Buyer beware
I read with interest the full-page advertisement for Gold Vault Bricks. It looked like a great deal, but as Tutu used to say, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not true!
So l read the small print and searched online. The four bars total “20 ounces of high demand bullion copper layered in 24-karat gold.” These are gold-plated copper bars (with a tiny, tiny bit of gold plating).
There is no legitimate “collectors market” for these things. They are trinkets.
Reading the ad carefully, I see “$49 dollars per ounce which totals $980 for the full 20 ounces locked away in these bricks.” That comes to $980 for maybe $5 worth of copper.
I don’t blame the paper or Federated Mint for wanting to make money, but buyer beware!
Pat Easterling
Hilo
Food fights chaos
The article titled, “Nobel UN food agency warns 2021 will be worse than 2020,” notes that receiving the Nobel Peace Prize has put a spotlight on the World Food Programme of the United Nations, as well as the threat of multiple “famines of biblical proportions in 2021,” according David Beasley, leader of the program. “It was so timely because we have been fighting to get above the choir,” Beasley said.
Congratulations to the 20,000 individuals around the world who have worked together to make the World Food Programme effective and worthy of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted the link between hunger and armed conflict. They cause each other. The World Food Programme has asserted that, “Until the day we have a medical vaccine (for the novel coronavirus), food is the best vaccine against chaos.”
The United States has the opportunity to make many positive changes after the dust from this election settles. One of the most important changes will be for the U.S. to resume paying its dues to the U.N. and resume active participation in the only structure in place for such broad international cooperation.
The World Food Program was created within the United Nations in response to a speech made by President Dwight Eisenhower to the U.N. General Assembly. The U.S. needs to support the U.N. and its many important international efforts such as the World Food Programme.
The Hawaii Island Chapter of the United Nations Association recently had our annual United Nations Day meeting, with Dr. Norman Arancon, professor of horticulture at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, as our keynote speaker on the topic of growing our own food on Hawaii Island.
You can find our nonprofit organization on our Facebook page: UNA-USA Hawaii Island Chapter.
Ruth E. Robison
President, United Nations Association, USA,
Hawaii Island Chapter
‘A sacred place’
Did you know Maunakea is the tallest mountain in the world from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the mountain? The Thirty Meter Telescope wants to build an 18-story telescope on Maunakea. I protest against TMT because it will be raising issues of native rights, power and environmental stewardship. I chose this topic because I am a Native Hawaiian, and I am fighting for our land.
Maunakea is a sacred place. It’s where people connect to their ancestors and where the creation of life occurred in the religion of Native Hawaiians. Maunakea was taken away by the Americans 126 years ago, but was eventually returned in 1959 when Hawaii was acknowledged as a state.
This protest is very important to the community of Hawaii because that’s where the dwelling place of the goddess Poli‘ahu resides. The summit was considered the realm of the gods and in ancient times was forbidden to all but the highest chiefs and priests.
TMT should rebuild the telescopes that are not in use on Maunakea instead of building the 18-story telescope. Rebuilding what is there will teach the community how we Native Hawaiians have rights, power and environmental stewardship. I suggest that TMT build its telescope somewhere else because it’s like someone walking into your house with their shoes on.
People may not agree with me that TMT will be an issue on Maunakea. I strongly agree with my choice because it is very important that we protect on our lands and our indigenous rights.
Philip Funaki
Hilo High School student
