Letters for Saturday, January 20, 2007

• Trashing a national monument

• The price of freedom

• Thoroughly unsatisfying

• Alternatives available for pet quarantine

• Don’t blame the guidebooks

Trashing a national monument

My wife and I had the good fortune to travel throughout French Polynesia last month with Jean-Michel Cousteau. During this time, Mr. Cousteau lectured a few times about his work in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. He talked about the trash that has found its way to the shores and reefs of these fragile islands. The reefs and birds in the area are suffering from these deposits. Over 560 tons of debris have been removed from the reefs in the past 10 years. There is still a lot to be removed. The large numbers of birds that nest in these islands are also victims to this trash. Birds tend to ingest almost anything that looks interesting to them. Their bodies, however, cannot digest and, in many cases, eliminate harmful items. Mr. Cousteau found many rotting bird carcasses that had plastic items, such as cigarette lighters, cosmetic containers, vials of different drugs and many other things in their stomachs.

On New Year’s Day, as I was out for my morning walk, I saw the usual mess in the streets from fireworks. These messes included plastic caps that are on many of the fireworks these days. Mr. Cousteau lectured about how the currents carried these kinds of materials — that find their way into drains, then to the ocean and eventually to the Northwestern Islands.

I do not object to the use of fireworks on Kaua‘i, but I wish the users would have the consideration to clean up afterwards, and save our Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and wildlife populations.

Hopefully in the future, when folks use fireworks, they will remember what I have described and will make an effort to prevent more devastation.

Your kokua, please.

‘Ele‘ele

The price of freedom

I watch with great interest the events unfolding for Lt. Ehren Watada. Not for the anticipated results of his court martial — because I think most people already know the outcome, whether they agree or not — but because of the level of emotion on both sides of this issue. It simply does not matter if he believes the war is just or not. That issue is not his call. He took a serious commitment to serve his country, to protect his country against all enemies foreign and domestic period.

It is that simple. I have had the honor of serving my country for eight years. I earned the right to be called a peacetime veteran. When I volunteered I knew full well that if a conflict arose I could be called upon to serve in a combat

capacity. It’s exactly the same for Lt. Watada. He, however, has the added responsibility as a commissioned officer to lead by example. In my opinion, his actions are a slap in the face of all veterans. Please consider this: Our returning men and woman from Iraq and Afghanistan are being greeted with much deserved aloha and gratitude.

But let’s not forget our other true heroes of conflicts past. I refer specifically to the veterans of the Vietnam war. I remember as a child when I heard of war protesters shunning and spitting on our returning troops. What a shameful part of our country’s history. All too often and all too easily they are forgotten about. Whether you agree with the principles of war or not, please give equal consideration to all of our troops. To those who have served, to those who are serving and to those who have fallen. It’s the least this nation can do.

As the old saying goes, freedom is never free, and it never will be.

Steve Shioi

Kapa‘a

Thoroughly unsatisfying

I find the results of the report from the Department of Agriculture regarding the children falling ill near a Syngenta agriculture field highly disturbing (“Report on Waimea school-related Syngenta incident released,” A1, Jan. 10). The DOA failed to take important evidence seriously such as videotapes of children fainting and Syngenta spraying chemicals when they said they were not spraying. It does not seem that the severe symptoms (fainting and vomiting, not just nausea and headaches) were taken nearly as seriously as they should have been.

Fainting, for example, is not a normal symptom of the flu or general allergic reaction. When the teachers called the Department of Health for help, the DOH directed them to the DOA. The DOA actually directed these teachers to Syngenta, the corporation of concern! What does that say about Hawai‘i’s system of regulation, protection and accountability?

What must happen for us to truly examine the effects of these corporations and the poisons and risky technology that they are using that put money making and saving face over health and public concern?

When our keiki fall ill, it is time to really stop and think about what we are exposing them to. It’s a shame our own health and safety must fall into the hands of the concerned community of Kaua‘i. We intend to get to the bottom of this since the DOA, DOH and Department of Education, unfortunately, seem satisfied with this less-than-thorough report.

Kapa‘a

Alternatives available for pet quarantine

Now pet owners don’t have to have their pet quarantined when entering Hawai‘i if their pet fulfills the state’s five-day-or-less requirements prior to arrival.

On Dec. 1, the Kaua‘i Humane Society was approved to receive incoming pets at Lihu‘e Airport, which makes traveling with your pet even more convenient for local residents. Because of Kaua‘i Humane Society, we are the only outer island to have these convenient services available.

I encourage Sue Smith of Kalaheo to call us back, so we can help her avoid the 120-day quarantine of her Mainland dog. If not, she can be assured we will provide excellent, loving care throughout the dog’s stay with us.

Executive Director

Kaua‘i Humane Society

Don’t blame the guidebooks

I feel compelled to say that I have read the “Ultimate Kauai Guidebook” and felt it very clearly communicated the risks involved with the hikes and other natural attractions on Kaua‘i (“Two dead after fall at Opaeka‘a,” A1, Dec. 20). They are not to blame for this awful event.

I am very glad that a sign is now in place to avoid future tragedies on this false trail. The island is so rugged that no doubt situations like this occur elsewhere; how about everyone do their part and mark hidden dangers? I would be saddened to see any parts of the island closed to the public or for the lovely people who write those wonderful books to be discouraged from sharing their finds.

My heart goes out to the families of these women for this unfortunate accident. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

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