I recently gave a copy of “American Ground Zero: The Secret Nuclear War” (1993) by Carole Gallagher to the Durango Public Library. It includes more than 70 personal narratives from individuals and families harmed by nuclear fallout from the Cold War Nevada tests.

It is important that testing stops permanently. And if the U.S. honors the test ban, it’s more likely Russia would, too.

Nuclear power and nuclear weapons are inextricably linked. Our old plants need to be shut down and cleaned up, as many are far beyond their expected life span, becoming more and more brittle and dangerous.

Monies should go to cleaner and safer energies. Our power grid is in bad need of strengthening. A sun flare of electromagnetic pulse from our enemies could instantly put us back in the Stone Age.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could broaden our definition of “defense” and use our monies accordingly?

Beth Suttle Estelle

Durango