Is only the U.S. parched? …

It is a legitimate concern that the U.S. is "parched" ("Parched," Dec. 11)--one which might direct our thoughts to God's call to all of us to care for creation and reduce the impact of global warming by finding faithful ways to address the causes.

I was appalled, however, by the CENTURY editors' comments about the Great Lakes. You seem not to so much as blink an eye at diverting waters from lakes whose coastlines are more in Canadian territory than in American and which are fed by many Canadian rivers. The Great Lakes are already experiencing far lower water levels than in the past, and protecting their fragile ecosystem is a major concern for both our countries.

Talking about diverting waters, and then addressing only potential conflict between states in the various U.S. regions, is self-interest in the worst sense. You offer only U.S. solutions for a situation with complex, thorny and deep-rooted causes.

As a vegetarian, I do appreciate the CENTURY'S call for new policies about water--especially the comments about a hamburger's impact on water consumption. Herds of beef cows have as serious (or more serious) an impact on global warming as all those SUVs we drive and the many trucks which deliver food thousands of miles from where it is grown.

Lillian Perigoe

Toronto Conference, United Church of Canada, Toronto, Ontario

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