As a citizen of Maine and America, I am thankful for the leadership of Gov. John Baldacci and the Maine Legislature, as well as President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress, as they seek solutions to the problems of global warming and political extremism in the Middle East, which negatively affect the environmental health of Earth and the health of human beings.

We all know that the Androscoggin River reached its present state of cleanliness only after the old ideas about pollution and the environment were rejected. New ideas with new technology brought change, cleaned up the river, eliminated the floating pollutants and much of the smell (the stink). The cleaner river is now promoted as a positive factor by economic organizations.

Gov. Baldacci and President Obama know that new ideas must replace the old ideas in order for the people to be successful in dealing with the serious environmental and energy problems. They know that going green is a healthy direction for the Earth and human beings, and it makes economic sense as well.

Tom Fallon, Rumford