The Editor,

Re: "Saying 'no' to projects carries costs," the Now, Feb 19.

News alert: saying "yes" to projects carries costs as well - global warming, resource depletion, water air and soil contamination, land/habitat loss and destruction, not to mention the heavy economic impact to the Canadian economy as a result of "Dutch disease."

I find it beyond disappointing to read columns such as Keith Baldrey's that gloss over the serious issues and threats that we face today. There is nothing "fashionable" about opposing projects that many people deem a threat to our very existence and for him to summarize it as such is shameful!

As Baldrey wrote his column in the comfort of his own home/office, there were about 50,000 people from across the U.S. and Canada making their way to the White House to stand up for what they believe in and I don't think it has anything to do with "fashion."

For these people to stand up and take action says to me that many people are well informed and that is what is leading them to protest/oppose projects such as these.

They are very aware of the consequences of remaining on this path of endless growth and consumption that we are currently on and so opposing these projects is an important step.

Baldrey asked how realistic is it to think that shutting down these projects won't have a negative impact on the economy.

Well, I ask him - how realistic it is to think that the economy can grow endlessly when there is a limit to the resources available on this planet?

At the rate that we are going, it has been said that we will need two planets by the year 2020. We need to set ourselves on a different path and since it appears that we can't rely on or wait for political direction, the people will have to make their voices heard in other ways.

Marilena Broglio, Surrey