• Proposed dairy farm will be messy • Biker users should stop at driveways • Plenty to do and love the chickens, too • Eating plants will solve many problems Proposed dairy farm will be messy I have worked in biological
• Proposed dairy farm will be messy • Biker users should stop at driveways • Plenty to do and love the chickens, too • Eating plants will solve many problems
Proposed dairy farm will be messy
I have worked in biological science in both the lab and field. I believe any negativity concerning GMO that I often see condemned here is completely unfounded and irrational. My feelings concerning dairies, though, are quite the opposite.
Having worked in the San Joaquin Valley of California, I can give a firsthand account of the negatives of dairies. Dairy farms are necessarily messy. One of the major problems is the amount of water that must be used. This creates a tremendous odor and fly problem. The constant washing needed to wash udders and concrete slabs along with the invariable leakage in watering the cows is the primary problem. This excess water creates the odor and fly problems. The effluent from this, mixed with the cows’ own manure, has to go somewhere. It soon finds its way to ground or surface water and then finds its way to the sea. This nitrogen enriched water will, without a doubt, lead to change in the flora and fauna of the nearby coastal ocean. I see no way around it.
Carlos White
Princeville
Biker users should stop at driveways
My husband and I do not use the bike path. But we are happy for the ones who are able to make use of it.
But there is a big problem with the users of it. They are not observing the rules.
We live on a road that has several condo complexes that have driveways going down and the cars have to cross the bike path in order to get to the street. But the bike path users do not observe the stop signs that are on either side of the driveways. We have cut back the foliage on the left side by our tennis court. When we leave, we just inch our way out because we know the bikers never stop before they cross over our driveway. This is an accident waiting to happen. A couple of weeks ago, my husband was just ready to cross the path when, out of nowhere, a woman on a bike with a baby in a backpack came flying across without stopping. She had to be going 15 miles a hour. Had my husband been just seconds later, it could have been tragic.
I suggest that those stop signs be painted in a brighter color. Unfortunately, no one uses common sense. It should be obvious that when you have to cross a driveway, you get off the bike and cross it on foot. If you are not willing to do this use a path that has no stop signs.
Sonja King
Kapaa
Plenty to do and love the chickens, too
I saved the letter from Mr. Rhyner (TGI, Feb. 19) to answer until I was calm and able to respond with some sense and understanding. So far, that has not happened and so my reply is, “It takes all kinds …”
As a visitor to Kauai for two weeks each February, I read your wonderful newspaper daily and was mortified with his letter and complaints. Please do not take the word of one visitor who luckily will not come back. We love your island above all others with its gracious people, gorgeous landscapes, pristine beaches and your delightful chickens! Save Kauai from those who “think there is nothing to do.”
See you next February.
Mary Louise Halm
Bellevue, Wash.
Eating plants will solve many problems
There is an easy solution to the problem of potential environmental degradation from the planned dairy farm at Mahaulepu. That is to eat plant foods for our nutritional needs, rather than relying on dairy and meat. This eating style has the additional benefit of improving our health.
Another problem on Kauai would then be addressed, that of restricted-use pesticide spraying on seed corn. I understand that these seeds are being developed in order to grow crops in the Midwest to feed livestock for human consumption. If most humans stopped eating meat, there would be no need to develop these seeds on Kauai. Market forces would affect the change.
An additional benefit of eating plant foods instead of animal foods is that our conscience is then free of responsibility for inhumane treatment of livestock. We know that we are not contributing to animal suffering.
With regard to the benefits of eating plant foods to human health, I found compelling information in a documentary called “Forks Over Knives,” by Lee Fulkerson, and in a book, “The China Study,” by T. Colin Campbell. Incidences of heart disease, cancer and diabetes can be reduced (these researchers also answer the often-asked questions about getting enough protein and calcium without using meat and dairy).
I found an interesting discussion on the treatment of farm animals in our meat and dairy industries in “Why Vegan?” a talk by David Yourofsky on Youtube. This topic is also covered well in the film “Food, Inc.”
The solution is to eat plants.
Sue Coan
Lihue
