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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1977)
Page 10 THE BATTALION TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1977 Forecast of climate changes not desirable, scientist says United Press International WASHINGTON—A government researcher says political instability in some parts of the world probably would limit the usefulness of long- range forecasts of impending droughts even if reliable predictions were possible. As a matter of fact. Dr. Michael Glantz of the National Center for Atmospheric Research says an ac curate forecast of climate changes may not even be desirable for some lands because of social, political and economic obstacles to effective ac- rangelands caused by an overcon centration of animals near sources of permanent water, widespread mi gration of people, malnutrition and death. The oretically, Glantz said in a report in the Bulletin of the Ameri can Meteorological Society that if governments of the Sahel knew six months ahead of time that they were in for a drought, they would be able to take action to minimize its effects be done in the field to reduce graz ing pressure on Sahelian range- lands. Glantz said it has long been known that too many cattle on the ranges lead to rangeland deteriora tion “yet following each drought situation there has been a tendency to forget about rangeland reforms.” tion. Glantz used West Africa’s Sahel as an example. This narrow band of land south of the Sahara stretches 2,600 miles, across parts of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Upper Volta, Niger and Chad and was hit by se vere drought between 1968 and 1973. An estimated 100,000 people died and large numbers of livestock were lost in 1973 alone Meteorologists believe the drought was caused by a persistent shift in a swath of cloudiness across the Atlantic Ocean a few degrees north of the equator. This is called the intertropical convergence zone and when it does not reach far enough north, the rains fail over the Sahel. If the rains fail for more than one season, Glantz said the result is often widespread destruction of The capacity of the rangelands could be assessed and steps such as herd reduction could be taken to guard against overgrazing while the cattle were still in good shape. Better planting schedules could be devised so peasants could conserve their grain and labor. Price controls could be enacted to discour age grain hoarding. Governments could buy grain in advance. For forecasts to be of value to grain storage and distribution, there would have to be a major improve ment in the way grains are stored in the Sahel. Glantz said relief opera tions during the last drought were plagued by grain spoilage, loss to pests and corruption. And Sahelian nations could seek international help to lead to orderly relief operations and adequate preparation for grain storage and distribution. That is what ought to be the case, Glantz said. He said a survey of ex perts indicated little likelihood that such steps would be taken if it were known in advance that a drought was forthcoming. For example, he said there would be no assurance that anything could And implementation of new laws to deal with drought would run into immediate problems and local and national levels, he said, because of jurisdictional, ideological and cul tural rivalries, political corruption, low skill levels of bureaucrats and the general slowness of the bureauc racy. Semester end nearing Class of 1977 graduating seniors are nearing the close of their final semester. Friday was the seniors last class day. Graduation will be this weekend. Washington Window Carter’s view of power is unusua '4 3S UNIVERSITY SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT Tuesday, May 3 8:00 p.m. Rudder Auditorium By WESLEY G. PIPPERT United Press International WASHINGTON — Power is a way of life in Washington. The pursuit of it is perhaps more often the third party in marriage- busting triangles than another per son is. Its abuse was a central cause of Watergate. During his visits to the Cabinet departments recently. President Carter told Health, Education and Welfare employes, “I recognize that I ought to be not ‘First Boss’ but ‘First Servant’.” In some ways. Carter’s remark was intended to create rapport and a good working relationship between the most powerful person in the world and his subordinates. 72-member symphonic band directed by Joe McMullen. Special guest ap pearance by Robert Boone. Dhe FABRIC Shoppe Fashion Fabrics For Spring and Summer Sewing 50c Students $1.00 Adults 822-2433 ‘In Our 30th Year of Selling Fabrics" Downtown Bryan 201 Main St. AGGIE Graduates But in other, perhaps more signif icant ways, it may have provided in sight to Carter’s view of power — that people who have it should not use it to mainpulate or control others but to serve them. That is radical. Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore., the most prominent Baptist layman in Washington before Carter came to town, discussed power in these terms in a 1976 book, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.” Hatfield told how he and former Sen. Harold Hughes, D-Iowa, wrestled over whether to seek re- election. “We both wondered just how much one could be a truly faithful disciple of Jesus Christ and also be given over fully to the political pro cess, subject to its influences and priorities,” Hatfield said. Eventually, Hughes chose to re tire. Hatfield won re-election. But he had learned a lesson. “No longer could I define leader ship in terms of holding positions of power,” Hatfield said. “Further, power in its truest sense was not political muscle, influence and pub lic prestige . . . “Service to others, solely for their own behalf and even entailing deep sacrifice, is the true essense of lead ership and the ultimate form of power. There is a power in servant- hood which transcends all notions of power sought after so vividly in the secular political sphere of life.” The Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote about servanthood in stirring terms that later were applied to Jesus Christ. Carter’s “common touch’’ — sending his daughter to a public school, carrying his own baggage, eliminating many of the ceremonial trappings surrounding the White House, and, especially, his em phasis on human rights — stems in part from his own rural Southern background. But probably even more foun dational to Carter’s common touch is his interpretation of the essense of power. During the presidential cam paign, Carter expressed a litany of the trauma that Americans have ex perienced in recent years Watergate, Vietnam, CamW the FBI and CIA revelations ! involved abuse of power. ^ All this is not to say thatCa r doesn’t know what raw poweri how to use it. He does. Thereis doubt that he takes charge ofala everything he does. But it seemed almost startlini hear a president of the Util States say, as Carter did at tire! tional Prayer Breakfast: “We politicians, we leaden that excessive degree rlalson, An i sprinj men wi ycuuuu. . • equate love of others with hr 1,1 ourselves. We tend to say cause I am a congressman, I am a governor, because I amP ident, and because I love the and because I represent well, then I can justify their k “Jesus said,‘Whosoever woui cheif among you, let him servant.’ Although we use phrase, sometimes glibly, pi£ servant,’ it’s hard for us totrans yt the concept of a President of" United States into genuine vant.' " nc Clayton addresses gradual of Prairie View at ceremon %/ 1 United Press International PRAIRIE VIEW — House Speaker Bill Clayton Sunday urged spring graduates of Prairie View A&M University to build a solid fu ture by acknowledging America’s heritage. Clayton, who spoke to more than 700 graduates at spring com mencement exercises, said, “Here and there scattered across the coun try are the milestones left behind by men and women in their own search to find America. “As you set out to find you: and America, I suggest that you reject the proud heritage whk yours. We must learn the taught by experience — preset the independence of the yoiit spirit and the continuing valuti the past, for every future is si? rmal 7( by the past,” he said. Clayton emphasized the tinuing search to meet thenerf edbefoi USED BOOKS WE’RE BUYING NOW! University Bookstore our dynamic society.” “The people of our nation faced with great decisions and answers require application of special knowledge you have ga® lich opt Through your student days have been a part of Americas tinuing revolution — it has pared you to discover Ameria Ferent p today and tomorrow.” At the Northgate ’Owr Town now TV produtl A new television production Th ornton Wilder’s classic “Our Town” has been Hollywood. Unite neglec may be one ans\ new ei It somel r, gene >ugh pc iliances, set. -abed tl i being irees D ,anarr lie gard vitami The En rse” con user to «er ene nute pa Pedal ] an and d in an vanced iximum schanisr outpu ain mec velop tl job. 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