The perils of pot

Regarding the article, "Marijuana backers to refocus" (Nov. 10):

The article is information-based and simply about numbers -- as in how many states have recreational marijuana and how more states want recreational marijuana. But if all states were to follow the science on the effects of recreational pot on young adults' brains, the issue of recreational pot would never get past the conceptual stage.

I say all political advocates (members of Congress) who push for recreational marijuana are blinded by the new revenue stream, in the way of taxes, to fill the states' coffers.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) are federal government entities that offer nothing but grave, consequential information concerning recreational marijuana. All three list similar effects: difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, altered sense of time, impaired body movement, etc.

Science says the part of the brain where reasoning develops is not fully formed until age 24. What kind of political fool encourages recreational pot use with such medical condemnation to the contrary from our own federal government?

I would say the reason that recreational marijuana is still illegal under federal law is because it would be hypocritical of the federal government to advocate for recreational pot use when the HHS, CDC and NIH have nothing but denunciations of marijuana because of the many mind-altering (adverse) aspects from using recreational marijuana.

Daniel Pryor

Winston-Salem

Lights out for birds

Each year thousands of birds migrate to Winston-Salem with the help of natural elements guiding them. These birds seem to be heavily affected by artificial lights that distract them throughout the process.

The collisions of migrating birds with buildings are a crucial environmental issue that is often overlooked. City areas with tall buildings are major threats to the birds due to the huge number of artificial lights, which disrupt their navigational systems. There needs an effective solution to this, the "Lights Out" project, which has been successful doing that throughout the world.

Lights Out aims to reduce the lights during nighttime by calling out to cities. So, we are working to initiate and implement this project through the Forsyth Audubon Society. Our project will help a huge number of birds migrate safely. Many big cities have already implemented Lights Out; now it's time for Winston-Salem to be a safe space for migrating birds.

We urge building owners, managers and citizens to be a part of this initiative. Collectively, we can protect our migratory birds and biodiversity.

Rubina Garamja Thapa

Winston-Salem

We don't cower

Like large majorities of Americans, I care about climate change and how we can work to slow it down. But unlike most Americans, I hold climate as a top priority, something I work on every day and vote on in every election. I believe we are called to leave a healthy planet for our precious children and grandchildren.

Climate-concerned folks throughout the country -- and the world -- are dismayed by the recent U.S. election. I share that sadness, anger and fear. Our next president does not care about fighting climate change, so we are worried.

We are also motivated.

We know that real progress in this world doesn't come from waiting around for a knight in shining armor, and so we don't cower in the shadows when a dragon shows up instead.

We work for it, every election, every year, every day. Some days we feel the wind is at our backs. Other days, it's like an uphill climb in the desert without a canteen. But we work for it.

I belong to a nonpartisan group called Citizens' Climate Lobby. We write letters, educate our government officials, staff tables at fairs and farmers markets, and generally make our voices heard.

We are respectful, hopeful and civil. We say thank you when our adversaries do something good. We know that moving to a clean-energy economy will benefit everyone, but it will also require help from people we don't usually agree with.

So we work for it.

Join us (www.citizensclimatelobby.org).

Matthew Mayers

Winston-Salem

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