• ‘Riding in the Wind’ • GMO issue on Kauai • Many opinions on faith • Stand up against GMO • Say no to expanding the ‘Danger Zone’
‘Riding in the Wind’
After riding with The Sons of Kauai motorcycle group, which a couple of us formed over 10 years ago, I felt it was time to make a change.
I continue to ride every Sunday, same time, same place. We ride in brotherhood, loyalty harmony and respect for the safety for all bikers and motorists.
Ten years is a very long time to hold a group together but as you all know everything has an expiration date.
Riding in the Wind.
Jack Wilhelm
Lihue
GMO issue on Kauai
We work with a seed company on Kauai and attended the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting held Wednesday. It’s an informal, one-day meeting for all employees of the Hawaii seed industry — members of HCIA — to come together to talk about issues facing the industry, how to improve the industry, share best practices and leverage successes of the industry.
Our meeting is no different from the Hawaii Tourism Authority Annual Conference, the Democratic Party Convention, the Retail Merchants Association of Hawaii Annual Membership Meeting, or the Hawaii State Association of Counties Conference.
Like our annual meeting, you have to register to attend. Unfortunately, The Garden Island sensationalizing this annual meeting created an opportunity for anti-GMO activists to disrupt the event for our employees, the daily business of the hotel and the vacation’s of their guests.
We understand that the GMO issue is an emotional one and there are many who are misinformed about the work we do, but it does not excuse crashing and disrupting our event.
Rusty Bernat
Lihue
June Borja
Kekeha
Many opinions on faith
Since faith is the belief in that which you cannot prove, it would be more accurate to refer to atheism as a faith, rather than a religion.
However, in John Tanner’s reactionary letter (TGI, May 19), he sought to discredit the religion tag by attacking all other faiths, while claiming to “preach tolerance.”
There is an inherent arrogance in the assumption that your own intellect is somehow superior to the thinking of an overwhelming majority of the nation’s millions, superior to the thinking of the greatest minds mankind produced over centuries, as well as superior to the thinking of a Christian God; manifested in the Scriptures. What greater arrogance is there than the presumption you can reason someone else out of their faith?
From such a lofty perch, it’s all too easy to patronize nearly everyone, while claiming to preach “tolerance” at the same time. Producing such a concept, that you can somehow blend scorn and tolerance, reveals a less than superior intellect in my opinion. So pardon me if I don’t join John Tanner in his faith-based self worship.
Pete Antonson
Lawai/Manila, Philippines
Stand up against GMO
The Garden Island had an advertisement May 7, “Kauai Seed Farmers Bust Myths.” I hope no one is believing this information.
It stated that Syngenta and Pioneer do not develop or test chemicals. What?! So they are saying that they are not in the business of developing chemicals for your crops? But in the next breath they state that they only use federal and state approved pesticides that they have developed.
You can’t have it both ways. You are either using and developing chemicals or not.
We are not saying your crops are killing coral, reefs and fish it’s the poisons you are using. It is very unsettling that our county got $52 million and not one dime went to study the decline of our reefs.
Are our representatives afraid if a study was done and linked their GMO friends to the problem it would end the lobbyist money? I don’t understand the reasoning behind this decision.
Our tourists are leaving because of the decline of our reefs and fish. This is a big problem but our representatives are hiding their heads in the sand.
Why? I think we know why. This is so sad for the Hawaiian Islands and the people that live here. And by the way the portrayal of the “seed farmers” taking the rap for your business is a joke.
Putting them in suits with briefcases is more like it. Why are you being so defensive about your meeting?
Maybe because after saying you are not going to expand you now have a brand new facility across from the Syngenta buildings in Kekaha.
Come on people, join me if you care about our island, Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kapaa, Safeway parking lot. Let’s stand up against GMO!
Linda Bothe
Kalaheo
Say no to expanding the ‘Danger Zone’
Don’t expand the danger area around the Kekaha Rifle Range. Move the activity to the Pacific Missile Range Facility. The PMRF is already a highly restricted U.S. military base. Why not include the National Guard?
Read the Wikipedia article about all the U.S. government groups that are located at the PMRF and the vast area under its control.
At the PMRF, why have the range facing the ocean when it could be set up near the bunkers backed by the mountain range?
The original rifle range could be donated to the county or state and the people of Kauai to be used as a park.
I am a recent Kauai visitor, camper at Queen’s Pond overlook, Polihale, and a part-time member of the Kekaha Community Garden.
Frank Tansey
Alexandria, Va.
