Cars and the Environment: A Mutually Exclusive Relationship?

Regarding the article "Tokyo Puts Prototypes on Display," Nov. 6: The show's theme discovering a new relationship: man, car, and earth as one is a dishonest marketing strategy. No matter how good a car's gas mileage is, its manufacturing and operation consume materials and energy and produce pollution. Its use will never be friendly to the environment.To save the environment we must move away from manufacturing and individual transportation, toward an economy where a higher quality of existence for humans, "whales, sunsets, and trees" is more important than profit and gross national product. Environments that will sustain life and "a car in every garage" are becoming more mutually exclusive. Jon Remmerde, Livermore, Colo.

Israel's bargaining chips In response to the opinion-page piece, "Why Israel Is in a Strong Position to Bargain," Nov. 6, I must agree that now is the best time for the Israelis to sit down at the bargaining table with their Arab foes. For example, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is stronger now than ever due to a more credible nuclear threat. The Gulf war has also drastically changed the region's balance of power. With the decline of the Soviet Union as a power in the region, the United States, Israel's key supporter, has filled the void. The US's prestige has soared mostly because of its decisive victory over Iraq. And Palestinian support for Iraq in the war has caused many moderate Arabs to shun the PLO. As of now, Israel holds most of the cards, so the time is ideal to sue for peace, or the Middle East may continue on a war-torn path. Patrick Klocek, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Mendelssohn's achievement The excellent article "The Mendelssohns 'Rediscovered, Oct. 2, neglects to mention an important achievement by Felix Mendelssohn: his rediscovery of J. S. Bach's music, particularly the St. Matthew Passion, which had lain dormant for decades. The works of Bach would not have reached their enduring appeal today, and might have lapsed into total obscurity, were it not for Mendelssohn's efforts. S. Kinross, Don Mills, Canada

Bringing home closer I am a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Poland. I only have praise and respect for your paper, which I find insightful, accurate, and intriguing. The article "On Sabbatical in a Kelp Forest," Sept. 25, prompts me to write. I have been in Poland more than 17 months now and had begun to miss my home (Pacific Grove, near Monterey, Calif.). This piece brings me a little closer to home. It brings back some wonderful memories of trips to Moss Landing with my family and of tide-pooling out in beautiful Monterey Bay. Paddy Laurance, Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, Poland

Alerting the moose The article "Moose Make Wrong Move - Into Suburbs," Oct. 30, makes no mention of animal alert devices. High-frequency alert devices warn deer of approaching vehicles. We have them in our cars and have found them effective not only for deer but for dogs and fowl in the highways. We understand that the Missouri Highway Patrol cars are using them with success. Perhaps New England needs them, too. Margaret Purviance, Dawsonville, Ga.