Readers write

Anti-vaccine crowd not moved, even by heartfelt pleas

I really appreciated the opinion piece “‘You do you time is over;’ get the shot,” (Voices, Sept. 30). But unfortunately, the author is preaching to the choir.

The anti-vaccine, anti-mask crowd is not going to be turned around by words. They are adamant in their refusal to accept science. They will continue to deny reality even when it hits home and someone they know, or love succumbs to this deadly and now almost-preventable disease.

Almost every day, we read an article about a non-vaccinated person about to die and, in a last gasp of breath, saying, “please get vaccinated.” Yet even these heartfelt pleas do not move the anti-vaxxers.

I hope these folks wake up and protect themselves, their families, and others, but I feel a certain sense of hopelessness that anything we say or do will change their minds.

PAUL GLASSER, DECATUR

Cooperation needed to keep fossil fuels from destroying planet

With the U.N. Climate Summit in early November, and Congress debating significant legislation to deal with climate change, two contrasting articles appeared in the Sept. 29 Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In one, Ford predicts that 40% to 50% of its vehicles will be electric by 2030. On the other, OPEC predicts that oil will be the world’s number-one energy source through 2045.

We simply cannot afford to have fossil fuels destroy our planet with greenhouse gases with so many adverse effects: disastrous weather events, rise in sea levels, population displacements, destruction of wildlife habitats, unbearable living/working conditions and accelerating effects that snowball, making all conditions worse. The cooperation of all nations, politicians, industries, and individuals is crucial since global warming is proving worse than original projections. We need to support renewable energies, put a price on carbon (since fossil fuel industries are not paying their share of climate destruction), constrain the output of greenhouse gases everywhere, and support technologies that provide alternatives.

JOHN W. SHACKLETON JR., ATLANTA

Marjorie Taylor Greene should stand proud. Political fame comes with a cost.

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is a successful politician who amassed a following, but political fame comes with a cost, so I don't blame her for resigning.

OPINION

Southeast data center surge comes with opportunities and many tradeoffs

Data centers are booming in the Southeast, especially in Georgia, but this comes with great costs for taxpayers, local community resources and the climate.