ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

NEW SUPERFERRY LAW SETS A NEW PRECEDENT

Do precedent-setting decisions mean anything? In law, it's a "judicial decision that may be used as a standard in subsequent similar cases: (as in) a landmark decision that set a legal precedent."

It seems as though a large number of people on Kaua'i and Maui were concerned about circumvention of Hawai'i's environmental laws, while Gov. Linda Lingle, who championed Hawai'i's sustainability a few short months ago, assisted the Superferry in going around those same laws. And that sets a precedent.

If you don't like Hawai'i's laws just convince the governor, or whoever is in charge, to see things your way and compliance isn't necessary.

As Jeff Mikulina said in his press release on Oct. 31, "If a three-decade old environmental law is scrapped for a single company, how are we to expect lasting policy decisions that sustain Hawai'i's future?"

SUSTAINABILITY

ISLAND LAND SHOULD BE PRESERVED FOR AG USE

I was shocked to read in The Advertiser that 550 or more "affordable" homes are planned for the Gunstock Ranch agricultural property.

As the article suggests, there are efforts to zone more and more of precious agricultural land for residential use.

Not only is there the problem with the Turtle Bay expansion, but Hawai'i Reserves is also building a new hotel for the Polynesian Cultural Center.

There is only a two-lane road to service this entire side of the island. It is almost at peak carrying capacity.

Besides this obvious dilemma, the time has come for all island residents to practice sustainability. We only grow three percent of the food we consume. Our agricultural lands must be returned for food production. It's time to begin subsidizing agriculture, not development.

Hawai'i should be at the forefront in growing organic produce.

We need housing, but we need our land and water resources reserved for food production more.

We must preserve our agricultural lands and foster careers in this area. It is the Hawaiian way.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

DOE HAS MUCH MORE CLOUT WITH LAWMAKERS

Regarding Pat Tompkins' letter (Oct. 27) about having substitute teachers form a union: A few years ago, a bill to do just that was passed but was vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle, who said the language was too vague.

The following year, the language was tightened up, the governor's office supported it, but the Legislature killed the bill.

The following year, there was a bill to allow subs to join another union, but the Legislature killed that bill.

The sad truth is that the Department of Education is opposed to subs having any representation, and it seems the DOE has a lot more clout with the Legislature than do substitute teachers.

The DOE already enjoys extraordinary exemptions regarding substitute teachers. It doesn't have to provide health or unemployment benefits that other state and private workers receive. Subs don't even get the liability insurance that's given to all regular teachers.

From the illegal underpayment that began in 1996, to the DOE's current refusal to provide any raises, and their many other despicable actions in between, it should be clear why thousands of substitute teachers have left and why shortages persist.

Ultimately and unfortunately, this is all to the detriment of substitutes and students alike.

HEALTH

IMPROVED LIFESTYLE, DIET WILL FIGHT CANCER

A landmark study recently released by the prestigious World Cancer Research Fund has found a "convincing" link between consumption of red and all processed meats and an elevated risk of colon cancer, as well as a "likely" link with cancers of the lung, stomach, pancreas, esophagus, prostate and uterus. The study was based on 7,000 diet and health reports selected from a worldwide pool of 500,000 spanning the past five decades

Since 1992, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, involving 521,483 individuals in 10 European countries, has published dozens of reports linking meat consumption with increased risk of cancers of the stomach, liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, colon, rectum, esophagus, lungs, breast, uterus, cervix, ovaries, prostate and testicles. Hundreds of other studies have found a correlation between meat consumption and some form of cancer. None has ever found an inverse relationship.

Like heart disease and other chronic illnesses, cancer is a largely self-inflicted condition.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 62 percent of all cancer deaths could be prevented by quitting tobacco and meat products, as well as by regular screenings and exercise.

We've spent billions of dollars in search of a silver bullet to vanquish this dreaded disease, but we've had it all along. It's the will to improve our diet and lifestyle.

TEACHERS

ACLU THANKED FOR HELP FIGHTING DRUG TESTS

This is my 17th year as a Department of Education teacher in Hawai'i, and I am writing this letter to publicly thank the ACLU for its support of Hawai'i teachers in our battle with Gov. Linda Lingle over the random drug-testing policy that she is trying to force on us.

In her Nov. 2 commentary ("Drug-testing teachers wholly unnecessary"), Vanessa Y. Chong laid out the evidence and the law far better than I could.

I would only add that if Hawai'i teachers are guilty of anything, it may be that we have not thoroughly educated our students and the public about the true value and beauty of our constitutional rights and about the sacrifices that have been made throughout our history to safeguard them.

