MYANMAR

EVERYONE HAS A DUTY TO SPEAK OUT ON REPRESSION

The current situation in Burma is heartbreaking.

When the protests over food and fuel prices kicked off the bloody retaliation last year, we joined the U.S. Campaign for Burma to help keep the public aware of the longstanding tragedy the people endure. Now we are looking at a whole new level of disgraceful action by military rulers who carry no thought for the people's welfare and protection.

Having been to Burma in the past, it was amazing how humble and generous the local people are with visitors. The heart of aloha is alive in their culture, but not in evidence within the military's superstitious and secretive approach to their own people and the outside world.

There will be long-term care and aid needed there. The monks have already begun the internal efforts, but we need to be ever aware and verbal as global citizens that it is not OK for repression to continue in any form. I hope that we can all get involved at some level.

We all deserve to feel supported, and I know from experience that they feel blessed that we care.

Please everyone, spread the aloha and the concern.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

CANDIDATES MUST TALK ABOUT SCIENCE ISSUES

"Science Debate 2008" began an initiative last year to get politicians to talk about some of the issues that matter: healthcare, the environment, alternative energy sources and innovation for our lagging economy, to name a few.

Scientists, Nobel laureates, college students and concerned citizens have signed up and reached out to our presidential candidates.

Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain have either ignored or flat-out denied these requests for half a year. Perhaps they think that such a debate will be a science quiz to "stump" the candidates.

Debate '08 responded by offering it as a forum or a conversation, with the topics given to them beforehand to minimize the pressure. Perhaps the candidates think that science is a "niche issue." A recent study has shown that 85 percent of Americans want a presidential debate on science.

These proposed leaders of our country have no more excuses. Scientists have been quiet for too long. If we want our country to succeed in an increasingly complex technological world, with rising global temperatures and diminishing resources, we need our leaders to talk about science.

TOURISM

LANIKAI BEING USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES

If tourism officials wonder why more and more islanders think the visitor industry is run at the expense of residents, take a collective look in the mirror. Or at page C1 of the May 12 paper ("Top travel agents see what's new in Hawai'i").

When the O'ahu Visitors Bureau recently hosted 44 top travel agents, they took them to Lanikai, hosted them on the beach, helped them paddle out to the Mokulua Islands, and then showed them North Shore vacation rentals.

It begs the question — well, many questions: Did they say that Lanikai is a residential area and to tell their clients to be respectful of people who live here? Or not to park in the bike lane or block driveways (which happens daily)? Did they tell the agents that there are no public facilities and that we are sickened by the fouling of the water, sand and naupaka hedges?

Did they mention that the Mokulua Islands are bird sanctuaries? When they got to the North Shore, were they sure to show the agents only rental homes that either had nonconforming-use certificates or that rented for 30 days or more? Did they brief them on how to find legal transient vacation rentals?

If the answer is "no" to any of these, then they should not be surprised at why the aloha spirit is fading in many neighborhoods beset by visitor traffic.

Besides the independent day-trippers and overnight guests in vacation rentals legal and illegal, Lanikai sees countless tour buses, stretch limos (and stretch Hummers), kayak-rental trailers and commercial wedding tour packages on its streets every day.

This is a residentially zoned area but it is being used for commercial purposes.

This isn't eco-tourism. It's eco-terrorism. And it must stop.

ETHICS

ISLE VOTERS MUST TAKE OWNERSHIP OF PROBLEM

David Shapiro was spot on in his May 7 column ("Loose ethical environment at Legislature").

As I surmised after the article concerning the Ethics Commission ruling on Rep. Michael Magaoay and the grants-in-aid debacle, once again a hopelessly flawed system has failed to take to heart the best interests of the voting public that it supposedly serves.

To have this system policed by an Ethics Commission with its hands tied by legislation drafted and enacted by the very people whose conduct may come under scrutiny is a waste of time and a gross injustice to the tax-paying citizens of our state.

The only course left to take in order to effect any kind of substantive change is for voters to take ownership of the problem this November. It is high time that we elect candidates who place the greater good at the root of their platforms and agendas.

TRANSIT

EXPANDING BUS SERVICE WOULD EASE TRAFFIC FLOW

TheBus should expand services so more people could ride buses. Traffic could be reduced if people had the opportunity to use TheBus with earlier and later routes added to existing schedules.

If you can reduce traffic flow between 12 and 5 a.m., it would probably create a domino effect, easing morning and afternoon traffic. Considering other options, we don't need another limited mass-transit system.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

DONORSCHOOSE.ORG HELPS OUT TEACHERS

As a teacher at a middle school in Kalihi, I can tell you firsthand how difficult it is to teach with large class sizes and limited resources.

How is possible that my students don't have a full class set of rulers and calculators to use in math? Like most teachers, I use my own money to buy almost all the supplies for my classroom. Materials like dry erase markers, staplers and pens.

After spending several hundred dollars on basic items, I never thought it would be possible to get the LCD projector I really wanted for my class. I so desperately wanted the technology to project the 3-D shapes as we calculated their surface area and volume. I wanted to quickly display student work, show videos of math concepts and engage my visual learners. Without a classroom budget, this seemed impossible.

Then I discovered, a nonprofit Web site, DonorsChoose.org, that connects classroom needs to individuals who want to support education.

When I found DonorsChoose, I decided to dream big and ask for a projector. I was amazed that people I don't even know donated money. It was a wonderful surprise when I actually got what I needed.

For community members who want to invest in education but don't have time to volunteer, DonorsChoose gives them a chance to get involved and to make things happen in local classrooms.

Donors can search for proposals that are specifically in Hawai'i. I encourage you to help teachers help students, at www.donorschoose.org.