Two recent opinion pieces on your editorial page took a strong stance against what Dr. Mohan Munasinghe and Al Gore have said about global warming. Dr. Munasinghe has earned four post graduate degrees, has had 35 years of distinguished public service, won many international prizes and medals for his research and its applications, and authored 90 books and over 300 technical papers on climate change and related subjects. I heard his recent speech at Elizabeth City State University, and to someone who would like to leave a safe planet for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it was distressing.

I don't know if one of your recent letter-writers heard the speech, or what credentials he has that qualify him to make the remarks he did. He said Al Gore and his "ilk are motivated not by love of Mother Earth, but by economics and politics." I find it difficult to believe this world-renowned man would be interested in, or influenced by, our politics or economics. One only needs common sense to know we have a problem.

In my 92 years, I have never before seen such extreme weather. Fires, floods, drought and tornadoes are on the news constantly. Also, that heat records all over the country are being broken. We see the heavy smog in China, just when the Olympics are beginning.

One of your letter-writers admits that "we have damaged the planet." Dr. Munasinghe said "temperatures will rise no matter what we do now, because the 'gunk' is already there (in the atmosphere)." So, why wouldn't we want to do everything we can to stop adding to the problem we already have? It might cost to cut down global warming, but not nearly as much as the damage caused by extreme weather changes.

EVELYN LUTON

Elizabeth City