Just say no to random drug testing,

FROGS

IT'S TIME TO CHANGE ATTITUDE ABOUT COQUI

In response to Karen Anderson's Oct. 18 letter and other recent letters about invasive species, it's time to change attitudes about the coqui frog.

The coqui cannot be eradicated from the Big Island, and sprays are only a temporary fix that can potentially pollute the environment and harm plants and other animals.

Furthermore, scientific studies have found no negative impact by the coqui on Hawai'i's ecosystems despite years of speculation to the contrary. The coqui may even prove beneficial by eating fire ants and other invasive bugs (non-native ants make up the majority share of their diet in local studies).

The coqui is beloved and celebrated in Puerto Rico, so we learn to appreciate its call, too. It's the commotion caused by panic and hype, not the sound of the frog itself, which scares away tourists and threatens property values. Think about it: In Puerto Rico, the coqui doesn't cause economic problems. As a matter of fact, tourists buy coqui coffee mugs, T-shirts, and key chains over there. Same frog, so what's the difference? Attitude, that's all.

MORALITY

CONDEMNING WRONGS IS CITIZENS' RIGHT, DUTY

Chuck Cohen writes in his letter to the editor of Oct. 18, "We (Americans) are in no position to preach morality to another country," because of all the Native Americans we killed since the 1500s. This comment was made regarding Congress' move to call the slaughter of millions of Armenians by Turkey "genocide."

I agree with Cohen in the sense that this "feel-good" effort by some politicians is counterproductive, and just will alienate a good ally (Turkey).

I strongly disagree with Cohen's assertion that Americans are on thin ground when criticizing other countries on how their governments treat their own citizens. If we and other countries had raised our voices in condemnation of the treatment of Nazi Germany's Jewish citizens during the 1930s and '40s, perhaps much of the slaughter could have been avoided.

I strongly suggest to Mr. Cohen that it is not only my right, and his, to speak out when we see our neighbors mistreated, regardless of geography, but it is our duty as civilized human beings.

DEVELOPMENT

DJOU FIGHTING URBAN SPRAWL IN HAWAI'I KAI

Councilman Charles Djou has proven that he has the best interest of the Hawai'i Kai community in mind.

It was Councilman Djou who in 2004 drafted and then fought for and saw passed Resolution 04-198. This resolution supports retaining the current urban boundary in Hawai'i Kai until at least 2020, thus preserving Kamilonui Valley in agriculture.

Councilman Djou's fight to preserve Kamilonui Valley proves that Djou has vision beyond the year 2007 and that he fights urban sprawl in Hawai'i Kai.

Councilman Djou has fought residential home developers who want to move the urban boundary deep into Kamilonui Valley so that they can replace the 23 farms whose zoning is preserved until 2020 with houses.

Djou has taken a stand against these developers. This is what the Hawai'i Kai community wants and needs.

I believe Councilman Djou's support of Bill 47, which increased the building height, is a tradeoff. The greater height is a tradeoff for a greater setback and more open space. I believe that this kind of tradeoff should always be the exception and not the rule.

Councilman Djou has shown his cards of support for the community against the interests of the big landowners and developers. Hawai'i Kai is fortunate to have Councilman Djou represent us.

DUANE CHAPMAN

HOW QUICKLY WILL DOG BE ABLE TO FORGIVE SON?

I propose a benchmark to gauge our forgiveness of Duane Chapman. It's how quickly he forgives his son Tucker for selling the "N-tape."

Then again, would I believe him if he said he did?

ALA WAI BEACH

PARKING CHARGES UNFAIR TO OCEAN USERS

Picking the public's pockets to generate funds due to mismanagement is becoming a trend in Hawai'i.

If the state Department of Land and Natural Resources gets approval to amend Hawai'i Administrative Rules, Section 13-233, it will be allowed to charge the public for parking in not only the Ala Wai Harbor but all small harbors in the state.

The public will lose free beach parking at one of the most widely used and world-renowned beaches. This is one of the last free beach parking easements in Waikiki.

This is yet another prime example of what happens when state officials/agencies do not take responsibility for poor management of state projects. The public always suffers.

This is unfair to the overly taxed ocean-user residents of Hawai'i. I suggest we demand that the existing state laws and rules be enforced and not amended.

DLNR should not be digging into the public's pockets and taking away the traditions that make the quality of living in Hawai'i so special, which is why Hawai'i is called paradise.