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Sex education, not HPV shot
In regard to the article to human papillomavirus vaccinations, I’m curious as to how effective it is in preventing the disease ("A shot of prevention," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 18). There were colorful statistics on how many people get vaccinated in Hawaii and the U.S. What is the percentage of people who get infected, regardless of being vaccinated? How are the statistics monitored? Are we still in the experimental stage, trying to gather more data? Perhaps a disclaimer was necessary, stating that the vaccine will not prevent other sexually transmitted diseases.
Scaring the daylights out of the youths during sex-education class before they have irresponsible sex is a better way to prevent STDs. They need to see the graphic pictures of genital warts, tumors and the pus in gonorrhea patients. They need to hear the true horror stories. Otherwise, HPV vaccinations could mean a passage to sexual freedom, and people may be misled to believe that they have no worries of STDs.
Edna Yano
Wahiawa
Use natatorium for sports events
Besides its dedication as a war memorial, the Waikiki Natatorium has a rich history of swimming competition. We should build an Olympic-class swimming and beach volleyball facility. Imagine national and international competitions televised in the winter from Waikiki Beach. With Diamond Head in the background and thousands of hotel rooms right down the street, it will more than pay for itself and locals will get plenty of time to use it.
Brett Phillips
Kaneohe
99 percenters live pretty well
The current uprising and protests called the "99 percent" seem misdirected and inauthentic. The focus tends to be on a few wealthy individuals who are easy scapegoats and don’t provide services the protesters utilize, but the richest of our nation are the politicians, professional athletes, musicians, movie stars and tech moguls they patronize.
If the protesters are serious about change, then they should not be electing career politicians who gave their money away and stop giving their money to the movie, music and sports industries where star salaries are out of scale with the 99 percent.
If the 99 percent seriously consider themselves oppressed by poverty, then consider if they have smart phones, digital cameras, Internet access, high-definition televisions or reliable transportation. If so, they are much richer than those of us who are too busy struggling and working to be camping out in public places for publicity’s sake.
Matt Hilpert
Kaneohe
Stamp out global poverty
As Americans, we have always helped those less fortunate around the world, whether by providing lifesaving vaccines to children or teaching farmers techniques to help feed their entire communities.
The progress we have made is inspiring and the potential for more is vast. For less than 1 percent of our entire federal budget, we can continue saving and improving millions of lives.
Congress is currently making decisions on the federal budget. As a member of ONE — a worldwide grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to the fight against extreme poverty — I want to thank U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye for his support of programs that are helping those living on less than $1.25 a day in Africa and throughout the developing world, to help pull themselves out of poverty. The Senate allocated more funding for these proven, cost-effective programs and I ask that Inouye continue to fight for Congress to adopt this version of the budget in 2012.
Patrick Gartside
Hawaii Kai
North Shore gridlocked
I am very concerned with the proposed Turtle Bay expansion plan’s effect on traffic.
It is gridlocked daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Haleiwa and Laniakea. This is due to the recent publicization of sea turtles at Laniakea. Tour buses and tourist vehicles congregate, causing excess foot traffic across the highway. It now takes 30 minutes to travel a mile. If the jaywalking law were enforced properly, pedestrians would use the footpath under the road, cross safely under the bridge and traffic would flow.
This is just a small example of how lack of planning and overpopulation of the North Shore can lead to debilitating traffic for locals and tourists alike, discouraging the visiting and appreciation of our natural resources.
Kainalu Hecomovich
Hawaii Kai
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