A Wall Mall: Bend, Oregon

June 19 2017


letter to editor:

nice town this bend.  wonderful library, good internet access. great social services to feed the poor and homeless.  Really like the roundabouts at the intersections and all the beautiful sculptures.  And, of course, all the marijuana distributors, really, really nice as the trump would say...

The town is a bit of a sprawl though.  We REALLY need to get out of the Carbon Age, get out of these gas guzzling trucks and SUV's, downsize to the electric car and go GREEN in a very BIG way. 

With regards to global climate change, the rapid melting of the north pole region of the Arctic is happening quickly. Massive amounts of methane are being released into the atmosphere annually. Estimates are that up to 50 -500 gigatons of methane may be released from this particular region alone in the coming years and decades. Already, the Earth has had 5 gigatons of methane released into its atmosphere since the pre-industrial age. Methane is 50-100 times more lethal in terms of greenhouse gases such as CO2 in trapping thermal heat within our atmosphere. We are now witnessing a runaway methane arctic meltdown emergency of staggering proportions. All efforts must NOW be made to END the hydrocarbon economy and rapidly transit our civilization onto a non-polluting, free energy path of energy independence. If we do NOT end the runaway release of methane from the Arctic region, we will most likely end all life on Earth. In fact, it will be between 2017 and 2020 where we will witness, for the first time EVER, an ice free Arctic. It could very well happen this year.

I would like to recommend that the city of bend build a brick mall on its wall and bond downtown streets, so that people can walk around, relax and not have to worry about getting hit and run over by a stray car.  A downtown mall could be complimented with waterfalls, flowers, benches, scultures and fruit and nut trees to beautify the downtown experience and build a sanctuary of peace and tranquility in the area. Examples of cities with malls are boulder, colorado and burlington, vermont- they're beautiful and everybody loves them!

Locally, the juniper recreation center and the city buses need to be made FREE.  Ive been in communities where rec centers are free and open to anyone without regard to financial handicap and everyone has equal access to community recreation facilities.  Ive also been in ALOT of communities in this country where the city buses are FREE so people and drivers don't have to worry about the hassle and handicap of waiting for passengers to pay bus fares (If they can even afford it).

Free buses and free rec centers make the world go around bend oregon.  If nothing else, the rec center should provide free showers for bicyclists, to encourage the use of alternative transportation, diminish traffic sprawl and encourage community bicycling.




Eclipse 2017!
eclipse2017.org

Best,

Steve Jones
Global Environmentalist
Bend, Oregon
USA

==> Global Marshall Plan: leftcoast7.simplesite.com