Letters for Sunday, March 9, 2014

• Take time to enjoy life on Kauai • Have compassion for mentally ill • Anti-science crowd has it wrong • Dairy farm must be stopped • Spay, neuter could reduce pet population •

Take time to enjoy life on Kauai

Reading the newspaper gives a person a lot of insight as to how our aina is being run and the amount of challenges we encounter on a daily basis. But it also relieves tension when you read about people wanting to make a difference on the island.

It brings a new meaning to opportunities on an island. Fresh minds and commitment to the people, we all can make a difference if given the opportunity. Aloha, be safe, be bless, but most of all enjoy your moments.

Mizdebz for mayor 2014

Mizdebz DeSilva Carveiro

Eleele

Have compassion for mentally ill

Several decades ago, the decision was made to close down sanitariums established to provide services, treatment and relevant amenities to the mentally challenged in our communities.

With those closures and the abilities for individuals to be peripatetic in their traveling options, we have seen them wander through our streets and neighborhoods, frequently homeless and distraught, and often confused and in great need for compassionate care. In the meantime, we, societally, have failed miserably to address the needs and concerns of the mentally impaired.

It is time for us to bring our collaborative efforts to bring those facilities, programs, and trained personnel to provide compassionate care and giving which is the essence of “living aloha.”

This is something which all of us can do — in giving of our time, our talents, our resources, our support, our patience and our understanding in the ways we reach out to “kokua” one another.  

Jose Bulatao  Jr.

Kekaha

Anti-science crowd has it wrong

Anne Punohu, in her letter to the editor on March 3, defends Bill 2491 supporters as pro-science by saying she likes butanol.

Anne and her compatriots “love science” only when it fits their preconceived world view, namely that corporations are evil, profits are bad, everything natural is safe and everything synthetic is deadly.

They reject the conclusions of thousands of scientists and every major scientific organization that GMOs are safe. They fight scientific advancements like fluoride, pasteurization, vaccines and smart meters. Their fear-mongering Facebook memes, letters to the editor, and blog posts are filled with science-related references used to scare the reader. “Created in a lab,” “men in white coats,” “Frankenfood,” “transgenic,” “agrochemical,” “Petri dish,” along with photos of scientists and syringes with skulls and zombies. Their message is simple — unless we stop them, scientists are going to kill us all.

Can anyone be more anti-science than that?

Chuck Lasker

Kalaheo

Dairy farm must be stopped

More dairy farm worries. I read in the paper that the new dairy plans to grow and feed the cows kikuya grass. I looked it up and it is a highly invasive weed grass. It spreads from cuttings and seeds. It grows an inch per day. Sounds like another bad idea for this cattle operation. From being too close to the ocean to manage the runoff from the manure and urine, now to growing invasive grass that will take over everything, is the last straw for me. This must be stopped to save the land and sea.

John Robinson

Kalaheo

Spay, neuter could reduce pet population

While I wholeheartedly agree with the editorial “Time to ‘PAWS’ and support KHS,” the most important fact of what caused almost 3,000 animals to be euthanized at the Kauai Humane Society last year was completely ignored. Spay and neuter was not mentioned at all as a means to reduce the numbers of unwanted cats and dogs.

By all means, go to the fundraiser and/or adopt a pet. And if your cat or dog is not already spayed or neutered, please have it done as soon as possible. If you take care of neighborhood cats, have them spayed and neutered also. It is very low cost at the Kauai Humane Society.

There is no excuse for this high of a euthanasia rate on such a small island. Please support the Kauai Humane Society by spaying and neutering your pet.

Ally Kirk

Lihue