Anti-GM comments were irresponsible

Hector Valenzuela’s irresponsible commentary, "Controversy about GM crops has silver lining" (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 3) peddles false information and unsupported statements about the safety of genetically modified crops and the Hawaii farmers who grow them.

Valenzuela incites unwarranted fear about GM crops by citing flawed studies discredited by the scientific community. In contrast, there are more than 600 studies, peer-reviewed and accepted, that stand behind the safety of GM crops. He also attacked with unfounded accusations the integrity of respected University of Hawaii researchers who saved Hawaii’s papaya industry.

Valenzuela and others continue to spread anti-science and anti-GMO propaganda through their fear-mongering campaign. This hurts agriculture in general and all farmers in Hawaii and around the world.

We are the farmers who grow GM crops for food, fuel and fiber. We help other farmers by giving them choices in how they farm, and we take pride in this.

Our friends and families eat the same GM crops Valenzuela says are unsafe. We wouldn’t poison our homes, community or the people we love. We are farmers, and foremost stewards of the land.

Mark Phillipson
Lead corporate affairs, Syngenta Hawaii; President, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association

Fred Perlak
Distinguished Science Fellow; vice president of research and business operations, Monsanto Hawaii

Good U.S. jobs lost to globalization

Obviously there are many who would follow the socialist Democrats or the capitalist Republicans into the abyss.

So, as Americans, what actions should we take if neither of the choices agrees with our beliefs?

Yes, I am a registered Republican, but that doesn’t mean I will follow the Republicans to hell.

One of the most important issues of this decade is jobs — or the lack of them — ever since globalization was forced upon the American people by a government that cares about internationalism more than job opportunities in the United States of America.

It should be noted that we the people were not allowed to vote upon this issue of globalization; it was forced upon us by our government, much in the same way a dictator would impose his will upon his subjects.

The workers are being abused and exploited by their governments. Who suffers? Freedom-loving Americans who want jobs that pay decent wages so they can support their families. Due to globalization, the United States has lost millions of jobs while the greedy corporations have gained billions in profits.

James M. Lee
Kapolei

Outdoor mosaics offer attractive view

Hawaii Self Storage on Waialae Avenue is to be commended for the mosaics on its walls.

What would otherwise be just another big boxy storage facility is a pleasure to see each time we pass by. Even better on a bicycle, with time to linger.

I wonder who the artist is, and does he or she have other mosaics around town?

Daniel C. Smith
Palolo Valley

Racial sentiments can cut both ways

Liz Rees of protest group World Can’t Wait says "it’s really important to make the connection" between the Trayvon Martin and the Kollin Elderts shooting cases, in that "they are both victims of a racist system ("Agent’s intoxication key issue," Star-Advertiser, July 9).

I assume "they" refers to Martin and Elderts.But what about possible racism toward defend-ant Christopher Deedy? It has been reported that Elderts called Deedy a "haole" in a not-very-nice way. Deedy may or may not have recognized "haole" as a provocative racial slur, since he does not live here, but under the circumstances, I certainly don’t think it helped an already heated situation.

Is it fair to assume that Deedy was prejudiced against Elderts because Deedy is a haole? And is it realistic to assume there is no prejudice in Hawaii against haoles? Come on.

I have no opinion as to the outcome of this trial involving the tragic death of a young man, but I do believe that racial prejudice is not acceptable no matter who is practicing it.

Connie Wickware
Kalihi Valley

Homeless being treated shamefully

Am I the only person disgusted by the city’s grinding up all the worldly possessions in a garbage truck during the removal of the homeless from our sidewalks?

Shame on all of us for treating other human beings this way.

Michael Groholski
Downtown Honolulu

Flight attendants real heroes of crash

Finally, the media is talking about the real heros of Asiana Flight 214 — the flight attendants who saved 305 lives.

For an entire week, it seemed like a passive event, as if the slides opened by themselves. As a flight attendant for a major U.S. carrier, I know what happened in those moments from the first bang until the last moment when the smoke was too thick to survive.

I have never been in a crash, but I do practice for one every year — all flight attendants do.

You want to survive an aviation accident? Put down your cellphones, iBooks and Game Boys and watch the safety demonstration — every time. Count the rows from your seat to two exits — every time. And fasten your seat belt — all the time.

Listen to your flight crew. We are there to save your life — every time. Chances are you will survive, too.

Lynda Kerwin
Kaimuki