Letters to the Editor

Spring means eating less red meat, more veggies

After another winter of severe snowstorms and floods, I look forward to March 20th, first day of spring, balmy weather, and blooming flowers.

Hundreds of communities welcome spring with an observance of the Great American Meatout, asking neighbors to explore a healthy, compassionate diet of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains.

Indeed, 56 percent of respondents to a GlobalMeatNews poll said that they were or are reducing meat intake. U.S. per capita red meat consumption has dropped by more than 16 percent since 1999.

Mainstream publications like Parade, Better Homes and Gardens, and Eating Well are touting vegan recipes. Even the financial investment community is betting on plant-based meat start-ups, like Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods, while warning clients about the upcoming “death of meat.”

The reasons are ample. Last year, the World Health Organization found cancer to be associated with consumption of processed meats. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommended reduced meat consumption. The media keeps exposing atrocities perpetrated on factory farms and animal agriculture remains a chief contributor to climate change and water scarcity and pollution.

Each of us should celebrate our own advent of spring by checking out plant-based foods at our supermarkets and vegan recipes on the internet.

Pinter Verducci

Pahrump resident requests governor’s help for Tonopah

Dear Governor Sandoval,

I am writing this letter neither as a politician nor as a manager of any kind, but rather a concerned citizen and voter.

Since the state is presently monitoring Nye County’s finances, you are undoubtedly aware of our financial problems, which I and a multitude of others believe is due to poor management by the county commissioners. One example is the millions of dollars spent for the jail facilities in Tonopah. For a quarter of that cost, they could have renovated the beautiful and historic courthouse and spent the money more wisely for a state-of-the-art hospital in Tonopah. Tonopah residents have no hospital, no doctor, no dentist and not even a medical clinic. Now the commissioners are discussing the possible closure of the food assistance program for the elderly. What next? Shutting off water and power? Is there anything that be done at the state level to help this situation?

For starters, Tonopah needs a health clinic and doctor. Many Tonopah residents are unable to go out of town for their medical needs. The problem is not going away anytime soon, and unless someone with your authority and resources does something, it will only get worse, because all the commissioners do is talk and accomplish nothing.

Also, there is much discussion presently about moving the county seat from Tonopah to Pahrump, but in my opinion, Pahrump doesn’t deserve it after the way it has neglected Tonopah. Even though I have been a resident of Pahrump since 1987, I was raised in Tonopah and have become greatly concerned about the welfare of its citizens, many of whom are life-long friends.

Can you help?

Respectfully,

John W. Fleetwood