Cover Issues That Face the Planet

Dear Editor,
    Having read Marjorie Baumgarten’s film review of Chasing Ice [Film Listings, Feb. 15], I was surprised to find that the article didn’t seem to quite capture the necessary urgency that this topic demands. In fact, I was even more disheartened to find that it was one of the few articles that even addressed this global problem at all. As the capital of Texas, Austin – a beacon of environmental consciousness – promotes the further development of green energy practices to help individuals take better care of their city. However, newspapers in the surrounding area provide very little coverage about the oceans and other coastal problems, due to Austin’s distance from the coast.
    I think it would benefit the people of Austin and those who subscribe to this newspaper to be more exposed to the central issue of the film: global warming and its increasing effect on glaciers. Due to the fact that those who inhabit this beautiful area of Texas are so environmentally friendly, the messages wouldn’t be lost on the audience. Not to mention, a large portion of the population are students. Besides, issues on the coast don’t just affect those who live there, as we’ve seen with Hurricane Sandy this past year.
    Film communicates information so strongly, and the fact that filmmakers are taking advantage of this portal to inspire awareness among people all over the world about the threat that plagues the oceans and glaciers is a step in the right direction. Since, if left unchecked, global warming will only increase in the coming years, I believe that popular newspapers such as The Austin Chronicle should participate in spreading the knowledge of the adverse conditions that our planet, not just our city, is currently facing.