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Moses shouldn't be sign-waving at church

I am upset at Rep. Mark Moses. Last Sunday, as I was pulling into my church, his supporters were "picketing" the entrance. His signs referred to dirty political tactics and said, "Shame on you, Maeda (Timson)."

No, shame on you, Mark Moses. A church is a place of worship, where people go once a week to be at peace with the Lord. You have disgraced yourself and made me ashamed to say I live in Makakilo.

Of course, Moses will claim that he had nothing to do with any of this. Funny, though, how I have seen these sign-holders with him before.

Moses is a disgrace to our community.

Wake up, residents of Kapolei, Makakilo, Kunia and Ewa. Do you really want such a person to represent you? I don't.

Shane Kincaid
Makakilo

Inequity in terms must be corrected

On the ballot, the amendment to the state Constitution No. 3 reads: "Shall the reapportionment commission be assigned the duty to maintain the staggering of Senate terms in a manner that is equitable for all candidates in an election?"

Most believe the answer is "yes" because this proposal corrects a glitch in the constitutional amendment passed in 1992.

That amendment unfairly favors incumbent state senators and discriminates against challengers.

One very important thing to remember is that a blank vote counts as a "no" vote. So blank votes give incumbent senators longer terms than new senators.

We urge you to fill in the blank for your vote to be counted, regardless how you choose to vote.

Hawaii Clean Elections
League of Women Voters
Common Cause
Advocates for Consumer Rights

Quotables "If the bridges remain narrow, then maybe I can have a longer life." Harry Hasegawa OWNER OF THE LEGENDARY HASEGAWA GENERAL STORE IN HANA Who thinks an upgrading of the winding road to the secluded Maui community would hurt the country lifestyle of the residents "It looks like real bad TV. (It may) look like ghosts, but this is to prevent people from becoming ghosts." Richard Soo HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN On HFD's 10 new thermal imaging cameras, which help detect heat sources such as people and pets even through the thickest smoke. Each device, which weighs about 10 pounds, looks like a large home-video camera and transmits fuzzy black-and-white images.

The Donners have helped save dolphins

In response to the continuing controversy regarding the Dolphin Institute's move to Maui, I would like to clarify the following.

First, the producers of "Free Willy" produced the movie as an educational tool, which was successful in raising awareness of the plight of whales and dolphins. The Donners have been instrumental in working with Earth Island Institute to halt the dolphin slaughter by the tuna industry and in campaigning to stop whaling.

Earth Island founded the Free Willy Keiko Foundation to rescue and rehabilitate Keiko, the star of the film. Keiko is healthy, eating live fish and has spent the better part of the last four months in the open ocean of Iceland, his home waters.

Since Keiko was rescued from Mexico, at least 10 captive orcas, all younger than Keiko, have died in concrete tanks.

Keiko's story is a success due to millions of caring people worldwide. In addition, whaling in Iceland is now part of the past due to Keiko's relocation, and the growth of whale watching. What has the Dolphin Institute done to stop the slaughter of dolphins and whales worldwide?

Mark Berman
Assistant Director,
International Marine Mammal Project San Francisco

International court deserves U.S. support

Words of wisdom began your Oct. 11 editorial on the United Nations tribunal: "Justice delayed should not be justice denied."

Slobodan Milosevic and many others who have violated basic human rights must be tried before an international war crimes tribunal such as the U.N. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia located in the Hague and, in the future, at the newly created International Criminal Court, also to be in the Hague.

The United States and other nations must cooperate in creating a culture of peace rooted in the rule of law.

The global community decided at the Rome meeting to create the International Criminal Court to prosecute individuals accused of crimes against humanity. Since the historical meeting, 98 nations are signatory to it and 15 have even fully ratified this convention.

Unfortunately, the United States has not ratified this convention that puts an end to a global culture of impunity for people that have committed genocide and crimes against humanity.

The ICC is aimed at promoting peace, justice and human rights. The United States must lead by example and ratify this treaty. It must also ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Joshua Cooper

Existing parks aren't being maintained

Why would the governor want another park at Ala Wai Golf course when the ones already in existence are so poorly managed? On a recent trip out to Kaena Point State Park, you couldn't get within 50 feet of the toilet facilities for the stench. We watched as tourists walked behind the facility to relieve themselves.

And look at what has happened to the beautiful beaches of Kalaeloa ever since being turned over to the state. Even the beauty of our city parks, such as Kapiolani and Ala Moana, is often overwhelmed with overloaded garbage cans, litter and graffiti. Until we can manage what we have, leave the golfers' green space alone.

Marilyn Walsh

Residents need large park to have fun

The proposed change for the Ala Wai Golf Course to a central park is an excellent idea. Within a five-mile radius, there are approximately 450,000 people, residents and tourists who live and work in this area. That equates to 90,000 people per square mile, higher than Calcutta's 85,000 people per square mile in India.

A park with boat houses, fishing areas, skateboard arena, horse-drawn carriages, soccer fields and some food concessions would create an ambience of fun and relaxation. These 150 acres should remain fundamentally open space, with limited commercial usage for the primary purpose of enhancing the lives of residents.

If this space is not kept open, a desperation will evolve from our overcrowded situation. Despair, unhappiness and resentment will overflow into Waikiki and our tourism business. I hope our politicians will hear our voices.

Stephany L. Sofos

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