Letters: US: Please ban the sales of shark fins

US: Stop the sale of shark fins

EDITOR: It’s the oceans’ top predator’s favorite time of year — shark week. 

As families tune in for this annual summer tradition, it’s important to remember that sharks are in trouble. 

A study published earlier this year in "Nature" found that global oceanic shark and ray populations have declined by more than 70% over the last 50 years, with overfishing as the primary cause. The demand for shark fins incentivizes overfishing and shark finning, the cruel and wasteful practice of removing a shark’s fins at sea and throwing them back where it drowns, starves to death, or is eaten alive by other fish. Fins from as many as 73 million sharks end up in the market every year.

Just as rhinoceros and elephant populations have declined due to the demand for their horns and tusks, the shark fin trade jeopardizes the continued survival of many shark populations. Although shark finning is illegal in United States waters, fins can still be bought and sold throughout much of the United States. These fins, often imported from countries that have inadequate protections in place for sharks. 

In June, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to ban the buying and selling of shark fins in the United States. Now it’s time for the House to make it a reality. The House of Representatives already showed its support when it passed this bill in the last Congress. The demand for shark fins in decimating shark populations, and the United States must do its part to help protect them.

Join me in calling on Congress to pass the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 2811) and officially remove the United States from the shark fin trade once and for all. A fin ban is needed now.  

Randy Sturgill, Oceana, senior field representative, Wilmington

Is America a racist country?

EDITOR: When I went to school I was taught that America made mistakes and harmed many people but was still the land of the free. Now students are taught that America is a racist nation and dwell on past wrongs and not on what improvements have been made.

Cori Bush a progressive democrat says the fourth of July is a white holiday because America was formed on stolen land and that African Americans are not free. The Washington Post says we need to question the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom and the New York Times says our flag is divisive. 

America certainly isn't perfect but most people in the would come here if allowed. Unfortunately Biden's policies are trying to allow that to happen at our southern border. So instead of open borders why not let all these Americans that think America is so bad to leave and then we could allow a lot more legal immigration of people that want to live here.

It's your decision what is taught in school but I don't think teaching critical race theory that says all whites are racist is the way to go. This will only divide Americans farther apart.

Terry Shew, Wilmington

Will a wall solve US problems?

EDITOR: There continues to be political squabbling over the southern border; various administrations have wrestled with the problem with poor results.

Thinking just a wall will solve the immigration problem is akin to believing putting a coat of paint over rotten wood is a solution; it may look better but the underlying problem remains. The United States needs to attack the problem at its source and also provide adequate administrative resources at the border. There are a number of corrupt governments south of the border and throwing money at them without controlling how it is spent simply does not work.  It is essential that aid be in the strict control of the United States and provides resources to weed out government corruption and eliminate cartels. This would be both a humanitarian effort for innocent people living in fear in those countries and for our national security.

Kamala Harris has been assigned to deal with the problem, thus far she has not articulated a detailed plan and has been sorely lacking in communication to the American people who provide the tax dollars.  Simply blaming the prior administration is not a solution as the problem has existed for decades. Definitive ideas and solid implementation are needed.

Steven Donatone, Hampstead

Income equality

EDITOR: I consider myself to be fairly intelligent, but I am not in the same league with Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Warren Buffett. 

Yet, based on the new cry for income equality, we should all make close to the same income. This is like saying that while I am not as fast as an Olympic sprinter, but in a race, we should finish in a tie.  A third string NFL quarterback should be paid the same as Tom Brady.

In America, we can strive to be better. Unfortunately, some are better than others. I guess, we should penalize those people who excel.

Anthony Riviezzo, Leland

Communities can help with mental health care

EDITOR: People have heard the stories of nurses holding the hand of a dying COVID-19 patient just so that person does not die alone. Others have also heard stories of mobile morgues because of the abundance of death due to COVID-19. But what happens after the COVIDid-19 pandemic is a past event? Does North Carolina have enough resources to help those grieving? Just as significantly, how does the state help our frontline health care professionals now dealing with the trauma they have experienced?

Unfortunately, North Carolina does not have enough mental health providers to assist individuals facing trauma and mental illness. For example, a 2021 State of Mental Health in America Report by Mental Health America points out that North Carolina ranks 44th in access to mental health care and 45th in youth access to mental health care.

How can citizens of the Wilmington area help? First, residents of the Wilmington area can ask North Carolina legislators to take action. Furthermore, people can donate to and volunteer for organizations like the Coastal Horizons Center and Paws4People, assisting people with mental health care access. Thus, people can genuinely make a difference.  

Cara Vitadamo, (RN, BSN PMHNP student at Eastern Kentucky University), Hampstead 

Letters should not exceed 200 words. Please put text in the body of an email. Do not send attachments; attachments will not be read. Letters should address the editor, not a third party. Two weeks must elapse between letters from the same writer. We edit for space, clarity, civility and accuracy. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Only your name and hometown will be published. There is no guarantee of publication. While the StarNews office remains closed to the public because of the COVID-19 pandemic, letters to the editor will only be accepted by email. Email: letters@starnewsonline.com.