We've been had | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Re "Governor's energy summit highlights stark divide" (Tribune, Jan. 11):

Gov. Gary Herbert huddled in the Salt Palace with cronies from the fossil-fuels industry, deciding the fate of Utah: It is to be parceled out to extractive corporate predators. For them: big profits. For us: wilderness laid waste, precious water befouled, toxic air further degraded.

The true representatives of the people met outside, in the cold (literally and metaphorically). Physicians, scientists, eco-activists and a minister listed the dire health effects of dirty air, the ravages to be visited upon our pristine wild areas, the benighted mindset of our politicos and the injustice upon the majority who will suffer from tar sands, shale gas, coal and — astoundingly — nukes.

Unique treasures of our state are going to be brutally raped and left dead by short-term profiteers. We will inherit an ugly, toxic inferno in which to raise our children — the path to a livable relationship to our beautiful environment closed off until too late.

It's upon us now, and it's up to us. Even if you have never protested before, now is the time to join the true representatives. The nominal ones are selling us out.

John Prehn

Salt Lake City