• Letter of deep appreciation • Monsanto’s track record • Cell phone law hurts more than it helps Letter of deep appreciation Dear Deputy Chief Michael Contrades, Chief of Police Darryl Perry and officers of the Kauai Police Department: I
• Letter of deep appreciation • Monsanto’s track record • Cell phone law hurts more than it helps
Letter of deep appreciation
Dear Deputy Chief Michael Contrades, Chief of Police Darryl Perry and officers of the Kauai Police Department:
I would like to take this opportunity to extend a special mahalo nui to Deputy Chief Michael Contrades for his efforts in giving special attention on all issues of safety on state as well as county roads, which deals directly with the public.
In and on issues of public safety, Deputy Chief “Mike” Contrades would willingly accept my issues and/or concerns as soon as possible, no questions asked. Mike would listen to all concerns and within a week’s time would return with an answer, complete with an update on all issues.
I would also want to thank our Chief of Police Darryl Perry for his cooperation on all of issues of safety dealing directly toward the safety of the general public.
In extending my heartfelt thanks, I would like to express my thanks to the officers and staff of the Kauai Police Department.
We must all work together as a team in order to achieve our purpose and/or goals.
Once again, my deep appreciation to Deputy Chief Michael Contrades, Chief of Police Darryl Perry and the outstanding officers of the Kauai Police Department.
Aloha and mahalo.
Respectfully yours,
Jerome ‘Da Shadow’ Freitas, Sr.
Kapaa
Monsanto’s track record
In regards to all the controversy, let’s take a brief look at the track record of some of the humanitarian benefits created by our neighbor Monsanto. If you have a computer you can Google each issue and find out your own information, there are no secrets, only facts.
PCB and DIOXINS: Established in the 1940s and used world wide by the electrical industry for durable, safe cooling and insulating fluids.
FACT: Banned in 1979; it is a persistent organic pollutant. It was known in the 1940s to be highly toxic but was assumed that it would be contained in the products used. It is still a prevalent poison in our environment. It has killed millions of fish, wildlife,and polluted countless lakes and waterways. Monsanto has paid millions in lawsuits brought about by its contamination, but money doesn’t bring back life or health.
DDT: Established in 1944, heralded as the wonder chemical that would eradicate malaria carrying mosquitoes. Monsanto claimed it was harmless to humans, waterways and wildlife.
FACT: Banned in 1972; it decimated America’s wetlands, killing and bringing nearly to extinction numerous species of birds, reptiles and mammals. No record of what damage it did to humans.
AGENT ORANGE: Established in 1962, used as a defoliant in the jungles of Vietnam. Monsanto stated that it would deter dense jungle growth used by enemy forces and eradicate crops grown by villagers to feed the Viet Kong. Harmless to humans.
FACT: Banned in 1971; Crop eradication resulted in the malnutrition and starvation of hundreds of thousands of villagers depending on their food crops. It is the direct cause of death, deformities and disease in millions of Vietnamese people and Vietnam Veterans.
ROUNDUP/GLYPHOSATE: Established in 1970; Monsanto stated it “to be safer than table salt and practically non-toxic to mammals, birds and fish.”
FACT: 1996 NY Supreme Court had that phrase removed as false advertising. RoundUp is a non-selective herbicide that kills every living thing it touches, including bees and birds. In 1978 and 1991, two research labs hired by Monsanto, were caught by the EPA for deliberately falsifying test results on Glyphosate. 2001 European Union classified Glyphosate as “dangerous for the environment and toxic for aquatic organisms.” It remains the most widely used herbicide in the US.
RECOMBINAT BOVINE SOMATOTROPIN/ BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE: Established in 1993, touted to increase a dairy cows milk production by 10 to 15 percent
FACT: Banned in hundreds of countries, including Canada, Australia and Europe. The life expectancy of a dairy cow is 10 to 15 years, one on BGH lives approximately 1 brutal year. In cows, mastistis is increased by 40, lameness by 55.
FRIENDS IN THE GOVERNMENT: All government officials are non-biased and represent the best interest of its citizens.
FACT: Monsanto has too many friends to name, visit; The Amazing Revolving Door; Monsanto, FDA and EPA
GMO: Another harmless benefit to humanity that will increase the world’s food supply and save all the starving people.
FACT: Banned; 1982 in Canada, Europe and over a hundred other countries. Approximately 70 percent of GMO corn and soy beans are used as food for factory farmed cattle, dairy cows, pigs and poultry. If you are a meat eater, you’re getting a double dose. Monsanto continues to spend millions of dollars combating labeling of GMO foods.
So, what is there to be concerned about? With a humanitarian track record like Monsanto’s, what could possibly go wrong with GMO plants and animals?
Perhaps … everything.
Malama i ka aina
Mika and Stuart Hollinger
Kilauea
Cell phone law hurts more than it helps
Since the electronic law has gone into affect the roads are more dangerous than before.
Instead of responsibly speaking on the phone while driving, people are now texting instead.
This causes people to keep the phone out of view, below the wheel so that they are not detected. This causes people to take their eyes off the road. I’ve seen many people do it. They need to communicate but don’t want to be caught speaking so they text instead.
I wrote a letter to the editor before this law was passed indicating that this would cause people to text instead, this has indeed happened.
This is just another example of government out of control looking to simply generate revenue. This law is not about safety, it never has been. It is yet another example of government taking away more of our hard earned money and putting it into their pockets. It’s laughable that they claim this is about safety. It is perfectly safe to talk on the phone with your eyes on the road. In fact it’s probably more dangerous to have a conversation with a passenger in your car.
Whenever government says a law is there to protect you, don’t believe them. This is the same government that has distracting signs all over the place telling you to buckle up. Yeah, real smart to put signs like that in places like death alley in Wailua. The irony is not lost on me.
Dan O’Flaherty
Lawai
