Do not revive the plan for a Morro Bay aquarium. It would ‘diminish our humanity’ | Opinion

Diminish our humanity

“Will Morro Bay get new aquarium? Plans for facility stall,” (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 24)

Let’s hope compassionate and fiscally responsible minds prevail. Though I reside in Seattle, I spent months in Cayucos with friends (so please regard my opinion as a part timer in your part of the world that I love).

The captivity industry causes immense suffering and often premature death to animals who are unfortunate enough to be captured or bred into a life of impoverishment. There is nothing modern about this archaic business model. One look at the picture of a poor seal in captivity is evidence that an aquarium cannot replicate the complex ecosystem in which this animal belongs.

Please, no aquarium. It would diminish our humanity.

Alyne Fortgang

Seattle, Wash.

Doing good

“SLO County charities seek holiday donations,” (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 22)

I want to thank you for the article featuring some of the many charities doing good work helping people in our county. I would like to add one organization to your list: Meals That Connect/Senior Nutrition Program. We serve nutritious meals five days a week to over 1,600 seniors in our county (190,000 meals total last year). We offer congregate dining at our 10 dining sites countywide, and our over 300 volunteers deliver meals to homebound seniors.

Of our clients, 85% are homebound, 65% are over 75 (35% are over 85) and 38% are living below the poverty line. Our meals truly are a lifeline for these seniors, and our volunteers deliver not only food but social contact and a chance to chat.

Anyone wishing to donate can visit our website (www.mealsthatconnect.org) or call our central office at 805-541-3312.

Juliane McAdam

Public relations manager, Meals that Connect

Los Osos

Correcting the record

“SLO can lead California toward carbon-free future by investing in nuclear technology | Opinion,” (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 19)

This letter assumes that “next generation reactors … are smaller, safer, more efficient and create less waste.” But recent research out of Stanford holds that waste will be between three to 20 times more per kilowatt hour than what’s currently being produced per hour by the enormous nuclear reactor at Diablo Canyon.

The fact is that the proposed designs of small modular (nuclear) reactors have never been built to scale, and funding was simply pulled out. Nor is the concept new: Proposals to build them were attempted in the ’60s but economic and safety problems caused those projects to be abandoned. Even if the problems were somehow resolved, it would take more than a decade to launch and test such projects, which would not be completed in time to address the growing climate crisis.

Additionally, small modular reactors would be much more costly than renewable energy sources which continue to be less expensive each year, and all companies proposing these reactors are demanding taxpayer subsidies. Each small modular reactor plant has been estimated to cost around $1 billion.

There are also unresolved safety issues with the various designs. Some propose the use of liquid sodium for cooling, but sodium coolant will burn if exposed to either air or water. A fire in any type of nuclear reactor is extremely dangerous.

Readers wanting more detailed information about this can search for “Advanced isn’t Always Better” by Edwin Lyman, Ph.D in physics, or look on our website.

Bart Ziegler PhD,

President, The Samuel Lawrence Foundation

True representative democracy

“Federal appeals court deals a blow to Voting Rights Act, ruling that private plaintiffs can’t sue,” (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 23)

Many Americans across the country know enough history to understand that what is going on with the country is not new. What is new is the influence (good or bad) of social media on the public.

I have been of the opinion, for at least 40 years, that the two-party system does not work. There has been a third party, without an official name, called “independents,” and a rising fourth party, called “forward,” slowly becoming known to the electorate at large.

Elected officials, from SCOTUS to the local dog catcher, have continued to impose their religion on the rest of the nation with no regard for the separation of church and state. Why should we have separation of church and state? Because I do not want your religion to be imposed on the rest of the nation.

When the majority of our citizenry will be allowed (or compelled like Australia) to vote, this country will be a true representative democracy. This has not happened yet in the 56 years I have lived in this country.

What next?

Fabrizio Griguoli

Shell Beach

This story was originally published December 3, 2023 at 6:00 AM.