Campers, association say thanks
On behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the families we serve, we would like to express a heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors for making this year’s summer camp a success.
From June 22 to 27, more than 50 campers from San Diego and surrounding communities with neuromuscular disease attended MDA summer camp at Camp Cuyamaca in Descanso. It is known as the “best week of the year” for many campers affected by muscular dystrophy. MDA summer camp is a week when hardships are forgotten, and activities, including boat races, scavenger hunts, and wheelchair soccer are celebrated with friendship and lifelong memories.
It takes $800 to send one child to camp, but each child is able to attend free of cost thanks to generous donations made to MDA through events such as the approaching Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.
MDA is a voluntary health agency dedicated to conquering neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million Americans. MDA combats over 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far reaching professional and public health education. For more information, visit www.mda.org.

Ivy Villaflores, Regional Public Affairs Coordinator, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Phoenix

Use existing gas leases first
In regards to the letter writer who asked people to go online and sign the petition to allow oil companies to drill in restricted areas as a solution to gas prices: not only is this not a solution, it isn’t even necessary (“Petitions may coax action on high gas prices,” July 3, page 8). Oil companies already lease 68 million acres of federal land and water that they are not drilling on.
This solution is only a shill to allow oil companies to acquire more land, and analysts agree [it] will not produce any results for at least a decade.
The Democrats are introducing a bill that requires oil companies to “use it or lose it” and the inability to acquire more if they are not drilling on current leases. Don Young, (R-Alaska), who has been pushing for drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and opposes the bill, says oil companies already have time limits to produce oil or natural gases. But isn’t that the point? If we need it, why aren’t they doing it? Answer: It’s a land grab.
Besides, when was the last time you drove into a gas station only to see a sign saying, “Empty, No Gas”? That would indicate a shortage, wouldn’t it? But when President Bush went to Saudi Arabia with his hat in his hand begging Prince Bandar to produce more oil, his answer was no because, as he told Bush, there is enough oil already, it’s speculators driving the price up.
I urge people to call their representatives and demand they vote to force oil companies to use the leases they have before they are allowed to acquire more.

Cherry DeLorenzo, Ocean Beach