Every semester I do a letter to the editor lesson with my English Language Learning class. It is my opportunity to teach writing as well as the value of using your voice to express opinion. This semester I have another fabulous group of students who are learning how to express their ideas, give their viewpoints and experience freedom of the press. Enjoy their letters. Thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
Rosemarie De Angelis,
Adjunct Professor
Southern Maine Community College
Maine, Canada have to agree ?on lobster
Big drop on lobster prices is affecting fishermen in Maine. Fishermen have to work harder and longer hours trying to catch more lobster for more than $1 dollar less than last year. For this reason they are struggling and barely getting enough money to cover fuel, bait, boat payments and others expenses. Low lobster prices may sound like a good thing but Maine and its lobster industry thinks differently. Fishermen are demanding higher prices for their product wish they hope that will make a balance for the effort and work that takes to catch the lobster.
Maine Lobster Advisory Council has announced a new $3 million marketing plan that will be enroll over the course of three years. The council hopes that an increase in demand might bring the prices back up making the industry more profitable for everyone.
There is tension between fishermen in Maine and Canada. Between 35 and 50 percent Maine’s annual catch is shipped to Canadian processors to be canned, frozen or packaged for this price. Canadian fishermen are willing to stop getting lobster from Maine. Eventually, Maine and Canadian fishermen have to come down to an agreement because in the end they depend on each other.
Even when we see this low prices it might be a good thing for us but we have to think there has to be a balance for the industry to continue providing the lobster for the local business and restaurants that we love. I think a good solution is to advertise and spread word about having a meeting with the Maine lobster industry to cut the time on the lobster season. This will make a higher demand, the prices will increase and the Maine fishermen will be able to find a financial balance and, and it will be more profitable for them. Think on the fishermen. I believe they have the right to a better life. Support the fishermen, buy more lobster so they can stay in business.
?Braulio Mercado
Dominican Republic
Alcohol is risky?
As we all know alcohol is used in every country. They use it for businesses purpose and some use it for personal enjoyment, but there are some people who consume alcohol in a wrong way. Now people have a habit of using it when they feel stress with their lives tipping down caused by problems, like losing their love one, their family member or their job, or it could be any type of reason. When we were a child, we told and educated that alcohol can cause serious health issues that could lead to death.
Many of the homeless drink right after they receive money from the peoples driving by them. They then use that money to buy beer and other source of alcohols. They keep on drinking constantly everyday, walking in public and passing out in the corner of the street. People drive by, looking at them like they don’t have any shelter to stay, and feel sorry for them. They drink and drink putting their health at risk, waiting for illness to happen. How come they don’t use that money to support themselves in a good way to get back on their feet?
I feel like we are supporting them with alcohol in the first place. As of right now in Southern Maine, not only elder middle age man that are homeless, but we also have teenagers as well. Will the teenager be the next alcoholic? Has anyone doing anything about that? What if the teenager is pregnant? Has anyone ever stopped their cars to actually have a conversation or to try to engage them to change their lifestyle? Yes. Please do so if you have a chance, do something about it/ Let them know how alcohol can affect their life/ Take them to see a specialist. The help you give can change their life for ever.
Please, don’t drink alcohol when you’re feeling down. Get help right away. Alcohol does nothing for you, but make your situation worse. It is addictive, a disease and health risk. There is label on the product that says, “according to the surgeon general, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. consumption of alcoholic beverage impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.” Remember that message. It might save your life.
Pros Chum
Cambodia
Choose education
Education is a big word swimming in the sea of learning. The problem is not that we don’t have schools. The problem is not everybody wants to go to school. In this time we all need to have something that gives us the feeling of lightness. I say, “The education is a lightness, and the unacquaintance is a darkness!” We need to chose education way for many reasons, to keep in touch with this world, to stay aware to new information, to feel proud if somebody asks us and we give the right answer. I don’t mean the education of going to school and reading your book only, but what else I mean is to make your mind wide to this world, to learn more and more, to have the experience of the education.
I encourage you to go through the way of education; whether you are old, young, men, women, children just keep going and keep learning. Because of the hard circumstances, people in poor countries don’t have enough education. Rich countries like the U.S. have enough education, and give so many opportunities to have good education , but people lose it , and they are not aware of.
I have a dream that all people will appreciate the value of education. Use it in very trustful way. We all should learn, and never waste the time. The more we learn, the more we dream of a good future. I see this kind of people “uneducated “ on the streets , and I want them to have a good future.
I want to say, “Do not postpone until tomorrow what can be done today.” Use education as your weapon.
?Salma Al-Shammari
Iraq
Marginal Way needs work
Traffic is busy at all times on Marginal Way. Many people face a big dilemma after a rainstorm, due to uneven pavement level and the way the street has been built along the Back Cove. Each time we had a high tide and heavy rain, that street became a swimming pool. Perhaps, the water can increase up to an adult’s knee. Many cars can due break down in the water at the same time and the damage causes a lot of hardship.
A month ago on a Saturday afternoon there was such heavy rain. On my way to work I had to travel through that rainstorm. After I turned in to Marginal Way to do my work at U-Haul, I could see many cars broken down in the middle of the traffic, especially the cars parked in front of drain pipe. The water was so high that it damaged all the cars. Traffic was completely stopped on Marginal Way.
I urge my fellow citizens to take this major issue into consideration to help make our city a better place to live and work. Please help us to get approval for the reconstruction of the drainage system on Marginal Way. This is an easy fix that will make for more convenient to drivers, workers, and general traffic in the area. It will save the time and money for our citizens. Please vote in favor of the approval on road construction on Marginal Way in 2013.
Billy Sribandit
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