Letters to the editor for Jan. 19

Single-use plastic must go

As a consumer I believe that we as human beings have an obligation to fix our use of plastic — for the environment and for the existence of future generations.

Every day we throw away millions of pieces of single-use plastic that will take centuries to fully degrade, which means that every piece of plastic we’ve created still exists. I believe that nothing that has such a short-term purpose should have lasting negative effects on the environment.

Making and selling disposable plastic is cheap and profitable, which is why it has been adopted by so many companies, but holding these companies responsible for the production of plastic disrupts that business model. That is why I am advocating for the creation of a bill that will help Washington people and the environment by holding plastic makers accountable.

Willa Christian-Smith, Olympia

Democracy and climate go together

As a young person, I think I share the desire of most human beings to have a healthy future climate. It turns out that voting access and a livable climate are quite connected. Do we want thriving ecosystems and human communities? Then we need to support voting rights for all folks. Historically disenfranchised voters are often those who would vote in support of climate change action and other measures that would benefit the public.

I am seriously concerned that last year 19 states passed over 30 new laws restricting access to the ballot box. Our democracy is at stake here, but we have the power to rise against this alarming trend. We can make a plan to vote, vote early when possible, and help register young voters.

Also, I ask our federal legislators to please champion the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4) and the Freedom to Vote Act (S.2747).

I want to live in a country where everyone can vote with ease, and where everyone has access to healthy green spaces and ecosystems.

Living kindly and gently in our personal lives is important, and so is respectfully voicing our support for democracy and planetary health. Thanks, friends.

Rebecca Canright, Olympia

SCOTUS ruling on workplace safety was hypocritical

The U.S. Supreme Court apparently has ruled that COVID is not a workplace hazard, and yet the Supreme Court has rules in their workplace about anybody coming in and out who has to be vaccinated and who has to be tested. Bunch of hypocrites. If they want to show how much they believe in their ruling, they should apply the same laws to their workplace that they just insisted we have an our workplace.

This is what a politically motivated court system looks like.

My understanding is their logic is that you can catch COVID in more places than the workplace. But most of us have ladders at home, and over 90% of ladder injuries happen at home, and yet OSHA has all kinds of rules about what we cannot do with our work ladders and if we do it we will get disciplined and/or fired. As an electrician I get to listen to these toolbox talks on a regular basis.

Eric S. Mahaffy, Olympia