captains and chiefs. In the 1930s the uniform changed to green and the name became the Department of Sanitation. This history becomes the foundation of our understanding of how important waste management is to our health and quality of life, among many other dimensions of basic survival.

Edward Humes, journalist and environment author, is quoted as saying that each resident of our densely populated city throws away an average of 7.1 pounds of waste per day equaling a total of 22 million pounds. If we add all the new classes of e-waste, PPE discarded waste and the increase in mail order package waste, we see a virtual tsunami of garbage that we are currently sitting with right in our own communities. We cant fully appreciate the urgency unless we understand how this problem affects our air, water and land. I have been impressed with the quality and quantity of information and resources that are available to help us in managing what is clearly a crisis. The Zero Waste Academy is an excellent example of the effort to educate advocates, civic leaders, private citizens and others in what the total picture looks like so that they can go back to their communities and constituents and rally for the cause. The Environmental Justice Alliance (nyc-eja.org) and the NYC Environmental Study(www1.nyc.gov/ejsudy) that is underway are other examples of efforts being made to create viable solutions for the problems produced by mounting waste. Public schools and large waste-generating businesses and institutions such as hotels, arenas, food wholesalers, manufacturers, commercial building owners are all being targeted as part of the agenda to divert 50% of waste from landfills and incineration. Public schools have been working with GrowNYC using the NYC Zero Waste School Program since 2010; and there is a free on-line NYC Schools Guide to Zero Waste. There is also an Environmental Justice Study Guide, produced by Washington University in St. Louis that highlights factors of racial/class disparities and environmental hazards (students.wusl.edu) available on-line. Zero Waste information is available on social media including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

If you have ever had your sewage back-up; a water pipe break; a tree falling on your block; a power outage; a rodent problem from trash; a flood, or experienced a water main break; been without clean water or hot water, you may have a humble appreciation for the importance of sanitation and responsible care of our natural resources. I urge us all to do our part to safeguard our communities against the ravages of unchecked consumerism that leads to excessive waste; littering; environmentally unsound methods of personal waste disposal and industrial pollution. We can recycle, reuse, restore and take the Zero Waste Pledge: Theres no away when we throw garbage into a bag or pail. A majority of our waste can be reused, recycled or composted. By pledging to reduce waste sent to landfills, New Yorkers can help fight climate change and support green jobs in our City! I pledge to recycle metal, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard, food scraps and yard waste, electronic waste, safely dispose of harmful household products, reduce waste by using shopping bags, bottles and mugs and donate clothing and textiles. In addition, we can try biodegradable disposables such as bamboo toothbrushes, forks, knives and spoons. We can make a difference simply by thinking differently and taking small, manageable steps that sustain clean, sanitary conditions in our communities now and into the future.

Dr. Sharon M. CadizTo read the full letter, visit Qgazette.com.

Dangerous Withdrawal

To The Editor:

The planned withdrawal of all U.S. and European troops from Afghanistan by September 11 will probably allow the Taliban to reconquer Afghanistan and impose a strict Islamist regime within the country, and establish terrorist organizations devoted to attacking the United States.

The Taliban followers are terrorists who are aligned with al-Qaida, and they are the same groups who have launched terrorist attacks in the world over the past 30 years, including the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

We need to keep adequate military forces in the region outside of Afghanistan to counter Taliban and al-Qaida moves in Afghanistan and to keep them off balance to prevent attacks against us. Approximately 3000 U.S. troops should be based on the Arabian peninsula in case they are needed as a quick reaction force. U.S. Special Forces in the region will probably have to be beefed up.

We need ground assault aircraft available in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Additionally, a squadron of B-52s should be based in the region.

A U.S. Navy carrier battle group and an amphibious assault force must be deployed in the region to provide the capabilities for air bombardment and missile attacks as necessary.

The Taliban are the enemy and must be treated as such.

Donald MoskowitzLondonderry NH

The rest is here:
Letters to the Editor - Western Queens Gazette