Letters to the Editor April 12, 2006

Arizona Obesity Conference slated April 13 at NAU

The Discovery Institute for Women's Health and Northern Arizona University are working on behalf of Arizona women to bring together health professionals from around the state, to focus on critical health issues.

Because obesity is linked to so many life-threatening diseases affecting Native Americans and Arizonans all over the state, we have partnered with the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Discovery Research Laboratories to sponsor the Arizona Conference to Prevent Obesity: "Winning the Battle," which will be held Thursday, April 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Flagstaff at Northern Arizona University, du Bois Center. Lunch will be included.

Our expert panel of presenters will focus on sharing new information regarding Native American health issues, discussing prevention strategies for obesity and diabetes in kids. They will highlight programs that have proven successful in reversing this regional epidemic.

April is just around the corner and seating capacity is limited, so please pass information about the conference on to your colleagues and friends today. Our agenda is impressive, and the material presented will provide us all with a unique opportunity to impact the health of our northern Arizona neighbors, young and old alike.

Your leadership on this issue is critical. Please help us spread the word, and do plan to attend. Since obesity is preventable, this conference is an important step in advocating for better health among all Arizonans, including those representing the future of this state -- our children.

And remember, the cost of prevention is not nearly as expensive as the cost of treating the disease.

Please go to www.thediscoveryinstitute.org for more information, or contact Marsha Kolich at consultmmk@aol.com.

We look forward to seeing you on April 13.

Marsha Kolich

The Discovery Institute for Women's Health

Phoenix, Ariz.

Ilene Decker, PhD

School of Health Professions

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Ariz.

Important to get global warming under control

In the past few years, concern has been expressed at the ice meltdown in Antarctica (South Pole) and more recently in Greenland (North Pole).

In recent weeks and months, there has been increasing consternation about the alarming glacial meltdown in Greenland. The numerous breakaway icebergs from Greenland that have been melting into the oceans and seas for a long time, contributed to the one that torpedoed the RMS Titanic liner on that fateful night of April 14, 1912.

This brings us to the current artificial snowmaking proposal at the San Francisco Peaks during dry seasons, like the current one. No amount of meretricious snowmaking will compensate for any natural shortfall in that fluffy stuff. On the contrary, using reclaimed water to make snow will create more harm than good to the mountains and its surrounding environs. Thus, this underscores the importance of controlling global warming, whose consequences (that include the long spells of dry weather we have been experiencing in this region), if not checked, will be environmentally catastrophic to the existence of our increasingly fragile planet.

Stephen B. Isabirye

Flagstaff, Ariz.

APS emergency rate hike not an emergency

This week, the Arizona Corporation Commission will deliberate another Arizona Public Service request for emergency rate relief. AARP urges the commission to reject this latest APS rate request -- this one calling for a 14 percent emergency rate increase beginning April 1 to cover the company's fuel and purchased-power costs.

Emergency rate relief should only be granted under very limited circumstances, such as when necessary to help companies that are facing the threat of bankruptcy or where a company's resources are so depleted they cannot serve their customers.

APS does not meet the above criteria as evidenced by their recent announcement of an increased dividend for stockholders. APS is also not on the verge of financial failure. And, APS is in a position to continue service to its customers without any danger of diminished service, much less interruption of service.

The real emergency is what this rate increase would mean for Arizonans living on fixed and low incomes -- the average monthly residential bill would jump from $101 to $120 based on 1100 kilowatt hours of use.

And so we ask the commission to keep the interests of residential customers in mind and reject the APS request for emergency rate relief.

Jon Poston

AARP Arizona Advocacy Volunteer

Phoenix, Ariz.

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