Pollution raises concerns for Hawaii’s environment
The Garden Island issue, Tuesday, Sept. 24, highlights “CATASTROPHIC SEASON,” covering coral die-off predicted as marine heat wave engulfs Hawaii.
Not mentioned yet is the June 15, 2018 issue of National Geographic, which covers the fact that increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is boosting levels of ocean acidity, putting a whole host of marine organisms at risk. These marine scientists are on the front lines.
Quotes from the National Geographic issue cover risks to marine life:
“Fishermen in the Gulf of Maine are already seeing seasonal changes in ocean acidity that could one day threaten a seafood harvest worth more than $600 million to Maine’s economy. Further south in the Mid-Atlantic region, seafood harvesters worry about their future as well.”
“We are all trying to figure out the right path forward,” said A.J. Erskine, owner of a commercial oyster hatchery on the Potomac River in Virginia. “I don’t know if there is a solution, but the more data we have the more knowledge we have. If we don’t know the pH, how can we address it?”
So we in Hawaii need to add measuring levels of ocean acidity in the water, as well as our sea-level temperatures.
I have major concerns with increasing global air pollution.
Alan Faye, Princeville
Truth needed to resolve TMT conflict
Finally! Mahalo for publishing this clear, historical and legally based assessment of the “state” of Hawaii vs. the Hawaiian people. (Manoi-Summers Forum piece Sunday, Sept 23).
When I say “people” I am speaking not only of the Kanaka Maoli, but of their allies, those with Hawaiian hearts, those who come with open hearts and open minds, who see the grievous injustices incurring over decades, and know that truth and honesty must prevail as aloha if we are to survive as human beings in these islands — or anywhere on the planet, for that matter.
An unredacted history of the U.S. imperialism will show that greed, graft and a desire to rule the world because “we know better than you do what is right and we’re bigger” has led to wars, climate catastrophes and a degradation of morals that kills and imprisons children, rapes our Mother Earth of her resources and has us on the brink of nuclear war with the highest level of nuclear proliferation ever.
We can have peace, but we have to BE Peace. Us, not just the other guy.
Let’s start with the TMT. Let’s bring truth, honesty and kapu aloha to the process of ho‘oponopono (forgiveness), and try to make amends.
The coming of the Golden Rule Peace Boat in December offers a huge lesson in standing up for what is pono. Come be inspired. Reconnect with your kapu oia (sacred truth)!
Sandra Herndon, Kapaa
