IRAQ WAR

$500 BILLION COULD'VE BEEN BETTER SPENT

Monday, March 20, marked the 4th anniversary of the Iraq war.

The death toll of American soldiers exceeds that of the 9/11 attack.

The monetary cost has reached $500 billion.

All Democratic 2008 presidential hopefuls are demanding a troop pullout.

Except for a few oddball Republicans breaking ranks, that party is running on increasing troop levels and "staying the course," "we must win," throughout the 2008 national election and beyond.

Wouldn't the 50 states each like to share in that $500 billion for their own needs?

I know on Maui we could sure use $10 billion for luxuries such as roads, libraries, hospitals, schools.

Instead, under the Bush White House, we've become a nation of paranoia, arrogance, violence and worldwide scorn.

GENETIC ENGINEERING

SCIENCE HAS SOLUTIONS FOR ISLES' CHALLENGES

Congratulations to Adolph Helm. Finally someone had the courage to say "the emperor has no clothes." The anti-biotech movement is about politics and fear rather than good science and education ("Genetic engineering ban bad for Hawai'i," March 13).

If moratoriums on genetically engineered taro and coffee become law, it would amount to state control of agricultural research and develoment. This would tie the hands of business and industry, and undermine free market enterprise.

The ability of Hawai'i companies to attract investment capital would be severely impacted and could potentially affect a broad spectrum of health, environmental, food and agricultural industries throughout the state.

Let us not be derailed by a small number of activists trying to stir up hysteria over technology by promoting misinformation that has been rejected by the prevailing views of experts throughout the world.

The truth is that it is science that holds the solutions for the vastly complex challenges facing both Hawai'i and the world.

As we seek answers for the future, we can also develop economic opportunities for our state with responsible management and regulatory oversight based on sound science.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS HAVE BENEFITS

The March 16 letter by Lorrin Pang states that the safety of GE (genetically engineered) foods is unknown, according to the World Health Organization.

To the contrary, WHO's in-depth, evidence-based study in 2005 concludes that "GM foods currently available on the international market have undergone risk assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health any more than their conventional counterparts."

This assessment is in line with that of other major scientific organizations that have found GM foods to be safe, including the National Academy of Sciences, American Medical Association, American Dietetic Association and the Society of Toxicology.

In 2000, the AMA report on GM foods noted that attempts to introduce GM foods have stimulated not a reasoned debate, but a potent negative campaign by people with other agendas.

The well-documented benefits of GM crops and foods keep multiplying, while the risks remain almost entirely hypothetical and even contrived. Let's hope we are not denied further benefits by those with other agendas.

APPRECIATION

KUDOS TO THOSE MAKING HAWAI'I A BETTER PLACE

On March 14, The Advertiser ran some of the most inspiring stories I've read in some time.

One told of Isao Nakagawa, who took on the challenge of saving the colony of wedge-tailed shearwaters on Hawea Point.

He made it his mission to be the custodian and protector for the survival of this species of birds from predatory cats and dogs. Today, the colony of fledglings has grown to more than a 100.

It is a remarkable feat of one person making a real difference and it restored my faith in people.

I don't know how Advertiser writer Christie Wilson happened on this jewel of a story, but she should be given a lot of credit, too.

The other inspiring stories were about the people who took up the call on cleaning the environment.

I was particularly drawn to Mr. Kotaro Koizumi's story, because my wife and I do our little part by cleaning the trash in our neighborhood, too.

But unlike his story, where it has become contagious and other people are now pitching in, we can't say the same for our neighborhood. Still, it was good to know that more people are getting involved.

Sharon Miyashiro's story of cleaning trash from the Makiki stream was very inspiring, too.

Stories like these give us hope that there are people in the community who care and do what they can to make living on this tiny island much better.

ON-TIME STATS

HAWAIIAN FLIES TO AREAS WITH 'REAL' WEATHER

Hendrik Kaarsgaren writes (Letters, March 13) how unfair the Hawaiian Airlines on-time performance is compared with other airlines dealing with "real" weather conditions.

Hawaiian flies domestically and internationally on a daily basis by flying in and out of Portland, Seattle, Anchorage, Sydney, etc., placing the same weather challenges on Hawaiian as "nonsunshine" airlines.

DRUGS

DOG'S SHOW ON A&E OVERPLAYS ICE PROBLEM

What does A&E's "Dog the Bounty Hunter" series do for Hawai'i?

I recently was on a flight from San Francisco, and my seat partner was headed to Hawai'i for a vacation. He asked me if it would be safe to walk at night, because he watches Dog Chapman's show and "Hawai'i has a lot of ice heads running around."

While in a cab in San Francisco two days before, the cab driver asked if I was from Hawai'i and what island was I from. I told him I was from O'ahu. He then said he stayed on Kaua'i because he, too, watches Dog and that Honolulu is full of ice heads.

The Chapmans say they love Hawai'i and its people. If so, they should put their money by what they say. Fund some rehabilitation programs, invest some of your profits back and really try to help by rehabilitation.

On the Mexico issue, Dog should do as he says, obey the law and do the right thing.

The ice problem in Hawai'i is the same as most big cities; the difference is Hawai'i's is shown on A&E nationally.

ROUTE DECISION

OKINO'S TRANSIT STANCE WASTE OF TAX MONEY

Councilman Gary Okino's column, "Transit route decision was practical politics, not deal" (Focus, March 18), points out that the worst of rail is yet to come.

His conclusion that it is better to keep rail going literally at any cost and in any direction is an irresponsible wasting of ever-scarce taxpayer dollars.

Our council has lost sight of the fact that the very purpose of the rail was to provide an alternative mode of transportation (certainly not a reduction in traffic congestion) for Leeward residents, not to provide a feather in any one politician's cap.

The residents of 'Ewa Beach, inarguably the fastest growing and most congested of all Leeward communities, will not even have a rail station, while the residents of Salt Lake, who could likely walk to work, will have one at their front door.

Is keeping the rail project alive so important that we leave our reasoning behind us as we give way to what Councilmember Okino calls "practical, prudent politics?"

I would prefer rational, intelligent, purposeful politics. Or is that too much to ask of a $3.7 billion project?

ROUTE VOTE

DJOU'S COMMENTARY ON TRANSIT UNSUBSTANTIATED

Councilmember Charles Djou's diatribe in Sunday's paper (Focus, March 18) was unsubstantiated, way off base — and typical Djou.

What people need to realize is that he will stop at nothing to be negative about giving O'ahu residents a choice on how they get around our island. His baseless charges of backroom deals and payoffs border on the ridiculous, and, frankly, people in his district, in which I live, are growing tired of his endless whining.

If Djou were so sincere about his disappointment in the council decision to bypass Pearl Harbor and the airport for the first leg of the project, he has no one but himself to blame. That was the route on the table that the mayor recommended. It had the backing of four councilmembers. Djou had several opportunities to vote for this route and chose instead to oppose it.

But that's what we've come to expect from Djou. It began when he, and he alone, questioned the legality of the consultant's contract the city awarded for the project. He was chided by the FTA for obviously not understanding the procurement process, and all of his outrageous allegations were found to be without merit.

It continued with his introduction of a bill to delay the collection of the local funding mechanism. Dozens of people turned out to urge councilmembers to disapprove of the bill, which they've done by holding no further hearings on it. Again, it was a failed attempt by Djou to be an obstructionist.

The bottom line is, when it comes to rail, Djou will stop at nothing to block the project. He did, however, break his promise to not support a project that involved a tax increase when he voted, not once, but twice for the most expensive first phase before the council last month, more evidence the councilmember is confused.