Organizers of peaceful protests deserve credit

I am writing to remind the people of Pittsburgh that 19 out of 20 of the recent protests regarding the G-20 remained peaceful, not in spite of, but because of the efforts of the organizers, including many creative Pittsburghers. A number of educational forums were offered in the week prior to the G-20, allowing us to become informed and develop an understanding of what all the fuss was about.

Specific workshops on nonviolent civil protest were offered and an intention was created to remain educated and determined yet peaceful. Artists also found ways to express the needs of the vulnerable people of the world who seem left out of the solutions the G-20 offers.

While many inconveniences happened, this was overall a wonderful opportunity for our city to engage in meaningful dialogue and to learn from many points of view. I hope we continue to be the "world-class" city that we are, aware of and seeking creative solutions for a peaceful and just world beyond our city or county borders, allowing ourselves to hear the voices of concern that are often overlooked.

The local organizers of the peaceful protests deserve our credit for creating opportunities for education and action.

DANA ELMENDORF
Monroeville

A hellish scene

As a proud Pittsburgher and Pitt law student, I was ecstatic about the G-20 coming to Pittsburgh. I welcomed the visiting police with open arms and encouraged their get-tough techniques in order to prevent vandalism. That is, until Friday night.

On my way home from the Pirates game, I stopped in Oakland to pick up some books. Finding the law building locked, I asked some nearby riot police if there was a way in. They responded rudely, telling me to get out of Oakland because "things were about to get ugly." I had no idea how right they would be.

Over the next two hours, I witnessed nothing short of hell. In attempting to reach my home in Squirrel Hill, I was yelled at, chased and threatened by police. Every officer gave me conflicting advice, until finally riot police on Fifth Avenue surrounded me. The police pumped and aimed their rubber bullet guns and launched OC gas. No one in the area was protesting; it was just a bunch of curious kids.

I finally resorted to walking all the way home. I have never been so shocked and disappointed in my life. This weekend I wanted the city to shine its brightest, but after Friday, I could not tell whether I was in Tehran or Pittsburgh.

BETH HACKNEY
Squirrel Hill

World-class CAPA

The G-20 summit has ended, and Pittsburgh could not have looked better. Of course, one extraordinary part of the summit was first lady Michelle Obama's visit to Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, the creative and performing arts magnet of the Pittsburgh school district. CAPA continues to be the shining star of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. For 30 years it has been one of the finest schools not only in Pittsburgh but also in the state.

This year, Pittsburgh CAPA is one of two public high schools in Pennsylvania to be named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. To be included as a stop in the summit schedule is one more achievement in the school's history.

Mrs. Obama and the spouses of those world leaders attending the summit came to Pittsburgh CAPA to see students in an educational arts environment. They could not have been more complimentary, gracious or kind. They were impressed with the caliber of students and the educational opportunities Pittsburgh CAPA offers and were very clear in their comments that CAPA is a world-class program.

As a faculty member at CAPA for a long time, I can say it was an unbelievable day at Pittsburgh CAPA. We were given the opportunity to let the world see our wonderful students and the achievements for which we strive each school year.

As each year demonstrates, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 continues to shine not only as an exceptional program of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, but now one that the region can celebrate as a high point in the summit.

I continue to be amazed that I have the great fortune to be a teacher at Pittsburgh's premier school.

RUSSELL A. KUEHNER
Ben Avon

Worth the carbon?

If someone from Carnegie Mellon wants to have fun, he or she should crunch the numbers and determine the size of the carbon footprint for the G-20 summit. These people flew here from all over the world; many thousands of law enforcement people were brought here; protesters drove here; traffic had to be rerouted around the events; and traffic was stopped to allow motorcades to pass, causing engines to idle for hours.

All in all, a pretty hefty carbon footprint from people who should be setting a better example.

I could see it if the technology to teleconference had yet to be invented. If they teleconferenced, they could meet as often as needed and save a ton of money and carbon emissions.

DAVE HROMANIK
West Mifflin

Back to reality

Pittsburgh put on a good show for the world, but let's be honest with ourselves. A tree fell on my street Sunday morning, knocking out power. It took Duquesne Light 41/2 hours just to dispatch a tree crew, and hours beyond that to restore service.

Our infrastructure is in shambles. Monopolies rule, whether it's the utilities or our various municipalities. World-class, indeed.

KEN HERZ
Squirrel Hill

Include nuclear

Nuclear power must be included with wind, solar, biomass and geothermal as "green" energy sources under Pennsylvania's new alternative energy standards (HB 80). Expanding power output at nuclear plants such as Exelon's Peach Bottom facility can safely produce up to 20 percent more reliable, 24/7 carbon-free electricity, save Pennsylvania consumers $137 million annually in electric costs and reduce carbon emissions the equivalent of removing 700,000 cars from our roads.

There is no time to delay. Nuclear power belongs in our state's alternative energy portfolio.

JOHN OLIVER
Pennsylvania Energy Alliance Advisory Board Member
Sewickley

The writer is former secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Our region provides a blueprint for insurance access

Gary Rotstein's Sept. 22 article "Metro Area Ranks 2nd in Health Insurance" underscores the long-standing tradition of many segments of our region to help people obtain health insurance. For decades, Highmark has worked cooperatively with hospitals, doctors, employers, unions, local and state government and community groups to develop health insurance programs to protect vulnerable segments of our community: the unemployed, children of the unemployed and underemployed, and lower-income working adults. In fact, the national Children's Health Insurance Program was modeled after a communitywide partnership in Western Pennsylvania in the mid-1980s to provide insurance for kids from economically disadvantaged families.

One reason that our region and Philadelphia have one of the highest rates of people with health insurance is the important role played by Highmark and the state's other Blue Cross companies. For more than 70 years, we've worked diligently to meet our unique mission -- to make health-care coverage available to all segments of the community, regardless of health status. In the past three years alone, Highmark has provided more than $350 million in financial support to help hold down the cost and expand access to health-care coverage for hundreds of thousands of lower-income families, older adults and uninsured children.

To be sure, there are still too many people without health insurance. However, the cooperative efforts and shared responsibility of key participants of our region's health-care system offer a blueprint to members of Congress on how to expand the availability of health insurance. At the same time, to enact meaningful health-care reform, congressional leaders also must focus attention on controlling rising health-care costs.

KENNETH R. MELANI, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Highmark Inc.
Downtown

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