HEALTH, SAFETY

AG BIOTECH INDUSTRY HAS A SUPERB RECORD

I am responding to recent letters from Moloka'i criticizing the ag biotech industry. I do not like to engage controversy in the media, but I am appalled at the blatant falsehoods and baseless accusations directed at our hard-working people and a safe, legitimate industry.

There are a lot of scary and misleading claims of "fact" out there about ag biotech that have been discredited by scientific and health experts around the world for being blatantly deceptive or outright fabrications. Many of these so-called "facts" come from big activist organizations on the Mainland.

The truth is, ag biotech has a superb, well-documented health and safety record and is supported not just by companies like Monsanto, but by many credible and respected organizations, including the American Medical Association, American College of Nutrition, National Academy of Sciences, Food and Drug Administration, American Farm Bureau and researchers at major universities across the country.

We at Monsanto are proud of our work and are committed to dialogue and transparency. We offer free community tours for anyone who is genuinely interested in learning more about who we are and what we do. Please give us a call if you're interested.

Circulating misleading "facts" not supported by credible science is irresponsible and unethical and does not benefit our people or our community.

MACY'S

AUWE FOR CLOSING OF HACKFELD'S RESTAURANT

I was both saddened and disappointed to learn yet another of my favorite haunts has become a casualty to the pursuit of the almighty buck.

With just a mere 10 days notice after 25 years of operation, Hackfeld's Restaurant, located off the men's suit department in Macy's Ala Moana, will be closing its doors tomorrow to make space for a storeroom, no less.

Manager DiDi Todd and her staff of 16 have exhibited what is the essence of the Liberty House of old — heart, soul and caring — and they have done this on a daily basis in spite of Macy's Mainland big-corporation mindset.

A big mahalo to both past and present staff as well as fellow patrons who have become extended family over the years. Some changes are easier to accept than others. This one is not.

TEACHERS

LET'S GET THE BAD EGGS OUT OF OUR CLASSROOMS

Bravo to Bryan Lum for his terrific Jan. 17 letter about incompetent teachers. There are too many students taking advantage of this and far too many administrators frustrated by their inability to do anything about the tenure situation.

We are all aware of the poor teachers. At a Windward high school, there was a chemistry teacher who passed out A's in his class. The students routinely played cards and watched videos. His class was very popular with the football team.

At our junior high, a music teacher allowed computer games. My son was frustrated and bored because he actually wanted to learn something.

Isn't there anything the DOE can do to eliminate these bad eggs?