2025-08-31

 Published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

31 August 2025

© Calvin J. Brown 2025

-----------------------

Finger-pointing over wildfire smoke won’t fix problem

As a Canadian, I'm disappointed that State Rep. Calvin Callahan has joined other lawmakers in formally complaining to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about the smoke from wildfires in Canada ("State lawmaker files complaint over smoke", August 8.)

Instead of focusing on the actual problem, in a press release, he chose to blame Canada and to threaten us with "real consequences" if we don't "get these wildfires under control."

The true problem is that the world's climate is warming. Canadian forests are burning because they've been subjected to years of increased heat and drought. Lightning strikes in our remote forests now frequently start fires that spread quickly and become impossible to suppress.

The solution is for the United States, Canada and the rest of the world to stop polluting the atmosphere with the huge amounts of greenhouse gases that are causing the climate to change. That won't be easy, but it's the only way to avoid a future of increasingly smoky air. Complaining to the EPA and blaming Canada is a convenient way to avoid acknowledging and addressing the real problem. We all need political leaders who boldly tackle the important challenges, even if they're difficult. Leaders who simply point fingers at others are not helpful.

Calvin Brown, Manitoba, Canada