William Happer’s commentary contained the usual climate denial lies we’ve seen, and debunked, for years (“Climate change is being used as political hobgoblin,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 6).

CO2 is the basis for plant growth, but too much of a good thing is dangerous. Rising CO2 triggers growth in water vapor (the most powerful heat-trapping gas). Every degree of warming trapped by CO2 is doubled by the parallel growth in atmospheric water vapor.

Studies show that wheat and other foods grown in a high CO2 atmosphere contain less protein, iron and other nutrients. Economists forecast food shortages as a result.

Academic and government scientists confirm that global warming has not slowed in recent decades. To the contrary, we have had three consecutive years of record-setting temperatures.

Based on new findings that portions of Antarctica and Greenland are melting faster than expected, NOAA increased its high-end scenario of sea-level rise by the end of the century in Hawaii to 8.5 feet.

Continuing to deny the reality of climate change obstructs rapid progress needed to build community resilience in an increasingly unsafe world.

Chip Fletcher

Kailua

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‘Extreme vetting’ just a fear tactic

It is so frustrating to hear the president and his supporters disingenuously continue to demand that there be “extreme vetting” before any refugees are allowed to enter the U.S. It is equally frustrating that few, if any, members of the “free press” ask them what exactly do they mean by “extreme vetting”?

How is extreme vetting any different from the intensive, intrusive and comprehensive investigations conducted by federal and international agencies now, sometimes taking more than 18 months, before any refugee or immigrant is allowed to board a plane for the U.S.? What exactly would President Donald Trump do differently? I suspect he wouldn’t know. He only knows inflammatory slogans, not facts.

Trump should stop his reckless, deceptive and disingenuous campaign, aided and abetted by the Republican Party, to frighten and mislead the American people.

It is wrong to persecute people, especially Muslims, who yearn for nothing more than to escape harm and subjugation for a safe, democratic land.

Francis M. Nakamoto

Moanalua Valley

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Medical aid in dying is not about suicide

I recently attended the medical aid in dying forum presented by Compassion & Choices. The proposed legislation now before the Hawaii Legislature is not about “suicide.” Suicide is a choice made by individuals, often with severe emotional issues but no terminal illness, who decide to intentionally end their lives because they want to die.

People who seek medical aid in dying want to live, but have a terminal illness. Medical aid in dying affords individuals autonomous control over severe physical pain and suffering at a time when they are living with the certainty that death is imminent.

I fully support House Bill 201, also known as the Hawaii Patient Choice at End of Life Act of 2017, now before the Legislature. Its stated purpose is to ensure that mentally capable, terminally ill adults in Hawaii who choose to do so are able to take advantage of medical aid in dying medication to facilitate a peaceful death; and that physicians who assist patients in obtaining aid in dying medication are not subject to civil or criminal liability for participating in good faith compliance with this act.

Bud Spindt

Kailua

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Doctors shouldn’t violate sacred oath

The Legislature is debating Hawaii allowing physician-assisted suicide. I am adamantly opposed to Hawaii allowing physicians to prescribe medication to cause someone to die. It is inhumane and Hawaii should not take part in this.

I agree that this is a complex issue. Hospice care should be available, and people who are suffering from a painful illness should be made as comfortable as they can by whatever means necessary. Any medication for comfort, even if it hastens death, is reasonable. This is called the principle of the double effect. And that is OK. We can already do this as physicians.

Having a physician prescribe a drug specifically for the purpose of death violates the Hippocratic Oath and is wrong. Any physician who does this violates that sacred oath. Sometimes right is right and wrong is wrong. This is one of those cases.

Please call or write your legislators and let them know that we are better than this in Hawaii.

Andrew V. Kayes, M.D.

Kahului

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Potholes lead to dangerous driving

With the increase of traffic fatalities on Hawaii’s roadways, the city must look at all the potholes and uneven roads as potential causes of accidents.

Like the use of cell phones being a distraction, drivers are swaying back and forth on roadways in an attempt to avoid damaging their vehicles. The focus is no longer on driving defensively but on avoiding these holes and uneven surfaces.

Over the long term, the city should consider sending those who repair our roads to other countries to learn from them about the best materials and processes for keeping roads in satisfactory condition.

Michael Springhetti

Waikiki