A possible path to a two state solution
The headline, “A plan designed to start a war,” in Saturday’s paper (Tribune-Herald, Dec. 2) really caught my eyes.
It reminded me of the same accusations made against the Roosevelt administration about the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
The U.S. declared war on Japan and destroyed the Japanese war machine, which eventually led to a democratic Japan that today is one of our staunchest allies.
Why did the Israelis fail to act on the information gathered by their intelligence apparatus? The jury is still out on that one. It is possible the plan constructed by Hamas was so bold and detailed that it was dismissed as being too complex for Hamas to carry out.
One can only hope if Israel succeeds in destroying Hamas, the end result would be Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank deciding terrorism is not the answer.
Then, maybe a two state solution will become a reality.
Don Baker
Volcano
Concerns about mosquitoes plan
On Nov. 22, a court case was filed in Kauai against the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and their board, who voted to release Wolbachia bacteria-injected mosquitoes without a full environmental impact statement.
Their stated goal is birth control for mosquitoes that carry avian malaria. They claim this will save native birds. However, per their own assessment, they don’t know if this experiment, which has never been done at this level anywhere in the world, will work.
When asked how they are going to test to see if this experiment is saving native birds, their reply was that that was not part of their experimental protocol. What?!
Studies have shown that Wolbachia bacteria can cause mosquitoes to become more capable of transmitting avian malaria and West Nile virus. The mosquitoes being brought in transmit other human diseases, including elephantiasis and encephalitis!
A Freedom of Information Act request was sent to the EPA requesting how they are going to screen the mosquitoes for pathogens before they’re brought into Hawaii, and they are withholding that information.
The BLNR has approved experiment, and their DLNR has a lab that will create these mosquitoes and release them forever in the islands. Isn’t that a conflict of interest?
They claim a small, insignificant number of injected females will be released. One injected female can lay up to 300 eggs in her lifetime. That’s hundreds of females compatible with injected males. How will this experiment be stopped if they are breeding in the wild?
With the strictness of animals and plants coming into Hawaii, why isn’t there the same rigidity for an insect that could change the entire ecosystem?
HawaiiUnites.org has a court case on Maui that is expected to continue early next year, and thank God for the two men who filed a case in Kauai.
Michelle Melendez
Hilo