Letters to the Editor: A hot-weather NHL, climate change, and Seth Moulton’s impact on mental health - Lowell Sun

Letters to the Editor: A hot-weather NHL, climate change, and Seth Moulton's impact on mental health

Hot-weather franchises now rule the NHL, but at what cost?

What a difference 60 years can make.

Sixty years ago the entire National Hockey League consisted of six teams. Nostalgically referred to as the “original six,” these six franchises were based in Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, and Montreal. All six cities were accustomed to extended cold winter weather, with months of snow and ice. In those days, ecology, climate change, and global warning were virtually unheard of. If we needed energy to light our cities, warm our homes, or power our cars, we simply had to extract it from the ground. Life was simple, and life was good.

Over the years, the NHL has expanded several times, absorbed a rival league, and expanded some more. It has now ballooned to 32 franchises. The recent Stanley Cup championship was played between a team from Las Vegas and one from Miami. It is somehow surreal to see a professional ice hockey championship being played by a team from a sweltering desert climate and one from an equally sweltering tropical climate. In the home cities of both teams, natural ice would be an alien presence, every bit as much as palm trees in Montreal or Toronto.

Meanwhile, most of us have grown much more conscious of ecology, global warning, and the importance of not wasting energy. We recycle, weatherstrip, compost, switch to LED light bulbs; we lower the thermostat a few degrees in winter, and try not to run the A/C excessively in summer. We consider an electric vehicle for our next purchase. Little things on a small scale, perhaps; but we figure that every little bit helps.

So we can hardly be blamed for regarding askance the energy required to maintain an indoor ice surface for ten months of the year in Miami and Las Vegas. Additionally, there are also NHL franchises in Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Phoenix, Dallas, and Tampa. As this letter is written, all eight of these cities are currently broiling in sustained triple-digit temperatures. Indeed, the NHL has more hot-weather franchises today than the number of teams it had in the entire league sixty years ago. And in the case of Las Vegas and Phoenix, we are further dismayed to realize that ice-skating rinks are being maintained by drawing water from the already overstressed Colorado River.

What are we to make of this situation? We can’t call it a joke because nobody’s laughing. To call it serious depends on your definition of the word. What does seem certain is that it makes no sense. Nor is life simple and good.

— J.F. Dacey

Lowell

Climate change to blame for extreme summer weather

Your report on smoke from wildfires in Canada comes as no surprise (“Wildfire smoke from Canada again impacts Massachusetts, sparks air quality alert,” 7/18). When I looked out my window early this morning, the sun was a dull ochre disk suspended in a gray haze.

Blame Canada? Hardly. The dry conditions that led to the wildfires were exacerbated by climate change. The article fails to mention it, but the weather we’re having this summer — smoke, heatwaves, floods — is turbocharged by the havoc that warming wreaks on global weather patterns.

Let’s point the finger at the true culprits, that is, anyone who is resisting the transition away from fossil fuels. That includes not just Big Oil but all of its enablers in governments here and abroad.

So if you’re not happy with the prospect of the Air Quality Index constantly in the unhealthy range, remember to vote for candidates who support renewable energy and are committed to breaking our addiction to oil and gas.

— Frederick Hewett

Cambridge

Moulton making big impact on mental health

Congressman Seth Moulton’s unwavering commitment to addressing the critical issue of mental health shouldn’t go unnoticed. By spearheading recent initiatives, including the Brandon Act and the 988 hotline, he’s demonstrating his dedication to improving the mental well-being of people across the nation.

The Brandon Act allows service members to seek confidential mental health support without fearing retaliation and negative social or workplace consequences. It prioritizes the mental health of those serving our country and reduces stigmatization surrounding mental health support. Moulton also introduced the 988 hotline, providing a lifeline to individuals in crisis as it connects them to professionals who can offer support and assistance. His efforts for 988 demonstrate his understanding of the importance and urgency of access to mental health care for everyone.

Supporting and advocating for the Brandon Act and the 988 hotline will create an environment where seeking help is encouraged and accessible. Together we can work to dismantle counterproductive stereotypes and unnecessary barriers that prevent the accessible mental health care and attention that everyone deserves. Moulton has had a tremendous impact on mental health and impacted many lives, and in today’s dysfunctional political environment, that’s a major accomplishment worth celebrating.

— Lydon Kelley

Andover