Your Views for July 31

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Makes no sense

The Kolekole Bridge is undergoing much-awaited repairs. During this period, which will likely last months, there is a county employee assigned to hold up a manual “Slow/Stop” sign at either side of the actual bridgework, 24 hours a day.

This is very appropriate and understandable, even if it means some delays.

However, what I do not understand is why, two miles north of the Kolekole Bridge, going away towards Hilo, I get to see the two-lane northbound “highway” suddenly become a one-lane “highway” with dividers and with signs on the roadside saying things like “Work Ahead,” even though there is no such work ahead!

Not only that, there is a county sign-man and a Hawaii Police Department car parked in that area, two miles north of Kolekole Bridge, 24 hours a day. All I see them do is “talk story.” So at least, prima facie, it does not appear to be a speed trap.

Then, at the very end of the artificially created “one lane road,” there is a sign saying “One Way Road Ends”!

To what purpose, may I ask, is this facade for?

Pradeepta Chowdhury

Hilo

Roundup everywhere

Thanks to Audrey Wilson for her July 26 Grinds article highlighting the immense amount of glyphosate from Roundup in American agriculture and processed/packaged foods. Because Roundup is used in so many areas, glyphosate gets into flowing water, air and soil when rain contaminated with this toxin falls, and the wind blows it around.

Kids’ cereals made from wheat, corn or oats that are desiccated with Roundup before harvesting are being sold as “natural” food endangering children.

Desiccated crops on the Environmental Protection Agency list are barley, canola, green/dried beans, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, peanuts, apples, apricots, avocado, blueberries, cantaloupes, figs, plums, prunes, grapes, kiwi, citrus fruit, nectarines, peaches, pomegranates, cherries, strawberries, watermelon, artichokes, cabbage, carrots, asparagus, cucumbers, garlic and olives.

Health research shows that people who switch to organically grown food are able to detoxify glyphosate from their bodies in about a week, protecting them from cancer and other illnesses caused by this toxin.

Merle Hayward

Hilo

Mahalo to Wilson

Audrey Wilson’s incredibly important column about detectable amounts of Roundup found in 87% of children’s urine should have been an above-the-fold front-page article!

Her inclusion of the countries that have banned Roundup is truly eye-opening and does shine a light on our politicians for sale to the highest corporate bidder.

Hawaii County’s baby step in banning the use of Roundup in a few public spaces is commendable. However, I hope our new County Council members and state and federal legislators will step up and make some real progress in banning this poison.

Thank you, Audrey, for your clarity and courage! Your calling out the Environmental Protection Agency was brilliantly done!

Dorothy Zipp Malinski

Hilo