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Letter: The planet is dying and Utah leaders won’t listen

Our elected leaders want us to follow the rules. When we do, they change them. Like they did earlier this year when they first revamped two of the three ballot initiatives approved by voters.

Meanwhile, Utah is getting warmer ('SLC Hot Like Vegas? Possible. Think 2050,” Salt Lake Tribune, July 12). Air pollution is killing Utahns (“Utah's Air Quality is Sickening, Even Killing Locals Year-Round New Research Suggests”, Tribune, Jan. 9, 2018).

Who is listening when our voices are raised in objection at yet another behind-closed-doors, eleventh-hour maneuver by the Utah Legislature on the inland port?

The legislators commandeered Salt Lake City land and taxes in a move that looks suspiciously like the federal “land grabs” that always set lawmakers howling.

Today, the stakes are so much greater. Climate change is happening right now. There is a global discussion of inevitable near term human extinction. The logic does not seem particularly far-fetched. (See, “Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy,” by Jem Bendell, July 27, 2018.)

To our elected leaders it's business as usual in a rigged system. The planet is dying and no one is listening to the alarm bells being sounded by the electorate. I fear the future for all living creatures.

Erica Marken, Salt Lake City

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