Letters To The Editor
April 02, 2008 - MidWeek
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Del.icio.usNavy and whales
The “Old Friends” feature on attorney Paul Achitoff includes a quote from him about sonar and whales. The Navy, which Achitoff is suing, has a different view. In combination with other specific factors, such as particular ocean conditions and underwater terrain, sonar has been linked as a possible contributing factor to a few dozen marine mammal deaths, primarily of beaked whales in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea over the past decade. By comparison, commercial fishing kills hundreds of thousands of marine mammals each year.
There is no scientifically valid evidence linking Navy sonar to the injury or death of any humpback or other baleen whales anywhere. In addition, there is no scientific proof that sonar caused any mass stranding of beaked whales or other marine life in the Pacific.
The “Old Friends” story also repeats a false and misleading Earthjustice statement about Navy undersea warfare exercises. The presidential proclamation that established the Papahanumokuakea Marine National Monument allows the Department of Defense to conduct activities and exercises within the monument. The proclamation requires those activities and exercises to be conducted in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent with operation requirements, adverse impacts on the monument’s resources and qualities.
The Navy takes these requirements very seriously and is proud of its stewardship of the environment.
Capt. W.S. Gureck
U.S. Navy, Pearl Harbor
Going for broke
I just read Bob Jones’ cover story, Still Going for Broke, online. It is a thorough, substantive, accurate and well-research article. I wish to offer my appreciation and congratulations.
I was especially captivated by the quote from Col. Virgil R. Miller’s May 5, 1945, speech, which, in part, said: “The sacrifices made by our comrades were great. We must not fail them in the fight that will be with us even when peace comes. Your task will be the harder and more arduous one, for it will extend over a longer time.” I read this profound statement in the past and wondered where and when he made that speech.
Terry Shima, 442nd veteran
Gaithersburg, Md.
Heroic tradition
What a wonderful cover photo of the WWII vets from the 100/442 Regimental Combat team along with young members of that unit. Those young men are carrying on a great and heroic tradition; the old-timers can know that others are carrying on in their footsteps. Long may the 100/442 live!
Robert Masunaga
Kaimuki
Nukes next door?
Jerry Coffee may or may not be right about nuclear energy - I’ve personally become accustomed to seeing nuclear plants while traveling in countries as diverse at South Korea and England - but if we have verbal battles here on Oahu over H-Power, wait until you try to build a nuclear plant in somebody’s back yard!
Ed Leong
Honolulu
Intelligent stories
I was impressed with the “Newsmaker” features on Fereidun Fesharaki, an energy expert, and Stephen Schneider, who shared the nobel Prize with Al Gore for his work on climate change. These intelligent, thoughtful pieces are worthy of a national publication like Time or Newsweek.
Rita Lee
Kailua
The worst crime
Hawaii has seen one of its worst unforgivable and unbelievable crimes in its history. An animal (not a human) named Danny Friddle videotaped himself raping an infant. This unthinkable act deserves nothing less than the death penalty. Of course, Hawaii has been too nice to these vicious, sick criminals, and only prison is expected. This sick creature will probably be supported by Hawaii’s taxpayers for a few years and then released later to continue his lunacy.
Hawaii will be watching this case, the judge and the sentence very closely. Whatever the outcome, this animal should rot in hell, not in prison.
Eugene Cordero
Pearl City
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