Readers write: EU reforms, wildlife and roads, Wright brothers
Call for European Union reforms
The May 25 Monitor鈥檚 View聽鈥淏ritish election sets a model for nations in midst of divorce鈥� refers to Scotland鈥檚 possible secession from Britain. There is no reference to another potential 鈥渄ivorce鈥� confronting British Prime Minister David Cameron: Britain鈥檚 separation from the European Union. There will be a referendum on this next year or in 2017. In order to convince British citizens to vote in favor of EU membership, Mr. Cameron must initiate significant reforms in EU policy and reaffirm the sovereignty of national legislatures operating within the EU. His ability to successfully maintain Britain鈥檚 position within a reformed EU will partly define his legacy as prime minister.聽
Alistair Budd
London
Wildlife and roads don鈥檛 mix
Regarding the May 22 online article 鈥淗ow Obama鈥檚 鈥榖utterfly highway鈥� paves way to save embattled monarchs鈥� (CSMonitor.com): Although federal and state agencies are well meaning in their monarch butterfly conservation, Interstate 35 is not the place to do it. Butterflies and highway traffic don鈥檛 mix. The buffeting air currents created by passing trucks, let alone direct contact with the fast-moving vehicles, is likely to make many insects go splat. If anything, you would want to eliminate any plants near the highway known or suspected to be attractive to butterflies.
Fraser Shilling
Road Ecology Center,
University of California, Davis
Davis, Calif.
Wright Brothers appreciation
Thank you for the May 18听谤别惫颈别飞 of David McCullough鈥檚 new book, 鈥淭he Wright Brothers.鈥� I agree with your reviewer that the best part of the book is the detailed description of the Wrights鈥� struggles and breakthroughs as they worked at Kitty Hawk, N.C. They quietly overcame what seemed like insoluble difficulties, working patiently, step by step, determined that powered flight was possible. We owe much to the Wrights.
John Moorhead
Erie, Pa.
