Letters to the editor

Education spending

The education crisis brought on by COVID-19 threatens historic progress made by communities globally to get millions more children in school. Urgent action is needed so the COVID-19 education crisis does not become a catastrophe for an entire generation.

As the only international fund of its kind, the Global Partnership for Education marshals global resources for national education plans. GPE and its partners now have a five-year, $5 billion plan to support child education in lower-income countries, aiding recovery from the pandemic. This investment will educate 175 million children, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and save 3 million lives.

America can and must lead this effort.  At this critical moment in global history, a bold pledge of $1 billion for five years will show that the U.S. is committed to working hand-in-hand with the global community to ensure every child can reach their potential.

— William Deignan, Medford

Consider the climate

Does Stephen Moore work for the fossil fuel industry? It sure sounds like it. As a former Trump adviser, Moore has crowed (April 17) about urging the former president to make America energy independent by pushing for more oil and gas extraction in this country. In his latest column (“Biden’s gas tax is a pain at the pump”), he blames gas price fluctuations on President Biden.

Does Moore have any awareness of the climate chaos we’re experiencing? Of the extreme heat, monster storms, droughts, sea level rise and massive wildfires? Is he not able to understand that it’s not about energy independence from Saudi Arabia, but about energy independence from fossil fuels? We need to pivot — and fast — to a clean energy economy. We can’t afford to waste four more years promoting the industry that got us into this mess.

We’re running out of time.

— Debora Hoffman, Belmont

Caregivers need support

Caregivers to children, seniors and the handicapped in the Greater Boston area need better support from city halls and senior centers. Caregivers are on the job at all times and need recognition and supports so they also can live and do their responsibilities effectively. Let’s focus attention on the caregivers, people!

— Regina Sagan, Newtonville

Are we alone?

The U.S. government is going to release some information about UFOs. This might be either because there is nothing interesting to find or they are trying to hide something else that is much more interesting.

Most UFOs have sensible explanations although a few don’t and that is where the interest lies. There might be other life forms out there, it’s statistically likely, but less likely is that they would visit us. We are a long way from any other planet, physics says we can’t travel all that fast so it’s a long journey and we aren’t probably that interesting.

The more puzzling thing is why do they seem to visit the drunk, the demented and nobody with a good camera? Most of the world has a high-resolution camera in their pocket, capable of both photos and films and yet all we get is fuzzy images at a distance.

Perhaps we should stop looking to the sky and look around as we have enough to see here and enough problems to solve. Maybe the UFOs are here to make sure we stay here given how badly we are managing this planet.

As Mr. Spock might say, “It’s not logical.”

— Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2Ts1GaR