letter_example_3

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The University of Oklahoma *

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MISC

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Geography

Date

Oct 30, 2023

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pdf

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XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX Fort Collins, CO February 23, 2009 The Honorable Kenneth L. Salazar Secretary of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington D.C. 20240 Dear Mr. Senator: My name is XXXXX XXXXX and I am a student at Colorado State University, currently majoring in Dance. In light of my major, you may be surprised to discover that, through this letter, I am interested in addressing the issue of climate change. Yet, I am aware, as all others sho uld be, that no matter what one’s passion or area of interest is in life, we must all take a vested interest in our environment for the safety of our earth. If we fail to do so, there will be dire consequences that none of us wish to face. For instance, Professor Chris Field claims that his 2007 landmark report on climate change “seriously underestimated the scale of the problem” when predicting that temperatures around the globe will raise 1.1 ⁰ C to 6.4 ⁰ C within the next century. It is apparent that you are aware of such consequences and share a similar viewpoint with me. In fact, I recently watched a video on you tube in which you stated that the issue of global warming “is a real one and it’s one that requires urgency on the part of our nation, on the part of the planet and we need to come up with policies and mechanisms that will help us protect our planet for our children.” In addition to the video I discovered, I also came across a picture of you standing in front of several windmills. Immediatel y, my thoughts turned to “Wither Wind,” an article I recently read for my composition class written by Charles Komanoff and published in the September/October 2006 issue of Orion magazine. As you can assume from the title, this article is centered upon wind farms and the positive impact they make in relation to reducing

global warming. Although your proposals for change focus more so upon offshore oil drilling and energy dependence, you have made some mention of the utilization of wind power. As a result, I can assume that while you are an advocate for the use of wind power, it is not at the forefront of your plan of attack. Nonetheless, I believe that it is well worth your time to examine the contents of this article. By doing so, it will force you to think critically about your opinions regarding wind power and will give you the tools you need to promote wind power. As a native of Colorado, I am sure you will be promptly captivated by Komanoff’s description of the Colorado River plateau. Through such descriptions it is evident that you both possess an appreciation for the land and environment at large. However, that same majestic vision may deter you from agreeing with Komanoff’s claim for the need for a total of 400,000 windmills across the United States. In fact, as Komanoff points out, many people are opposed to the presence of wind farms due to the notion that they hinder the beauty of particular landscapes. For instance, Carl Safina, an oceanographer, is cited within the article claiming t hat certain proposed wind farms will “put an end to the opportunity for people to experience an original view of a piece of the natural world in one of America’s most famously lovely coastal regions.” I am curious if your lack of focus upon wind power is due to the fact that you, like Carl Safina, have a preference as to where the wind farms are built. Do you believe that they should be built on land that is more suitable in terms of wind conditions and, in turn, the efficiency of the windmills? Or do you believe that they should be built on land that is more suitable in terms of aesthetics? Would it sadden you to see large windmills scattered across your family’s farms? Are you satisfied with the construction of 400,000 windmills across the United States as Komanoff proposes? No matter the preferred specifics regarding the eventual number and location of wind farms, it is important that you are able to persuade others to be advocates of wind farms if you wish to use it as a tool to combat global warmin g. The information within “Wither Wind” is incredibly useful in relation to this task. This is the case because Komanoff addresses both the

cons and pros regarding wind farms. In addition, he acknowledges the validity of certain arguments made by those who oppose wind farms. For example, he admits that windmills can be held accountable for a large number of bird and/or bat deaths. You will be much more successful at persuading others if you are aware of such reasons why they oppose wind farms and approach the subject with an open mind, rather than dismissing their concerns. While you do hold a reasonable amount of power as secretary of the interior, appealing to others will still be necessary in order to tackle the issue of global warming. For instance, in the video I mentioned earlier, you stated that not all of the government officials you interact with share your beliefs regarding global warming. It is my opinion that everyone within our country, not to mention within the government, must unite, by way of shared beliefs and a common goal, in order to save our earth for future generations. As you said yourself, Mr. Senator, climate change is occurring. Global warming is no hoax. And real problems require real solutions. I admire the effort you have put forth in regards to the issue and the plans you have made to help us build a clean energy economy. As a part of these plans you have acknowledged wind power. Charles Komanoff also acknowledges wind power, generated by windmills, within his artic le “Wither Wind.” Again, I would strongly encourage you to examine this article, for I am confident that it will help you turn your plans into actions. It will do so by causing you to truly consider your opinions regarding the presence of wind farms, while also giving you the necessary tools to convince others that windmills are beneficial. Sincerely, XXXXX XXXXX

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