Animals too
among Trump’s victims ADVERTISING Animals too
among Trump’s victims As he was signing edicts hurting one group after another over the past two weeks, it was only a matter of time before Donald Trump got around to hurting animals —
Animals too
among Trump’s victims
As he was signing edicts hurting one group after another over the past two weeks, it was only a matter of time before Donald Trump got around to hurting animals — already the most oppressed sentient beings on Earth.
The animals’ turn came by taking down the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service site that reports on government regulation of roughly 9,000 animal handling facilities. These are laboratories, dog breeders, fur farms, circuses, zoos, and aquariums.
The site is used everyday by animal protection activists to monitor government enforcement of the 1966 Animal Welfare Act, the only effective federal law protecting animals.
Taking down the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service site is a huge setback for animal protection. It will almost certainly lead to reduced government inspection of animal facilities and more animal suffering — a virtual repeal of the Animal Welfare Act.
Ironically, this oppressive act was launched by the same dark-of-night process as that of pulling more than 100,000 visas from thoroughly vetted Muslim immigrants one week earlier — no notice, no hearings, no due process, no public announcement.
The oppressive mindset doesn’t really care who the victims are.
Hopefully, the courts will.
Washi Hamada
Kailua-Kona
Do the math
On Feb. 3, the West Hawaii Today posted an opinion from Richard Apothaker which calls for closure of the Waikoloa Village Golf Course (WVGC) and placement of TMT or University of Hawaii facilities onto a portion of the abandoned golf course.
Let’s do the math. The WVGC operated at a loss of about $450,000 last year. There are about 3,000 homeowners in Waikoloa Village, so each homeowner subsidized the golf course to the tune of $150. During the long running debate over the WVGC, several real estate professionals have stated that golf course closure will reduce property values by 10 to 25 percent. If we conservatively assume the average home value is $300,000 and the average loss in value is 15 percent, then the average homeowner will lose $45,000 in the value of their home in return for a $150 reduction in annual dues.
At that rate, it will take 300 years for the average homeowner to break even on the deal. Hopefully, the Waikoloa Village Board and concerned homeowners will see the wisdom in maintaining the WVGC and all of the benefits it provides to our community.
Richard Gillette
Waikoloa Village
Give dolphins a bit of space
I have been swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, etc. in the waters around Kona for about 20 years. I have been fortunate on many occasions to have dolphins come by and swim near me. I have seen the changes with the tour companies and know that there have been meetings regarding this issue lately.
Last week when I was swimming at the pier there were dolphins and many boats. Several of the boats were within the swim buoys and it was very dangerous for the swimmers and snorkelers who were dropped off of the boats, and possibly annoying to the dolphins. Could it be possible to have the boats stay out of the swim buoys and their snorkelers swim into that area to see the dolphins?
If they don’t chase the dolphins down the coast line then that would give the dolphins an opportunity to swim with people if they want to and to go to a different quiet cove for sleeping if they don’t. I would hate to see greed take away an opportunity for others to experience what I have been so fortunate to experience.
Janis Prinslow
Kailua-Kona
