To the editor: Water is of huge importance to towns and cities in Texas (“H2Ow,” Nov. 10, 2010), and every city from Fort Worth to West Texas quietly worries, “How many years of water do we have left?” The state says that with average growth in population and water demand, Texas will be out of water within two decades. Thus, investors like Boone Pickens have purchased thousands of acres of water rights because water has a greater long-term value than oil. Cities like Fort Worth must look at alternative water systems and focus on new water resources. I believe the best solution available in Texas is desalination.
Sydney and Perth, Australia, now use desalination, powered by wind turbines, to produce an almost unlimited supply of water. We can do the same thing. Wind-Inc. has created a system whereby we can produce fresh water from saltwater aquifers. Using pumps, wind turbines, and backup solar panels, the system can desalinate water at a cost of about 95 cents per 1,000 gallons, or about a fourth of what Tarrant County and the City of Fort Worth are pricing water at today. Our focus should be on modern systems that use renewable energy — note that there is an ocean of salt water available in Texas from 300 to 6,000 feet below the surface. It can provide the water we need for 300-plus years, if we don’t let the oil and gas companies corrupt it with pollution and poisons from their dirty hydraulic-fracturing drilling processes. The technology that Wind-Inc. is promoting throughout Texas is already proven; we simply need civic and county leaders with vision to get out of the old comfort zone of using lakes and piped water from other areas and get them to realize that all the water we need is right here.
We at Wind-Inc. can provide less expensive water to Texas and use renewable energy to make it happen, thus gaining favor with both federal and state authorities who are desperate to see new solutions implemented. In the past decades, town after town has simply lost population, industry, and business because of declining water sources. Fort Worth would do well to allocate energy and money to a new water supply instead of doing recreational and “pond development” to decorate downtown Fort Worth.
Ben Boothe
Fort Worth
As You Toke, So Shall Ye Reap
To the editor: The Nov. 3 article (“Major Bummer”) by Peter Gorman begs the question: If you sign a housing contract at a college, and it stipulates the rules and regulations as to drug and alcohol usage, and you violate them, then the punishment for these infractions should fit the crime — no pre-emptive strikes allowed.
As for merely getting a warning ticket for alcohol violations, it stands to reason that if marijuana usage is against the law for any age, then the punishment for that crime — losing your housing and cafeteria privileges — is appropriate. The punishment is guaranteed per the written contract.
If students don’t like that program, they ought not to indulge in marijuana and alcohol.
Ricky Orton
Fort Worth
Bullies Beware
To the editor: Linda LaBeau’s “Bullying from the Top” (Oct. 13, 2010) article serves as a reminder that our culture has descended into widespread bullying that goes unchecked because no one wants to get involved for fear of losing their jobs or suffering other reprisals if they report it. And with corporal punishment and most discipline outlawed in schools, it’s no wonder that younger bullies find fertile ground to exercise their violence with impunity.
LaBeau’s article was informative and her list of “can do’s” about the bullying will hopefully bring awareness that there are elements of appeal (even if you have to report anonymously) to correct situations that involve our children or our workplaces and to correct an intimidating or oppressive atmosphere. Bullies, beware — change is coming!
Darby Taylor
Fort Worth
The Rest of the (Ethics) Pie
To the editor: Clyde Picht’s letter in response to “Has Fort Worth Lost Its Moral Compass?” (Sept 22, 2010) was so comprehensive in detail that it reminds us of Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story.” Clyde is articulate and knows his politics, especially when it concerns the Moncrief Mafia.
Thank you, Clyde, for giving us the “rest of the pie” (not just a slice), and thanks to Fort Worth Weekly for publishing his letter.
Sharon R. Stroud
Fort Worth
