Letter to Elected Official, product from the Resource Management Project

The Resource Management project was one where we would get in groups with our fellow classmates or work alone and pick a resource in the natural world that is being consumed too quickly, or is too valuable that the world cannot just continue to consume at a certain pace. My resource was on Coal and it's mismanagement in American politics and the politics that effect the environment through the mismanagement. My goal was ultimately to raise awareness as with the Coal industry is a company that runs on the fundamental laws of supply and demand, raise awareness, lower demand, and ultimately reduce the size of the Coal market and its influence in American government. One product that was done was a letter sent to an elected official and in my case, was California state representative of the 51st district (San Diego) of Coal's dominating influence.

U.S. House of Representatives
1526 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

January 26, 2009

Dear Susan Davis,

I am writing this letter to voice my concern over our country's continued use of coal. It is becoming more and more evident that this country needs to move towards alternative, renewable resources not only to preserve the world's current environment, but also as to create the high-tech jobs that we need for the future. As climate change is becoming very much a threat to life on earth, it is even clearer that the coal industry must start leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the world. I believe that now is more than a perfect opportunity to see this happen. Although the California Renewable Portfolio Standards are in place,I wish to see a further refinement on the reduced use of the fossil fuels by implementing a bill that would slowly reduce the use of coal in San Diego, and possibly statewide as well. America today gets 50% of the total electricity supply from coal, and California, as seen as a leading state of the green movement, must continue to do so by creating more incentives to use less coal, not just using more alternative resources, to create an even greater positive impact in the environment.

Not only is America's dependence on coal a definite problem, the coal industry's immense influence along with the oil industry in American politics is severely limiting America's ability to transition to renewable energy sources, which is why I believe something must be done on the influence of the various industries in American politics. If America as a country is to continue to be the land of economic opportunity in the future as it has been in the past, I believe that America as a whole should adapt to the new era and once again become a country of innovation and creativity, through new laws that give incentives from America to go green starting with using less coal.

Sincerely,

Anthony Kang

5127 Canosa Avenue

San Diego CA, 92117