Make environment a priority in 2015

To the editor:

From a larger perspective, what is 'normal” is non-existence. The universe is a dangerous and violent place to live. Our solar system is an example. Only one planet, the earth, is livable. The atmosphere of Venus is 95 percent carbon dioxide and the surface temperature 465 degrees. We are the anomaly.

This is becoming increasingly clear as thousands of planets are being discovered and few if any are capable of supporting life as we know it. Conditions that support life are extremely rare. It is a wonder that we exist at all.

We live under precariously balanced conditions. Damaging the conditions that support our lives is the ultimate mistake. It is also the ultimate injustice. Subjecting the environment to economic exploitation and pollution has to stop. The powerful economic polluting interests are not likely to stop voluntarily. And incredibly, they will probably push their economic polluting interests over the environment all the way to extinction of life on the planet. And, they will deny responsibility for it all the way. We must realize what we have and protect it before we lose it. If we don't, the earth will return to the 'normal” condition in our solar system and the near universe. Perhaps we can take time to reflect on a larger perspective. We must vow to make the environment priority. We can do this for the compassion for all living things.

Harold Hensel

Cedar Rapids