Brainstorm! Challenge

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Series shows romance of ocean travel

I am writing in appreciation of the "Freighter Fantasy" series by Charlotte Phillips (Star-Bulletin, June 22, July 20, Sept. 14 and Nov. 9). The Travel section of the paper is one I had typically passed over until one of Phillips' headlines caught my eye. As a Navy sailor I have greatly enjoyed the ports of call my submarine has made, but being in a submarine I don't often get to enjoy the romance of the sea, such as the sights pulling into and out of the harbors and oceanside barbecues.

How wonderful for all your readers to have the chance to experience this marvelous vacation.

Jeffrey Tillson
Aiea

Army should redo Pohakuloa hearings

The draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Army's proposed 23,000-acre Pohakuloa expansion for the Stryker brigade details severe impacts on people, endangered species, coastal waters, cultural resources and agricultural lands from construction, hazardous materials, erosion, dust, fire and noise. But protecting the environment has become risky.

Seven people were arrested at two EIS hearings in Honolulu -- for carrying signs (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 30). The Waikoloa Marriott tried to ban "public displays of protest" at the hearing there. The private venues meant that people could be ejected at the word of the property owner.

Pieces of the Pohakuloa section of the EIS are incomplete, so the public cannot evaluate them: the Environmental Noise Management Program, an agreement about cultural and historic sites, an evaluation of historic structures and a farmland determination. Four sections on airspace and noise are missing.

The EIS process has run so far off track that there are calls for the Army to redo the entire round of EIS hearings. Consider supporting this initiative. We need to protect the environment -- and our right to do so.

Cory (Martha) Harden
Mountain View, Hawaii

U.S. killing spree endangers Hawaiians

Who will protect the Hawaiian people from American freedom? The United States will murder every man, women and child, every animal and every living thing in Iraq in the name of multinational corporate democratic dictatorship. Then it will use most of Hawaii to train the military and eventually kill our rain forest and muddy our pristine ocean.

The bombing of Iraq by U.S. warplanes and the U.S. military training in Hawaii make a mockery of democracy, Christianity and global freedom.

Brandish the banner of Hawaiian independence.

Eric Poohina
Kailua

Will Russia succeed where U.S. failed?

The reforms and action in Russia against the richest "oilgarchs" like jailed billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovski represent a mini-revolution of historic proportions ("Siloviki vs. oligarchy: A choice between Russian evils," Star-Bulletin, Nov. 7).

What Russia is seeking to do is to rebuild the wall between finance and state -- the barrier without which democracy is impossible. Absolute power, after all, cannot corrupt absolutely until it gains control of the levers of public discourse, aka government.

So why is this post-Soviet turmoil relevant to Hawaiians and Americans? Because Russia still may have time to block the rise to political power of financial wealth. America had its chance to block the power of the Rockefellers, DuPonts and Morgans, but against their combined influence was able only to create an alphabet soup of regulatory agencies to slow the charge of power by our own oilgarchs, railgarchs and contemporary mediagarchs.

The U.S. founders knowingly left from the Constitution the provision of rights to any but natural born citizens. But over time the corruption of wealth and power has delegated to artificial creations like corporations and even labor unions a power far surpassing that of mere mortal humans. Such constraints as campaign finance reform would be unnecessary had judges not trampled the Constitution to give political rights to commercial artifices.

Good luck, Russia! This may be your last best hope to heel the power of "the matrix."

Richard Weigel
Pearl City

Revenge against nature is pointless

Trying to kill the very shark that bit Bethany Hamilton would pacify the human emotion for revenge, but almost certainly would be impossible. How would the shark posse know it was the right shark?

Even if they did kill the right shark, revenge would not stop further attacks. Another tiger shark would take up the slack, fulfilling nature's food chain laws.

The revenge mentality was honed in San Diego. As urban sprawl encroached the mountainous areas (since all the beach front was already built), mountain lions attacked hikers and joggers.

After every attack (some were fatal), the park service would hunt down and kill the suspect cat -- usually a female protecting her young. As with sharks, humans are guests in their homes, and by nature these animals are territorial.

Paul D'Argent
Kihei, Maui

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Historical markers? Other cities have permanent markers signifying historic sites or locations. Shouldn't Hawaii be equally accommodating to students and visitors? What should such markers look like in Honolulu? Design one! Remember, markers on walls require the owner's permission, but markers in the sidewalk belong to the city. Send your ideas, drawings and solutions by Thursday, November 13 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or mail them to: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Fax: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame 529-4750