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Letter to the Editor
Distinguished CU scientist and professor Detlev Helmig was recently fired by the University. Professor Helmig studied and monitored air pollution, particularly the sources of local air pollution in our northern Colorado area. His research established the connection between our polluted air and the massive oil and gas activities locally occurring. Professor Helmig’s work made Colorado a safer, healthier place. In return, it appears that CU allowed powerful interests to convince them to fire him. Many faculty at CU and other universities have private projects going on, some that make them money, some that don’t. Yet CU fires only the one researcher who speaks up loudest about the dangers that the oil and gas industry impose on our communities and on our world. Oil and gas production causes pollution that shortens lives; burning oil and gas damages our atmosphere as well as our lungs. We need to move on from fossil fuels, yet CU has now made anyone who works to reduce fossil fuel use feel less safe about trying to do so.
Shame on CU for apparently allowing the oil and gas industry to direct their personnel decisions. The public demands an independent, third party investigation into the firing of Professor Helmig and his re-instatement if it is found that political and financial pressure from the oil industry played a role in this suspicious termination.
Sincerely,
Judy Lubow
Longmont
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