Tom Mayer: War: Whatever happens in Ukraine, we must avoid nuclear war
Two enormous dangers imperil the continuation of human life on planet Earth: uncontrolled climate change and nuclear warfare. The myopia and minimization of both truly existential threats by virtually all political elites is astonishing and also infuriating.
The Ukraine war provides a terrifying example of how nuclear war could happen. Russian political leaders have said they might use nuclear weapons to prevent the loss of Crimea. Conversely, United States politicians are so determined to weaken Russia and perhaps remove Putin from power that they drastically discount the appalling menace of nuclear war.
Suppose Russia is on verge of conquering the whole of Ukraine or suppose Russia attacks military supply chains to Ukraine in NATO countries (e.g., Poland, Slovakia, Romania). In either case, certain strategists in the Pentagon and State Department have advocated the use of nuclear weapons.
The essential lessons of the Ukraine war are fourfold. First, war fever greatly diminishes reluctance to use nuclear weapons. Second, stable resolution of the Ukraine war can only happen via diplomacy and would probably resemble the disregarded Minsk Two accords. Third, whatever happens in the Ukraine war is of small historical consequence by comparison to the existential necessity of avoiding nuclear war. Fourth, humanity will only be safe from nuclear warfare when all nuclear weapons are abolished.
Readers may think that universal abolition of nuclear weapons is a political longshot. True enough. But the survival of human beings on planet Earth for any substantial length of time is also a longshot.
Tom Mayer, Boulder
Lori Malone: Energy: Xcel bill should not double without notice
I’m certain I was not alone in shock when I received my energy bill from Xcel Energy this week. In my 20 years of living in the same home in Boulder, Colorado, I have never had such a high energy bill. I called Xcel to inquire as to why my bill was so high, a nearly $200.00 statement due, with no past dues added, I was told by the customer support representative that Xcel has increased, by more than double, the rate for therms, natural gas. As a public utility company, isn’t there a protocol for informing the public of changes being made?
I have sent a letter of complaint, not that it will do any good, my one little voice, to the Attorney General of Colorado. It’s not right that Xcel can more than double the heating cost with not even a letter in advance, warning us that they are going to screw us over to fatten their profits.
It is disgusting.
Lori Malone, Boulder
Megan Kaspari: Mental health: Take the time for important health conversations
As college students across the country flock home for the holidays, it’s crucial to make time for conversations about mental health. A statistic from Psychiatric Annals by Brian Skehan and Vivian Chan comes to mind which states that “U.S. prevalence of any mental illness peaked for adults aged 18 to 25 years.” As many college students fall within this age group, they must have resources available to support their mental wellness. For parents with kids coming home for the holidays, don’t hesitate to sit down with your children to have open and honest conversations with them about their well-being.
One of the first steps in aiding mental health conditions can be reaching out and providing a safe space. Parents and children must bridge the communication gap that often arises when young adults leave for college. Students must have time to develop individually, but it is equally as important for them to have strong support systems in place. While college-aged individuals may display higher levels of mental illness, this illness does not discriminate by age. Students, as you return home this year for the holidays, make time to talk with parents and siblings about their mental health as well. While the holidays are a time to come together and celebrate, it can be a very difficult time for many. With so many people suffering in silence, the value of simply reaching out is often underrated. You never know if your parent, child or sibling is fighting battles beneath the surface, so make time for the important conversations while you still can.
Megan Kaspari, Boulder
