Vegetable oil to fuel our cars? Let's try it

I think it is interesting that vegetable oil can be recycled for auto fuel (Star-Bulletin, May 15). Although it is quite expensive, it may be worth a try, just to see if it really is better and worth the cost. I am amazed by the various resources we have.

Rebekah Worshek

Carbon dioxide test won't be accurate

After scientists abandoned an experiment to pump carbon dioxide into the ocean off the Kona Coast last year, they now seek Environmental Protection Agency approval to do it off the Nawiliwili Coast. An environmental impact statement is needed on the entire program, not just the Nawiliwili project.

A central issue is the quality of carbon dioxide that will be used. Liquid carbon dioxide is generally extracted from fossil fuel smoke. The initial product is heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals. This dirty carbon dioxide is then "scrubbed" with water and chemicals to obtain "clean" CO2. The process is costly, energy demanding and emits carbon dioxide.

The Nawiliwili project will use clean CO2; however, there is no assurance that equally clean CO2 will be used in large-scale dumping. Further, experiments with clean CO2 will not accurately reflect the damage to the ocean by "dirty" CO2.

Rudi Vracko, M.D.

[Quotable] "There was no hatred. Everyone was neighborly ... In order to survive, everybody had to get together." Steven Tingkang Ewa Beach resident, 67, on growing up in plantation camps where workers of different ethnic groups lived together

Maybe it's time to give Republicans a chance

In a fiery speech that roused the crowd at the state Democratic convention, U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink said, "We have the record, they have nothing. So they adopt a platform that says nothing because they've done nothing and they will do nothing."

They, the Republicans, were never given a chance in Hawaii. Politics will always be a question of what have you done for me lately. Mink's remarks are ironic because, judging from the conditions of the state, it is they, the Democrats, who have done nothing.

Give the Republicans a chance. The Democrats have been in power so long they personify two old sayings: "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" and "Familiarity breeds contempt."

Baron Yamamoto

After Harris bows out, budget OK'd quickly

I am amazed that the City Council approved Mayor Harris's $1.12 billion operating and $455 million construction budget.

Believing that the Council had plans to slash spending this year, I was disheartened to see this was not true. Then Harris pulls out of the governor's race. I guess I would have as well, if someone gave me almost $1.5 billion to spend. Even though the mayor has had some trouble this year, he still had a chance of winning the governor's race.

This budget approval smells fishy to me. Of course, Hawaii's "godfather," Sen. Daniel Inouye, probably had some say in Harris's decision, as he did in the last one.

Thomas Haae

Lingle's off-island funds raise questions

I hope Linda Lingle's raising of $100,000 from mainland Republicans doesn't obligate her to an off-island old-boy network. The campaign of mainland Republicans to take over Hawaii is becoming more flagrant and should be taken seriously by those who care about the future of our children.

Not only are they pouring money into Lingle' campaign, but now Steve Forbes, one of the richest persons in the nation and a perennial GOP presidential candidate, has again slandered us with the lie that we are a socialistic state.

As a young person living on the plantation, I still remember the days when Hawaii was dominated and controlled by the "Big Five." I hope we don't ever again experience that kind of social, educational and employment humiliation.

This divisive campaign on behalf of local Republicans is just a sample of the kind of government they would impose on us if their take-over is successful.

Alfredo Antonio

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