Mail Call

Sean Karlin

San Francisco, Calif.

George W. Bush called Saddam Hussein's hanging "an important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain and defend itself, and be an ally in the war on terror." More important milestones for world stability would include supporting the International Criminal Court, which we've continually opposed; not stockpiling nuclear weapons even as we denounce Iran and North Korea for theirs, and politicians refraining from calling the war in Iraq something to be "won," as if victory is just one more gunshot, hanging or bomb drop away. I'm not cheering any executions. I'll cheer when my country starts upholding real values of civilization and democracy, and not just gun-barrel justice. Iraq needs to be handled with diplomacy, nation-building and, most importantly, a departure from the insane idea that a hanging is just a "milestone" checked off on the way to some nebulous victory.

David Nurenberg

Somerville, Mass.

Ways to Live Green in 2007 Your advice to cut back on meat consumption for the sake of the planet was right on target ("Easy to Be Green," TIP SHEET, Jan. 8). Your article said that meat production is energy-inefficient, but that's just part of the picture. The livestock industry contributes to some of the world's most serious environmental threats: land degradation, climate change, water and air pollution, and loss of biodiversity. A recent United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization report said the livestock sector is responsible for 18 percent more greenhouse-gas emissions than transportation. If you want to go green, you can buy a Prius--or you can help the environment (for less money) by cutting back on meat.