Judge’s decision ADVERTISING Judge’s decision I’m utterly shocked that Judge Barbara Takase acquitted several Thirty Meter Telescope protesters of obstruction. These protesters obviously were breaking the law by purposely blocking a publicly accessible roadway. However, Judge Takase accepted the protesters’
Judge’s decision
I’m utterly shocked that Judge Barbara Takase acquitted several Thirty Meter Telescope protesters of obstruction. These protesters obviously were breaking the law by purposely blocking a publicly accessible roadway. However, Judge Takase accepted the protesters’ defense of their actions. The protesters assert they were preventing the desecration of Mauna Kea by blocking access to the mountain.
It boggles my mind that she accepted the protesters’ defense of their actions. The TMT project has followed the law every step of the way. The project’s EIS was accepted in 2010, and it had a valid conservation district use permit until the Hawaii Supreme Court invalidated it in December.
The court took this action because the petitioners’ due process rights were violated. In short, Judge Takase took it upon herself to determine the TMT project is a desecration to Mauna Kea. This is an utter travesty, as there is nothing officially that would support this position.
I suspect she was more afraid of being charged with a possible “war crime” instead of following the law.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona
More renewables
Cleantech.com reports that Kauai Island Utility Cooperative achieved 90 percent renewables for parts of four days in January. On an average day in January, solar accounted for 62 percent of generation, and together with hydro and biomass it achieved 77 percent renewables.
As the rest of the year has longer days, its goal of 50 percent renewables seems easy to exceed. If HELCO had reached that here it would be headline news, and they have 20 percent geothermal to start with.
Mainland utility-scale solar now is selling for as low as 5 cents per kilowatt-hour! HEI should not need to sell out to NextEra to be able to build more renewables. Just pay those board members less and contract for solar.
Richard Reed
Hakalau
Don’t support HSUS
Support pet shelters and animal rescue facilities by donating directly to your local organizations — not Humane Society of the United States. Beware of HSUS and any of their affiliates. They are not your local Humane Society which truly takes care of animals.
HSUS does not own or operate pet shelters — not a single one. Misleading advertising is just one of their many deceptive practices.
Politicians support the HSUS agendas by introducing ill-conceived ivory-ban legislation based on lies and deceit. HSUS makes false claims, misquotes facts and helps fund media propaganda that influences lawmakers. “The Lord detests lying lips” (Proverbs).
Existing old collections of elephant and whale ivory already in the United States and fossilized walrus and mammoth ivory recovered from the Alaskan tundra are legal to sell. Ivory is federally regulated and enforced, along with international laws. Individual state legislation is a waste of time and taxpayer money. It entails loss of revenues, criminalizes law-abiding citizens and is an unconstitutional “taking.”
I’m an expert on ivory so I feel compelled to comment, but I would rather be advocating for critical issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, agriculture and Hawaiian issues. Local issues should supersede legislation to address Africa and China’s illegal ivory issues.
Precious legislative time should focus on meeting dire needs of the people. Deliberation on solutions to ease the suffering of Hawaii’s residents should be paramount. Righteousness matters!
Michele Lincoln
Lahaina
