On April 27, Bath Iron Works will christen a huge warship, a destroyer in name and intention. There will be a celebration.

Many of us oppose the blessing of this ship. We want jobs in Maine to focus on solving the climate crisis, rather than adding to the Pentagon’s carbon footprint.

Our skilled workers can do so much to move us toward green energy – wind, solar and hydro. Instead of war ships to benefit weapons contractors, we need local innovations that support local workers and our Maine economy.

Jimmy Carter gave a strong response to President Trump’s recent concern that China will overtake us economically: “Since 1979, do you know how many times China has been at war …? None. And we have stayed at war. The U.S. has only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its 242-year history, making the country the most warlike nation in the history of the world. China has not wasted a single penny on war, that’s why they’re ahead of us.”

The men and women who built this warship can be proud of their skills and hard work. But what a celebration it would be to cheer the launch of systems to rebuild a healthy planet.

Rosalie Paul
Brunswick


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