The immigrant dream.I am in disbelief that E ran a full-page ad from Negative Population Growth (March/April 2005) that promoted an anti-immigration message. Have the editors forgotten that this country was built on the backs of immigrants? The contribution of Chinese people The following is a '''list of famous Chinese-speaking/writing people. Note in Chinese names, the family name is typically placed first (for example, the family name of "Xu Feng" is "Xu"). in building our railroads and in business sectors; of African slaves who built the cotton economy and their descendants who raised the children of Southern elites and shone in the entertainment and sports industries; of Hispanic farm workers under grueling conditions; of Jews in the media, academia and social change movements? Today, the number of the world's political prisoners who risk torture and death if they do not immigrate im·mi·grate v. im·mi·grat·ed, im·mi·grat·ing, im·mi·grates v.intr. To enter and settle in a country or region to which one is not native. See Usage Note at migrate. v.tr. is increasing. And because of the disastrous economic consequences of globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation , the world's poor are more desperate and in need of economic opportunity, than ever. To many, this means immigrating to the United States. The same values of preservation, respect, and broad-mindedness that underlie the Endangered Species Act The federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C.A. §§ 1531 et seq.) was enacted to protect animal and plant species from extinction by preserving the ecosystems in which they survive and by providing programs for their conservation. should be applied to human beings who are at risk. All your other ads bespeak be·speak tr.v. be·spoke , be·spo·ken or be·spoke, be·speak·ing, be·speaks 1. To be or give a sign of; indicate. See Synonyms at indicate. 2. a. To engage, hire, or order in advance. generosity, compassion and environmental awareness: how did this one slip in? Ann Spanel Cambridge, MA I am writing in vehement objection to your running of an advertisement by Negative Population Growth (NPG NPG Nature Publishing Group (Macmillan Publishers, Ltd) NPG National Portrait Gallery (UK) NPG NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards NPG New Power Generation (Prince) ) that advocates drastic limits on American immigration laws, supposedly as a measure to reduce strain on the environment. I am very surprised that a publication claiming a sensitive and progressive outlook on global issues would provide a forum for a group whose platform is at best a badly misguided approach to conservation, and at worst a thinly veiled racist mandate, all the more insidious for its usurping of an environmentalist environmentalist a person with an interest and knowledge about the interaction of humans and animals with the environment. ethic. NPG's website states that "the U.S. has five percent of the world's population but consumes 25 percent of its resources." Indeed, it's true, but these numbers need to be examined more closely. Who is using these resources? Who owns the polluting SUVs, the large properties to be heated and cooled, the endless variety of energy-consuming household appliances, the big smoke-spewing factories? Is it the average immigrant, who is most likely to be working in a minimum-wage job, or the illegal refugee, who is lucky to find employment of any kind? I think not. If NPG is truly concerned about the impact of population growth on American resources, its campaign should focus on advocating birth control for the upper and middle classes. Chandra McCann Via e-mail While I understand that you have to earn money by placing ads, I'm once again outraged about the Negative Population Growth ad. Under the pretense of being concerned about natural resource preservation and environmental protection in the U.S., this group blames immigrants for America's problems rather than focusing on the exorbitant resource use by Americans themselves. As an alternative to pointing fingers, NPG should educate the public about how American consumerism is using up natural resources all over the globe, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa. Why not be enraged en·rage tr.v. en·raged, en·rag·ing, en·rag·es To put into a rage; infuriate. [Middle English *enragen, from Old French enrager : en-, causative pref. about the fact that the U.S. is shipping off its toxic waste toxic waste is waste material, often in chemical form, that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It usually is the product of industry or commerce, but comes also from residential use, agriculture, the military, medical facilities, radioactive sources, and burden to developing countries in order to maintain its "standard of living"? Tanja Hermann An immigrant from Germany Elgin, TX The editor responds: Immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. is hotly debated in the environmental community. While we don't necessarily agree with the content of every ad submitted to us, we also don't believe in censoring green-themed ads unless they're misleading or factually inaccurate in some way. We similarly welcome diverse readers' opinions. |
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