Samuel Hoehn: I support laws strengthening protection of our environment

To The Daily Sun,

“The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.“ — Psalm 89:11

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us we Granite Staters can overcome all threats to our survival when we unite together against great dangers. The Granite State is going to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, but we must also fight to protect our environment from pollution.

I am running in the Democratic State Representative Primary to represent the people of Belknap District 3, Laconia.

The threat of pollution against our environment has never been more prevalent. Corporations continuously exploit loose environmental laws at our expense. I would support strengthening laws to protect our environment.

In recent years, corporations have made attempts to steal and pollute land through eminent domain. We must protect against destructive projects like the Northern Pass, and pipelines. New Hampshire should have stronger eminent domain laws to prohibit corporations from stealing and polluting our land.

The Granite State should also ban fracking. A ban on fracking would prevent future harm from coming to our environment.

New Hampshire should stop subsidizing fossil fuel industries. Republicans often speak highly of the free market, and the free market has spoken. While fossil fuel is cheap, clean green energy is the future.

The federal government must return the White Mountain National Forest to New Hampshire. The Granite State could better protect the land as a state park with stronger environmental laws.

The New Hampshire moose population has been on the decline, yet hunting is still ongoing. Moose are one of the most important cultural symbols of the Granite State, and a popular tourist attraction. New Hampshire cannot continue to allow the hunting of moose, unless the decline turns into a substantial increase.

Rail trails, like the WOW Trail, have been extremely successful. I would support expanding rail trails all across the Granite State, and rivaling the extensive cycle routes in the Netherlands. A New Hampshire rail trail system could attract tourists from all over the world.

A New Hampshire passenger rail expansion would further minimize our impact on the environment. I would support passenger trains in New Hampshire wherever useful.

The Granite State uses more road salt than almost any other state in the nation. Road salt destroys the environment. I would suggest using either calcium magnesium acetate or potassium acetate. The two road salt alternatives are as effective as road salt, but more expensive. A road salt alternative is cheaper when factoring in the environmental impact, and the destruction of infrastructure.

New Hampshire should ban public water fluoridation. No, I am not a conspiracy theorist that believes in a communist plot to overthrow the government. The scientific evidence about water fluoridation is controversial. The government should not pollute public water with fluoride.

The Granite State must continue to fight against pollution, and protect our environment.

Samuel Hoehn

Laconia