• Applauding the efforts of KLA and lifeguards • Horace Stoessel • Long-term effect of GMOs • The white Nene Applauding the efforts of KLA and lifeguards As President of the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association, I get to interact closely and
• Applauding the efforts of KLA and lifeguards • Horace Stoessel • Long-term effect of GMOs • The white Nene
Applauding the efforts of KLA and lifeguards
As President of the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association, I get to interact closely and frequently with our Ocean Safety Division (aka Lifeguard) Supervisors. I have also had the great pleasure and honor of getting to know many of our lifeguards.
I am therefore very distressed to read about the lawsuit being filed by lifeguard Myles Emura against the county. The Garden Island article on Sept. 27 specifies a number of allegations and charges made by Mr. Emura against his supervisors.
Although I, along with all TGI readers, am now aware of the newspaper’s account of these charges, I am not privy to any “inside” information about any facts, or alternatively any lack of facts, that may be behind these charges. What I am witness to is the remarkable growth of our Ocean Safety Division, not only in size but also in professionalism, over the last couple of decades.
This growth has saved many, many lives, and it has saved many, many families from catastrophic loss. And this growth is directly attributable to the outstanding work that is done by our lifeguard supervisors, and the outstanding response by our lifeguards to their supervisors’ determination to promote and enforce excellent performance standards.
I have known Mr. Emura for many years, and he has been a very good lifeguard. I have also known our supervisors for many years. I not only support our supervisors, I applaud and honor them for the fabulous work they have done to make Kaua‘i’s Ocean Safety Division become an outstanding — in fact exemplary — part of our County of Kaua‘i’s public safety presence. Let the lawsuit play out as it may, let the facts speak for themselves as they emerge. But, please God, let this process not diminish the remarkable lifesaving work that is done on our beaches, every day of the year, by the men and women of our Kaua‘i County Ocean Safety Division.
Monty Downs, M.D.
Kapa‘a
Horace Stoessel
Sometimes reporters get so focused on getting the news out to the community, that they miss the real news. I have been guilty of that.
The real news which I recently missed was that Horace Stoessel passed away.
While I’m very sad that the community lost such a honorable man, I feel fortunate to have met Horace.
I feel fortunate to have witnessed many times Horace speak his words of wisdom before county officials.
I also feel fortunate to have witnessed how much respect everyone had for Horace.
I know Horace may have gone on to larger things. But I would love to witness our County Council present Phyllis Stoessel with a certificate to her late husband for his selfless services to our community.
As Mahatma Ghandi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
I don’t know if Horace had ever heard these words, but he for sure practiced them well.
Farewell, Horace. And go teach a thing or two to those folks up in heaven.
Léo Azambuja
Kapa‘a
Long-term effect of GMOs
Eating genetically modified corn (GM corn) and consuming trace levels of Monsanto’s Roundup chemical fertilizer caused rats to develop horrifying tumors, widespread organ damage and premature death. That’s the conclusion of a shocking new study that looked at the long-term effects of consuming Monsanto’s genetically modified corn.
It reported, “Scientists found that rats exposed to even the smallest amounts, developed mammary tumors and severe liver and kidney damage as early as four months in males and seven months for females.”
It goes on to say: “The animals on the GM diet suffered mammary tumors, as well as severe liver and kidney damage. The researchers said 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females died prematurely, compared with only 30 percent and 20 percent in the control group.”
The study, led by Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen, was the first ever study to examine the long-term (lifetime) effects of eating GMOs. You may find yourself thinking it is absolutely astonishing that no such studies were ever conducted before GM corn was approved for widespread use by the USDA and FDA, but such is the power of corporate lobbying and corporate greed.
Read the entire report here: http://www.naturalnews.com/037249_GMO_study_cancer_tumors_organ_damage.html
Robert Reynolds
Lihu‘e
The white Nene
Recently, on the Makai Golf Course in Princeville, we were treated to a first: A white Nene. Other than a smudge of black feathers on the lower trailing wing end, it was all white.
Flying over us in perfect V formation were 12 normal Nene, and at the point was the white Nene. The formation was Blue Angels perfect. The flock circled and landed on the fairway without breaking the perfect V.
Then, on the ground in the same V formation, the white Nene faced the rest and appeared to be communicating to them. The flock raptly and without moving, faced the white Nene.
I realize this is an anthropomorphic interpretation, but the impression was strong.
Sadly, we had no camera to send a photo to The Garden Island. I hope others will someday see this spectacle, too.
Tom Rice
Princeville
