• The Superferry exercise • Give chief chance • Speak for the trees • Where the shame lies The Superferry exercise Lately, the Superferry debate has been reduced to a cheerleading exercise on both sides. Each side has its mind
• The Superferry exercise
• Give chief chance
• Speak for the trees
• Where the shame lies
The Superferry exercise
Lately, the Superferry debate has been reduced to a cheerleading exercise on both sides. Each side has its mind made up and simply lists their reasons as if these reasons have been proven. There is remarkable passion and confidence being expressed despite the fact, as of this writing, nothing has actually occurred. Having the whales on your side is an envious position. Who wants to be “against the whales.” If you begin with your own conventional wisdom that a high speed ferry has got to be a threat to whales, it is easy to embrace the confirming statements of groups with a history of supporting whale protection.
One statement heard frequently is “There’s been an increase in whale strikes in the Canary Islands since high speed ferries began.” The source of this information carries impressive citations. In reviewing the literature, some problems emerge. Many of these citations are produced by persons or groups with whale protection as a primary objective. This does not discount good research; but, it prevents you from giving the facts the highest category; without qualifications. What happens, and it appears to have happened in this case, is an attempt to prove a premise rather than objectively analyze data. For example, one work frequently cited is “Collisions between ships and cetaceans in Spain.” Along with the Canary Islands, it studied dead whale beachings (called strandings) caused by collisions with fast ferries in the Strait of Gibraltar. It reportedly states that the rate of these strandings is quite low and gives two possible reasons: 1) there are few places for strandings to occur. 2) the current is taking strandings into the Mediterranean Sea. The possibility that whale strikes did not occur is not even considered because the agenda is to prove the opposite.
Several reports state that it is very difficult to tell what kind of ship is responsible for whale strandings or whether the whale was alive when struck. It doesn’t stop them from attributing the strandings to high speed ferries because it’s accepted that strandings have increased since high speed ferry service increased. It’s a circular argument. Nowhere does anyone suggest that the reason the numbers have increased is because the number of people looking and researching in the Canary Islands has greatly increased. In 1992, there was a documented collision in the Canary Islands between a ferry and a whale and the whale and one passenger died. It became a cause celebre among whale protection groups. In the last 15 years, scores of researchers have descended on the Canary Islands. The Canary government itself coordinates the Cetacean Stranded Canarian Net. The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has become a significant marine-mammal research facility with Michel André and his whale anticollision technology. The Islands are crawling with people looking for what they expect to find.
There is also a significant apple and orange comparison being made between the Canary Islands and the Hawaiian Islands. On March 27, 1977, two 747s collided in the Canary Islands for what still is the world’s worst air disaster. At that time, I was an FAA Air Traffic Controller at a major U.S. airport. I did not appreciate then or now the slightest connection between that event and our ATC system. I am convinced that the captain and crew of the Superferry are equally appalled at the connection applied to them.
Peter Antonson
Wailua
Give chief chance
I’m so saddened by David Lindstrom (“Business as usual with Old Boy Network,” Letters, Aug. 26) crying about the new chief being part of the “old boys.” I personally will give the new chief my respect and support. I pray he can work and do his job as a local man of integrity and values without having to worry about the opinion of some “young boy” who obviously is biased and ignorant of the demanding standards placed on our new chief. Let the actions not the accusation define our new chief. Respectfully …
Mike Ensman
Lawai
Speak for the trees
In April 2005 it was discovered that a new plant disease called “ohia rust” — Puccinia psidii — had arrived and was spreading in Hawai‘i. This disease is just one of several known rusts that affect the family of plants that ohia belong to, the myrtaceae, and none had been present in Hawai‘i until then.
Scientists and resource managers were worried that the disease would harm or kill Hawai‘i’s ohia trees, one of the most important keystones of the forest, although it could also harm other plants in this family, including eucalyptus, guava, and rose apples.
A quick search for signs of ohia rust on all islands revealed that it was too late for this new infestation — the disease was present nearly statewide. Thankfully, instead of killing ohia trees, it was killing non-native rose apple instead.
While this may appear to be a happy ending, the story isn’t over. There is significant concern that different varieties of rust may come to Hawai‘i and kill the ohia, inadvertently carried on imported myrtaceae-items like cut eucalyptus sprigs in flower arrangements or on imported plants in this family.
There is a Board of Agriculture meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. to decide whether or not to stop the movement of ohia-related plants and product into Hawai‘i in an effort to prevent a new variety of the rust from being introduced here. The debate will be between the value of these imports to the agriculture and cut flower industry, which will surely be represented at this hearing, versus the possibility of protecting a valued forest tree.
Who will speak for the trees? You can. Fax testimony to 973-9613, or send an e-mail to: hdoa.board.testimony@hawaii.gov with the subject “testimony” in the subject line.
Or, you can testify in person by registering with staff prior to the convening of the meeting. HDOA Plant Quarantine Conference Room, 1849 Auiki St., Honolulu.
Christy Martin
Honolulu
Where the shame lies
Editor’s note: The Garden Island is ashamed to have to report this story.
The Garden Island should be ashamed of themselves: “Man gets 5 years for molesting boys,” Aug. 24, A1.
You blatantly revealed the identity of the victims by revealing the name of the mother. This family and those boys have suffered enough and now they have to deal with everyone knowing this happened to them. The family is receiving dozens of calls, some in support and some attacking them as a result of this story. On one hand you state you will not release the names of the victims but then you go on in detail about their mother and list her name? What is wrong with you people? The Garden Island should all be ashamed of themselves for writing and publishing this article.
Cheryl Martin
Hanapepe
