To the editor: Coincidentally, your article on the accelerating disappearance of sea ice from the Arctic Ocean appeared in the print edition the day after I finished rereading one of my favorite classics, Mary Shelly's “Frankenstein.”
Those who know the story will remember that it begins with scientist Victor Frankenstein pursuing his hideous nameless creation across giant plains of Arctic ice to avenge the murders of Frankenstein's family members. Rescued by a passing ship, Frankenstein narrates his story to the captain, revealing his arrogance: man's assumption that he can manipulate nature without tragic consequences.
Frankenstein feels no remorse for unleashing this destructive force on the world, and simply explains that he created the monster while “in a fit of enthusiastic madness.”
Shelly, who wrote the book in 1818, could not have predicted that her environment, which she described as the “eternal ices of the north,” would end up being destroyed by something called fossil fuel emissions. However, he would have had no trouble imagining that our reckless manipulation of nature, despite many signs that we were causing great harm, would catch up with us in a big way.
Just look at the monster we have created.
Sara Freifeld, Valencia
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To the editor: As you say in the subtitle of the print edition, this is worrying. It's not just about polar bears anymore.
The loss of Arctic sea ice is like the canary in the coal mine. It portends drastic effects on our environment and the environment in which all wildlife live, where we grow food and wood for buildings, as well as the ocean environment, which is a source of food for much of the world.
So just because an ice-free Arctic is now inevitable doesn't mean we should stop trying to fight climate change. This news should act as a call to action to prevent consequences of climate change worse than an ice-free Arctic Ocean.
It's about the habitability of our world. If you don't think that's a problem, consider that people are already dying from extreme heat.
Murray Zichlinsky, Long Beach
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To the editor: Once again, the most serious problem, climate change, is being largely ignored in an election year. Despite the extreme weather and record temperatures, it has yet to make headlines as a “hot” issue for candidates.
Before the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, “pro-life” conservatives dismissed climate change, even though extreme weather kills thousands of people each year. Now, Democrats are focusing on women's rights as a winning strategy. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Gaza are justifiably making headlines.
If this year turns out to be another record high temperature, extreme weather, wildfires and flooding, then perhaps voters will decide to elect candidates who take climate change (and, therefore, life itself) seriously.
Michael Wright, Glen Rock, Pennsylvania.
