‹‹ Alibi V.22 No.31 • Aug 1-7, 2013 ››

Letters

Beat the Heat

Dear Alibi,

Thank you M.J. Wilde [“Hot, Hot, Hot,” July 25-31] for emphasizing the connection between this summer’s record heat and climate change. Wilde reflects that “Every year ‘eventually’ seems more like ‘now.’” And she’s right.

Climate change is no longer a far-off abstraction, a specter haunting hypothetical great grandchildren; it is a harsh, palpable reality tightening its grip. Fortunately the actions to combat climate change are also becoming increasingly obvious. There is a clear antagonist, the fossil fuel industry, and divestment from fossil fuels at the municipal and institutional levels is a vital first step in this battle. The Santa Fe Art Institute has set an example for divestment in our state, one that the City of Santa Fe is poised to follow. In Albuquerque, 350 New Mexico is fighting to divest UNM.

Divestment is only one of many measures necessary to curb the warming. If there is any hope of arresting Co2 emissions before runaway climate change makes life on earth as we know it impossible, then citizens must also rally en masse to force elected officials to make the climate their top priority now. Burqueños will do just this during “Rally at the Rio,” sponsored by 350.org, Audubon New Mexico, Organizing for Action, Wild Earth Guardians and fifteen other coalition organizations. The rally begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 3 at the northwest corner of Central and Tingley Drive. It is certain to be the largest climate action in the history of New Mexico, and likely all of the Southwest. It's time to activate locally and connect globally on the most significant issue of our or any time.

Tomas Radcliffe

New Mexico is a stand your ground state

Dear Alibi,

Judge Malott wrote in the [July 29] Journal (again) that New Mexico is a stand your ground jurisdiction (state). While he was at it, he said New Mexico clearly adopted the Castle Doctrine, too.

That's three times he's said New Mexico is a stand your ground jurisdiction/state in the Journal: April 9, 2012, May 21, 2012 and July 29, 2013.

April 9, 2012:

It may surprise some of you to learn the Land of Enchantment is also a stand your ground jurisdiction. Some 32 states have such laws in varying form. In New Mexico, "A person who is threatened with an attack need not retreat. In the exercise of his right to self-defense, he may stand his ground and defend himself."

May 21, 2012:

There is no duty to retreat from an actual or reasonably perceived attack in Stand Your Ground states like Florida, New Mexico and about two dozen others.

7/29/13:

Both are variations of the Stand Your Ground concept.

We apply the concept differently than Florida and some other states, but we are what we are.

Michael Orick

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