To the Editor:

I’ve just watched David Attenborough’s latest beautiful Netflix film, Escape from Extinction. Unlike Attenborough, I’m an ordinary citizen, yet like him, I’m concerned with our warming planet and willing to do my part so that our future isn’t so hot and bereft of wildlife that it’s unbearably uncomfortable.

So I bought a hybrid car and I plug it in. I’d go full electric if there were more ports to recharge with.

To get more ports we need more people with electric vehicles (EVs).

To get more buyers of electric vehicles we need more sellers who advocate for them and sell them.

However, dealers get a higher commission on cars that have fancier do-dahs and/or do dads.

If we could purchase directly from the makers (Like Elon Musk), perhaps more people would be more convinced that EVs would save them money and save the planet, too.

Let’s counter-lobby the car dealerships so that more electric vehicles, more recharging ports, more happy EV owners, and more direct purchases happen, and we get to exist in a world less fraught with carbon emissions that heat up our atmosphere.

Attenborough also suggests that we become vegetarians so that our wildlife has a place to breed, and that we care for beleaguered countries, so that like Japan we reach zero population growth. The beauty of Attenborough’s photography suggests that those are great goals; but for now let’s concentrate on EVs.

Ordinarily,

Patricia Barkman

49 Taunton Lake Road, Newtown June 18, 2021