Powell off base

on global warming

I would like to respond to Rep. Larry Powell's letter ("The realistic CO2 effects of Kansas electric company").¬ He makes the outlandish claim that more CO2 will be good for Kansas crops.¬ You have to go out of your way to avoid being educated on global warming, there is so much information on television, and in magazines and newspapers.

He begins with a list of committees he is on, which is supposed to boost his credentials.¬ The fact that such a misinformed or devious person is on these committees ought to scare Kansans.

He also claims to have been searching agonizingly for an answer to the question:¬ What are the effects of increased CO2 in the atmosphere?¬ He bypasses thousands of mainstream scientists and settles on a couple that agree with his preconceived answer (Craig and Keith Idso).¬ Craig Idso is founder and chairman of the board of the Center of the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change.¬ They receive funding from Exxon Mobile.¬ It was their video, "The Greening of Planet Earth," which claims global warming will be good for the world, and which received $250,000 from Western Fuels.¬ What the Idsos are famous for is not their science but willingness to issue reports for coal industry associations.

Where does Mr. Powell get his claim that more CO2 is better for growing crops?¬ This is what the U.S. Department of Agriculture has to say (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/nov02/plant1102.htm). Green plants can't grow without an enzyme called rubisco. Found in cells of plant leaves, rubisco is key in photosynthesis. Now, however, findings from investigations of USDA Agriculture Research Service scientists shed light on the pivotal role of another enzyme, rubisco activase.¬ Without rubisco activase, rubisco cannot do its job.¬ Their analyses clarified that rubisco activase, not rubisco, is more vulnerable of the two essential enzymes when temperatures and CO2 levels increase.¬ So more CO2 is good for rubisco but not for rubisco activase, which rubisco depends on.¬ The USDA's findings show global warming threatens our crops, not helps them.

What about Mr. Powell's claim that CO2 makes up only 1.9 percent of the greenhouse gases?¬ I don't know where he gets 1.9 percent, but CO2 is responsible for 9 to 26 percent of the greenhouse effect and water vapor causes 36 to 76 percent.¬ 

Scientific studies of polar ice cores have documented the relationship between CO2 and the temperature of the earth's atmosphere.¬ Polar ice cores contain information about the earth's temperature and atmospheric conditions covering millions of years. To learn more see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhousegas.

It is not that Mr. Powell is ignorant of the real facts.¬ It is his blatant attempt to lie about these facts to further the interests of his district at the expense of the rest of Kansas.¬ He is even willing to risk the entire Kansas agriculture economy on it.¬ I have read articles in the Gardner newspaper about pollution the intermodal will bring to Gardner.¬ The intermodal is but a drop in the ocean compared to the particulate matter that coal plants put out.

BILL LUCAS,

Gardner

A special year

for gift giving

Watching "Beowulf" in 3-D in Wichita was really cool. The movie wasn't that great, but seeing something in 3-D was amazing. When a spear pointed your way, you took notice. There are great movies out there right now. "Facing the Giants" was awesome. The movie that was made before it (on a limited budget) by the same movie makers just blew me away. The name of that one is "Flywheel." "The Ultimate Gift" was absolutely terrific. I look forward to watching "The Nativity," "Amazing Grace" and "One Night with the King." I've heard that they are wonderful, too.

Last-minute Christmas shopping is easy this year with all those great DVDs for sale. People who love music could be given Kutless' album (CD/DVD) "Live from Portland." When Kutless was here (I think I can speak for the audience), we had a blast. The album is a feast for rock lovers. TobyMac has a CD/DVD combo out, too. His songs stick with you. Gift giving this year should be smooth sailing with all the unbelievable gifts available. Christmas 2007 is a special one, indeed.

NANCY TEETZEN,

Garden City