PUBLIC AWARENESS KEY TO BETTER DRIVING

As a frequent driver and a person concerned for safety, I appreciate the efforts in making the roads safer for drivers and pedestrians. I hope to see that the time put into passing the Honolulu City Council bill banning drivers from using cell phones will not be the only effort in removing distractions in the vehicle.

It is obvious that it would be difficult to catch everyone violating this ban if it is to be passed, as we witness many drivers slowing down only at the presence of a policeman, but it brings attention to the public that there is a developing issue of convenience and entertainment at the compromise of safety. I believe that the best way we'll address this is through public awareness. This could include restructuring and standardizing driver's education courses and road tests to contain more safety values, rather than just a chance to get a license.

A ban would just be the beginning in the process to avoid letting our roads become lanes of drivers lost in their own world, unconcerned and unaware of those immediately around them. Could I note that this is not only a compromise of safety, but also a compromise of the aloha spirit on the road.

GENETIC ENGINEERING

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT GMOS UNTOLD

I found Don Gerbig's letter (March 8) extolling the virtues of GMOs very interesting. But, unfortunately, he left out some things that people should know about. People should know that Monsanto created GMOs to withstand the onslaught of Roundup, their pesticide moneymaker. People should know that if GMO seeds are carried by the wind to a neighboring farm, the farmer could be sued for having GMO seeds without paying for them.

People should know that GMO seeds must be purchased every year, thus putting an additional hardship on a farmer that would normally save his seeds from one season to the next. People should know that Monsanto lobbied heavily to not have GMOs labeled as such.

And lastly, people should know that organic food is now the fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture. In 2007, the value of retail sales was estimated at more than $20 billion and growing. Why? Because it tastes better and the risk of ingested pesticide illnesses is virtually nonexistent.

PROPERTY TAX

MAYOR GOOD AT TAKING HARD-EARNED MONEY

I cannot believe that the mayor is mentioning raising our property tax again. Didn't that just happen with the new assessment for this year?

How can he say that we are paying less taxes since he has been in office? I don't think so. Every year we need to put more money in escrow to pay for property taxes.

I would like to suggest that they assess every homeowner who has trash pickup, fire, police, street cleaner service, street lights and all services that the city offers at least a yearly fee per house. Some homes don't pay for this. We need for this to be fair for everyone.

CIVIL UNIONS

THINGS HAVE CHANGED FROM 11 YEARS AGO

This letter is in response to the Feb. 23 letter "It's same-sex marriage with another name."

According to the clergymen and women and Mr. D'Olier, same-sex marriage was voted against by the citizens of Hawai'i by 70 percent in 1998. Please correct me if I am wrong, but that was 11 years ago.

Voters like me were unable to have our voices heard because we were not of age at that time. There are thousands of citizens who were between 7 and 17 years old when that vote took place who are now 18-plus years old and eligible to vote.

All those who demand equal rights for themselves (to include freedom of religion) yet are against gay marriage are the worst kind of hypocrites. Equal rights do not only pertain to a selection of the citizens in this country. I encourage all those who truly believe in equal rights to demand those rights for all citizens of the United States of America. We must remember that this was a country founded on freedom, but that freedom is just a facade if it doesn't pertain to all citizens of the United States of America.

PARKING FEES

RAISING PRICES IN WAIKIKI A TERRIBLE IDEA

What is up with the mayor? City Council, please consider that raising parking prices around the most heavily used park on the island amounts to a "de facto" charge to use the park, the zoo, the aquarium and to even trod the adjacent hallowed grounds of Waikiki Beach and surrounds.

So what if the parking fee hasn't been raised in 30 years? It's a terrible idea to raise it at this fiscally dismal time. One thing that the average person can count on is that they can afford a day off at the park, beach etc.

Mayor Mufi's proposal will act to make access to Kapi'olani Park and Waikiki Beach inaccessible to a large segment of the population. Six dollars for four hours at the park? Let's take it out of the rail system and stop nickel and diming (taxing) us to death.

WAVE ENERGY PLAN

COMPANY DOESN'T MEET CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS

As a longtime supporter of wave energy, I was surprised by The Advertiser's coverage of a questionable wave energy proposal for a wind/wave energy farm at the federally protected Penguin Banks.

As mentioned in the article "Wind, wave energy platforms proposed in Hawai'i whale waters" (March 8), Grays Harbor has (without contacting stakeholders) announced its intention to develop wave energy systems on the Penguin Banks sanctuary waters between O'ahu and Moloka'i.

Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Co. has not yet developed an economically viable wave energy converter. Grays Harbor is not commercially established and has yet to put any wind or wave energy platforms in the water. Unfortunately, The Advertiser gave this company front-page coverage in its Sunday edition, lending it credibility. While 300-foot-tall wave energy platforms are excellent attention-grabbers, the paper should have asked some tough questions about the company's intentions, and the viability of its wave energy converters.

The Banks hosts the largest concentration of endangered humpback whales in Hawai'i. The Banks also serve as the largest nonpelagic fishery in the main Hawaiian Islands. Placing as many as 100 platforms in the area would be highly disruptive to the natural movements and behavior of marine species (including depleted bottomfish) that inhabit the Banks.

Hawai'i should continue on the track toward an energy-independent future by welcoming the many other companies that have proven clean, viable and responsible wave energy converters.