• Think globally before it’s too late Think globally before it’s too late This letter is in regards to the telescope controversy on Mauna Kea and Haleakala, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and the environment as a whole. These telescopes are
• Think globally before it’s too late
Think globally before it’s too late
This letter is in regards to the telescope controversy on Mauna Kea and Haleakala, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and the environment as a whole.
These telescopes are vital for research (especially atmospheric) which will benefit our planet as a whole in the long run. I emphasize “benefit our planet as a whole.” We have to think globally morethan ever.
I wish the protesters would put their voices and energy in support behind real important issues like President Obama’s major climate change plan this past Sunday aimed at a large reduction ingreenhouse gas emissions from our nation’s coal-burning power plants.
Our president needs all the support he can get. Period. Another vital issue is the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. This ongoing nuclear power plant nightmare is not going away.
Why has the media buried it? You hardly hear anything about it anymore. More than ever, people need to pressure world governments to help the Japanese get a grip on this ongoing tragedy. Thiseffects our planet as a whole. Think oceans, atmosphere, the fish and other food we eat, etc. People should personally emphasize conservation and alternative energy as well as pressuringgovernment officials to pass legislation to help the environment. And this especially means addressing the ongoing Fukushima disaster. In concluding, the tone of this letter is to think globally.Without a clean environment, we have nothing, especially future generations.
Gary Saylin, Davis, California
Well, Kauai did win its 12th consecutive state championship!
This time it took place in quite unorthodox fashion. At the end of the competition on Saturday afternoon in Kona, scores were tallied and Oahu was declared the winner. The Oahu team exploded with an appropriately joyful (in fact ecstatic) celebration when the results were announced, and the victors’ trophy — which Kauai has had on display in our fire administration offices for the last 11 years — was gracefully handed over to them. I am proud to report that our Kauai kids and coaches were very graceful in defeat, tipping our hats to the deserving victors before embarking for our flight home. During the flight and upon arrival on Kauai you didn’t see a bunch of downcast kids, even though there was some sting in the loss of our title. Rather you saw a happy and playful bunch who knew they had given it their very best.
Then, Sunday around noon our Ocean Safety Supervisor Kalani Vierra received a call from the official scorekeepers. Tabulation errors had been discovered and Kauai turned out to be the narrow winner! Oahu was second, Big Island was a very competitive third, and Maui was fourth albeit with some great performances and champions in a number of events. By all accounts the day of competition was the best ever and the big winners were all of our youth from all the Hawaiian islands.
The Big Island proved to be a fabulous host, and supporters from all the islands enjoyed not only the competition but also the camaraderie and aloha as they watched Hawaii’s youth compete with all their hearts. Kauai’s supporters included Fire Chief Westerman and his wife Ann. All the islands had supporters who believe in the value of the statewide (and nationwide for that matter) Junior Lifeguard program, both the competition aspect of it as well as the overall program which trained and guided and coached over 400 kids on Kauai alone.
The supporters’ shared pride and values were a happy partner to the fierce competition taking place on Hapuna beach and in her waters. We are hoping that the state of Hawaii will field a team in the 2016 National Championships, putting together a team of stars from all the islands.
Monty Downs, M.D., President, Kauai Lifeguard Association
