Feel good, but futile gesture
King Canute, the 10th-century ruler of Scandinavia and England, demonstrated the futility of rulers to stop the tide from coming in by commanding it not to. Likewise, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s executive order to increase monitoring of increasing ocean acidification, create another research center and require more reporting is a feel good, but futile gesture [“Fighting ocean acidity,” Editorials, Dec. 2].

We know the causes of ocean acidification in detail; it is increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. More study and research will avail us nothing. Only actions to reduce the use of fossil fuel globally will do.

But the resulting economic pain is so horrible to contemplate that nations feel powerless. Nonetheless, a consortium of governors and mayors who are committed to real action on fuel reduction and who are willing to try to educate their constituents might have some effect, at least in the U.S.

—Herbert Curl Jr., Seattle