National Science Foundation rolled over on NCAR
Sadly the National Science Foundation has rolled over to the Trump administration and accepted an attack on one of its crown jewels (NCAR) without offering a peep of pushback. Why do our institutions not stand up for themselves?
NSF could fund NCAR for six years on what is being spent on the Iran War in one day.
Fred Clare, Boulder
24 hours is too long for police to wait
The bill initiated in response to Megan Trussell’s tragic death may be imperfect, but changes suggested in response to missing persons are overdue. Twenty-four hours is an arbitrary and overlong period for any person actually in danger, from intent or accident, and dates to before the existence of cell technology and surveillance cams that can expedite searches.
Agencies could develop checklists akin to pilots, as a quick initial screen to assess relative concern, i.e. a cross-country parent not receiving a routine call, versus anxious friends agreeing on an unusual set of events after a night in unfriendly circumstances: Why are they concerned, what do they know that informs greater alarms, from mental health to abusive partners, suspicious strangers, risk behavior escalation, etc. — things that alter statistical generalizations, the catchall realm where the exceptions hold the victims.
Sunny days can turn to hypothermic downpours or even blizzards. Most rescues are effected only from alerts, and are time-critical; twenty-four hours turns many into recovery missions. Overlay possible foul play, and time becomes even more critical.
In the meantime, for those in higher risk profiles — including teens, students, gender, race, and religious identifiers — practical actions like sharing contacts, cellphone trackers, avoiding solitary meetings, having a group contingency plan when a night goes off script, all are unfortunate but common sense strategies in our modern world.
Eric Aldrich, Boulder
Violence cannot end hatred between people
At our business meeting on March 8th, Boulder Friends Meeting (Quakers) approved the following statement:
Boulder Friends Meeting utterly rejects a reliance on war and the imposition of the will of one group on another through the aggressive use of military force. We know from experience that violence cannot end hatred between people. Only actions guided by love can do that. The current military attack on Iran is morally wrong, indefensible and contrary to our national interests.
For more than 350 years, the Religious Society of Friends has sought a world without war, actively seeking to build peace among nations and address the root causes of violence. We are called to uphold justice, to advance nonviolent solutions to conflict and to promote peaceful cooperation among all peoples.
Bill Moninger, Boulder
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