In response to "For Hastings," in our modern-day world it has become obvious that we humans need to start putting our planet's wellbeing before many of the other conveniences that we enjoy every day - such as cars.

U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., has apparently not reached these same conclusions. I believe he continues to make efforts to wound the planet we live on. We the people need to stop the environmentally harmful acts of people like him because he is not foreseeably going to stop himself.

It is obvious to me, as I believe it will be to most of you, that many of the things Hastings aims to make happen, such as drilling for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, are truly detrimental to the environment.

It is hard for me to believe that there are still those people out there who do not want to stop destroying the environment, but there are. So in response to Hastings' efforts I would like to remind you, the reader, not only of your personal ability to make changes in the world but also of your necessity to in order to stop people like Hastings from destroying the planet.

Andrew Stern

Bellingham