Letters: Shapiro must take immediate steps for climate; Successful season for Operation Christmas Child

Shapiro must take immediate steps for climate

Last summer, the Better Path Coalition and the Pennsylvania Climate Convergence Network installed the second biggest climate clock in the Americas in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. When Governor Josh Shapiro took the oath of office earlier this year, the clock read that we have six years and 185 days to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

History tells us that if Shapiro runs for a second term, he will likely be reelected. If he follows the lead of the shale gas governors — Rendell, Corbett and Wolf — the clock will count down to zero on his watch. Days before Shapiro’s inauguration, the Coalition sent him a letter detailing climate and environmental priorities to prevent that from happening.

Although the climate crisis and increasing concerns over the environmental and health impacts of drilling and fracking prompted the group to develop the list of priorities, Shapiro’s public statements in support of the fossil fuel industry and the false climate solutions it is promoting gave urgency to the task.

The letter urges Shapiro to take immediate steps toward a ban on fracking. Other recommendations include addressing well abandonment; banning all road spreading of drilling waste; protecting Pennsylvanians from toxic, radioactive and gas waste; addressing potentially catastrophic methane leaks from underground storage facilities; and reforming state agencies.

Shapiro will serve during the only years we have left to protect the planet for future generations, and must reverse his position on petrochemicals and fossil fuels to lead the transition to a fossil-free and sustainable Pennsylvania.

Successful season for Operation Christmas Child

Generosity throughout the State College-area contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child.

Across the U.S., the project collected over 9.3 million shoebox gifts in 2022. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2022, the ministry is sending nearly 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.

Each gift-filled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and often the first gift these children have ever received. Through the generosity of donors since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Samaritan’s Purse delivered its 200 millionth shoebox, which was packed on a country-wide tour and hand-delivered to a young girl in Ukraine.

Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ or by calling 717-774-1920.

Although local drop-off locations for gifts are closed until Nov. 13-20, 2023, anyone can be a part of this life-changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline.

These gifts, packed with love, send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.

Penn State president should have taken stand

It is with great sadness that we read of the yearslong failed community-wide movement to keep gambling from establishing a presence in State College. Having a casino only three miles from Penn State’s University Park campus is a horrendous thought, and the current president has deeply disappointed hundreds of civic-minded residents by not taking a stand — likely because of pressure from a board of trustees heavily invested in the casino initiative. Just as the religious community (in large part) has refused for years to speak out against the egregious false narratives of the far-right and the white supremacists — and would dare not refute the Big Lie — so too, when a trusted person with a public platform stays silent, well, you know the rest. Silence equals consent.

Residents ignored by PGCB vote

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board ignored the huge amount of residents’ opposition to award the Category 4 Casino License In Centre County. We do not want any kind of casino in State College.