Readers sound off on water, food, fish, and the healing powers of nature.
Real Water Waste
Most of the food for humans grown in California uses only 4 percent of the state’s overall ag-sector water use (which totals to 80 percent of the developed water consumption). Compare to the 11 percent that is used for irrigated pasture, the 18 percent that goes to raise hay, or the 34 percent that goes to highly lucrative luxury nut exports. We have plenty of water for food and fish. We don’t have enough to grow everything speculators would like to sell.
Robert Greacen
Food Matters
It may be popular to attack agricultural interests as “a bunch of wealthy farmers,” but as an out-of-stater, I see it a little differently. People can live without lawns and swimming pools, but just try living without food! I humbly submit that, when water is in short supply, food production should always take priority over purely aesthetic or recreational uses.
James Castro
Primary Medicine
Many thanks to Dr. Razani, the SHINE Program, and all the volunteers behind this very important effort to improve the quality of children’s health in the most natural way (pun intended!) [“The Doctor’s Prescription Is Nature,” September]. Not only does Dr. Razani’s prescription for nature reduce stress in children, but the outdoors is their largest, natural, and most beautiful playground for imaginative play and exercise. In addition, this generation will contribute to protecting these natural resources that belong to all and must be preserved for this very purpose and so many more! I am a big proponent of nature, as someone who spends more time outdoors than in, it’s my primary medicine!
Susana Yerian
Corrections and Clarifications
Dr. Caroline Hastings appeared in a photo with patient Jessica “Jesse” Sharps, whom we identified incorrectly, and her mother, TJ Racoosin [“A Most Remarkable Doctor,” October]. The director of Kaiser’s Garfield Innovation in Oakland is Jennifer Liebermann; her name was misspelled [“Avatars, Driverless Cars, and Virtual Reality,” October.] Also, we misspelled the name of contributor Catherine Brozena in the masthead [November], and we failed to identify chef Massi Boldrini of Riva Cucina in a caption [“High Art,” November].
Published online on Dec. 21, 2016 at 7:00 a.m.