Pot-bellied neighbor
OK with this resident
Let's see, a pig does not bark or yap day and night. A pig does not jump fences and poop in someone else's garden. A pig does not roam free and kill birds, bunnies or other creatures. Hmmm. I think I would rather have a pot belly pig live next to me then other accepted pets.
THELMA ROGERS
Minden
Pigs are livestock
and rules should stand
Let's be objective. Pot-bellied pigs were developed in Vietnam as a source of meat. The various breeds of pigs in America also are used as meat and are considered to be livestock. Just because some people label them as a "pet" doesn't change the category into which this species is placed. A pig is a livestock animal. Bending the rules to allow one pig in the city will only encourage other people to keep livestock animals within the city limits. What's next, "Take Your Sheep to Work Day?"
APRIL PEDERSEN
Reno
More studying for Yucca suggested
This is in reply to Christopher Hardt's opinions that appeared in the Dec. 28 Nevada Appeal.
You mentioned Yucca Mountain and the "financial benefits to the state." Actually, scientists have been unable to predict the results of storing high-level nuclear hazardous waste deep underground for thousands of years. The Department of Energy keeps changing and adjusting its specifications in order to obtain approval for a repository.
Have you any idea of the ramification of storing this waste in our state? Can you imagine having this deadly material slowly seeping down into Amargosa Valley just for starters?
You might want to check on the children who suddenly became mysteriously ill in Fallon about four or five years ago. They have never been able to prove why or how this happened. Do you want to raise your family with that type of future?
As to your comment on "ways to eliminate the waste." Please keep in mind that there is a law that was set up in the 1970s between Russia and the United States known as the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and consisted originally of five countries: Britain, China, France, the Soviet Union and the United States. I'm not certain, but I believe the United States is the only country which currently abides by this law. France is now working on reducing its stockpile of nuclear waste.
As far as the railway to Yucca Mountain, I understand this has been under discussion and plans are currently in the works by the Department of Energy.
I do agree with your comment on a new "College of Alternative Energy." Finances the way they are, you might want to push now for studying subjects covering this matter, rather than for building a college.
SHIRLEY SWAFFORD
Carson City
Turn Yucca Mountain
into a win-win situation
I propose that Nevada and the Department of Energy turn Yucca Mountain into a recycling center/power plant and make thousands of jobs and tons of power to sell to California.
It is time that we finally resolved the Yucca Mountain issue once and for all, and this is a win-win for all parties, including those who want to save the environment. Eliminating the waste is better than storing it. Furthermore, if there is enough extra power generated, then we could build a large reverse osmosis desalination plant on the coast and give the water to Los Angeles in return for leaving more water in the Colorado River. That would make even more jobs and save the Colorado River.
I wanted you to know that The University of Nevada, Reno recently received a grant from the Department of Energy to study new and better methods to recycle nuclear waste. Politicians who don't understand the science have stifled nuclear waste recycling in the United States even though it is common in Europe because they thought it would lead to nuclear proliferation. But, it will not because the plutonium does not have to be enriched. Anyway, after you run it through the recycling and reburn process the resulting waste has very short half-lives. Some will be inert in 120 days.
GREGORY LYMAN
Sparks