To the editor:

It’s time for Kansas to recognize and deal with global warming, if for no other reason than to put it off will only increase the suffering of future Kansans.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recognizes this and is urging governments, including the Bush administration in Washington, to face up to the reality of global warming.

Schwarzenegger has vowed to make California a leader in the battle against global warming by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases while increasing the use of renewable energy.

“Global warming threatens California’s water supply, public health, agriculture, coastlines and forests, our entire economy and way of life,” Schwarzenegger said.

Kansas has no coastlines or large forested areas, but fixing global warming can protect Kansas’ water supplies, agriculture, economy and way of life. Plus it can provide rural rejuvenation and create good jobs in Kansas.

President Bush has said he could “not endorse an agreement (Kyoto) that would lead to U.S. job losses.” But the fact is more and more Americans understand that to delay taking up the climate-warming challenge will only serve to increase American job losses over the long term as other nations take the lead in developing, manufacturing and deploying the technologies designed to address the problem and begin reaping the benefits that go along with taking up the challenge.

I say let’s move ahead before it is too late.

Les Blevins,

Lawrence