Off in Space

To the Editors:

I have been awed by the beautiful pictures taken from space of the moon, the earth and the other planets [NATION, Nov. 26], and long to explore the vastness of the universe. Space, however, cannot be the expensive playground of the scientists and the military. It must first be developed for its economic benefits, for energy from the sun and raw materials from the asteroids and the moon. Space is a rich frontier large enough for all mankind.

Sandra Lee Adamson

Tucson

If an educator and a politician are to go on future flights, why not a poet, so we can have some aesthetic observations?

Ernest W. Brown

Des Moines

How many Americans, if free to choose, would support the exorbitant cost of space research, which is paid for with the taxpayers' dollars?

Davey-Joe Potter

West Davenport, N. Y.

It is true that we could reduce the national deficit or help the malnourished if we did not spend money to develop space. But what will the human race do when earth's resources are used up? Man could find himself trapped on a dying planet.

Allen Miller

Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Outer space will be the next great confrontation between East and West. While the U.S. thrashes around with the arms-control meetings, the Soviets will quietly be building space stations that will make arms control look like a joke.

Margaret Biggs

Center Sandwich, N.H.

President Reagan's commitment to the manned space program should be applauded. Critics who question the expense should examine the ultimate cost of limiting our knowledge of the universe. Who is to say that eventual colonization and utilization of space's vast resources will not be necessary for human survival?

Michael D. Piltz

Bellflower, Calif.

Man of the Year

The clear choice for your 1984 Man of the Year is President Ronald Reagan. He has convinced Americans that he can lead the U.S. for another four years.

Hans Schattle

Bristol, R.I.

The men and women of the American and Soviet space programs.

Gary Dale Hudnall

San Francisco

The Rev. Jerzy Popieluszko. With his faith and bravery, he expressed the essence of man's struggle for freedom against totalitarianism.

R. Allan Harder

Hornell, N. Y.

The late Martin Luther King Sr. for his self-sacrificing service to humanity.

Lonnie Nord

Lorain, Ohio

Los Angeles Olympics Organizer Peter Ueberroth for upholding a tradition that is threatened by superpower politics.

Sanjay Upadhya

Katmandu, Nepal

Baby Fae, who, through her sacrifice, may enable others to live normal lives.

Anthony Bersani

Barnegat, N.J.

Death by Starvation

Your article on conditions in Ethiopia [WORLD, Nov. 26] focused on the plight of the starving without discussing the root causes. The famine is the result not of a malevolent nature but of human activities. The drought was created by farming practices that stripped the land of irreplaceable soil, by politicians who value military power and short-term economic growth more than self-sufficiency in food production, and by a society that refuses to come to grips with overpopulation.

Kathleen Adkins

Valhalla, N. Y.

Relief for Ethiopia will depend on how soon the country addresses a fundamental problem-rapid population growth. While we reach for our checkbooks to help keep Ethiopians from starving, let us not forget that without a significant reduction in the population growth rate, today's tragedy may portend an even more frightening future.

M. Rupert Cutler, Executive Director

The Environmental Fund

Washington, D.C.

How clever of the Soviets, after ignoring the situation in Ethiopia, now to send trucks, planes and helicopters to distribute foodstuffs. Concern for starving people is hardly the motivating factor in this offer.

Lee Washburn Maloney

San Antonio

Americans do not realize that Ethiopia is a satellite of the U.S.S.R. Let the Soviet Union feed them.

John R. Freeman

Phelan, Calif.

While the Western nations should be praised for their contributions to alleviate human suffering in Ethiopia, the concern shown by these nations points out one of the ironies of the situation. Aid to Third World countries appeases our consciences but does not change the circumstances that foster poverty.

Ross Miller

Saskatoon, Sask.

During the famine of the early 1970s in the Sahel region of Africa, relief ships unloaded grain at the port of Dakar and then left loaded with peanuts, cotton, vegetables and meat for Europe and North America. As long as local elite politicians and multinational corporations control the land and its production, people will starve in Africa. The food Africa grows will continue to go to those who can pay for it. Drought is a natural occurrence. Famine is a human phenomenon. Let's stop blaming the desert and start blaming ourselves.

Marc John Vassallo

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Bishops and Wealth

Whether the suggestions by the Catholic bishops on economic policy are feasible is immaterial [ECONOMY & BUSINESS, Nov. 26]. The fact remains: the Reagan Administration and Congress must face the problem of poverty in America. Ultimately, the Government will have to spend large sums of money to treat it effectively. Enough of this massive military buildup.

Sean E. Judge

Cambridge, Mass.

Perhaps the Catholic Church would be willing to give up its tax-exempt status to pay for its proposed welfare and make-work programs.

Brent White

Newhall, Calif.

Countries whose predominant religion is Catholicism are among the most poverty stricken in the world, with the greatest disparity between the few rich and the multitude of poor. Yet these are the nations where the church has its greatest influence. The bishops should start making their changes there.

Susan Wilson

New York City

Soldiers of Mercy

The article "Vicious Circle" [WORLD, July 30] quotes from William Shawcross's book The Quality of Mercy that Thai soldiers pushed 826 Kampuchean refugees over a cliff, forced 43,000 more to walk home through minefields and intercepted the rice shipments sent to hungry refugees. These allegations are untrue, unfair and mislead your readers into believing that Thai soldiers are barbarians. Such behavior is inconsistent with the regulations and the humanitarian philosophy of the Royal Thai Army. Thai soldiers' primary duty is to protect their homeland. The truth is that since 1975 they have helped more than 600,000 displaced Indochinese by protecting them from attack and assisting the United Nations border-relief agencies in providing them with shelter, food and clothing. When conditions are safe, the Thai army also provides transportation for refugees' voluntary repatriation. This is done under U.N. supervision.

Anusorn Krisanaseranee

Colonel, Royal Thai Army

Assistant Army Secretary

Bangkok

Controversial Prize

Canceling the Eppinger hepatology prize [MEDICINE, Nov. 26] because it was named after a Nazi doctor was an overreaction. As a Jew, I am sensitive to such matters, but I would have been satisfied had the Falk Foundation apologized and changed the award's name.

David Rubin

New York City

Ritzy Pizza

As a pizza lover, I know a good pizza when I taste one [FOOD, Nov. 19]. The best I ever had was not in big cities such as New York, Boston and Houston, but at Nancy's Stuffed Pizza in suburban Des Plaines outside Chicago. If I could find a backer to open one of Nancy's establishments, I would show these Texans what really great pizza is.

Jeffrey Starr

Midland, Texas

You say white pizza was invented in New Haven, Conn.? Mamma mia, che scandalo! White pizza has been prepared in my native Tuscany since the Etruscans. The recipe calls for sprinkling a little fresh rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper over a sheet of dough and baking it. We Italians have given up much to foreigners over the centuries, but our pizza patrimony, never.

Valeria A. Falisec

Chesapeake, Va.