Trump’s climate actions irresponsible

As an environmental scientist and former member of the National Academy of Science Panel on Adaptation to Climate Change, I am appalled at President Donald Trump’s ignorance and stupidity in withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate accord. His speech announcing this irresponsible action once again consisted of lies and misrepresentations.

Climate change is the single greatest existential threat to our country and the planet. Drastic action to reduce carbon emissions needed to be taken decades ago, but an avalanche of lies and misinformation from the fossil-fuel industry and Republican climate-change deniers thwarted any meaningful action until now. Finally, with the whole world united, we reached a global alliance to confront the challenge.

Now Trump, understanding nothing of the science and in denial of the facts, is breaking America’s commitment to the accord. Let’s not forget that it was the U.S. that generated the biggest share of the carbon dioxide that triggered climate change.

We largely created this environmental mess, now Trump expects the rest of the world to clean it up. (The opinions here do not represent the National Academy of Science).

Jeremy Harris

Anahola, Kauai

—

Obama’s legacy quickly torn apart

Since Donald Trump became president, he has systematically dismantled much of President Barack Obama’s accomplishments.

He has pushed the House to pass a bill to abolish Obamacare, deported thousands of illegal immigrants whom Obama had deemed “safe,” withdrew from the Paris climate accord, appointed Scott Pruitt to weaken the Environmental Protection Agency, Ajit Pai to kill net neutrality and Betsy DeVos to upend the Department of Education.

He fired FBI Director James Comey, who was investigating Trump’s involvement with Russian meddling, introduced a budget that will cut Medicare/Medicaid funding, weakened the alliance with NATO, wants to renegotiate or withdraw from NAFTA, weakened fiscal regulations in the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and signed a presidential memorandum withdrawing the United States from the trade deal with Asia.

All in the first few months of his presidency. What more havoc can one man do?

Jon Shimamoto

Mililani

—

Ortiz should have sought citizenship

Instead of lamenting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, Judge Stephen Reinhardt should have asked Andres Magana Ortiz, who by all accounts has been a good citizen and an asset to our country, why in heaven’s name he did not apply for citizenship in the three decades he resided here (“Judge rebukes Trump but deportation stands,” Star-Advertiser, May 31).

Ortiz had an American wife and three American children. He built a business. Would he not be proud to become an American citizen?

Unfortunately, it is his own fault that he is being deported as he did not follow the laws of the country in which he lived. And, by the way, these laws were on the books long before Trump took office.

Bonnie Clark

Ewa Beach

—

Airport should not bear Inouye’s name

The name Daniel K. Inouye International Airport doesn’t sit well with me. I met Inouye in the early 1970s when I campaigned for him. And I have only respect for what he has done for Hawaii. However, I don’t believe he would have wanted his name on this airport.

There are certain names here that people around the world automatically recognize in a positive way: Honolulu, Hawaii and Waikiki are some of them. We should think twice about altering their use.

I believe the late senator would have realized that keeping the Honolulu International Airport name as the destination point of future travelers was more important than having his name there.

It’s sad that despite all the good Inouye has done for Hawaii, I’ll remember him more for his name being wrongly used at our airport.

Clarence Chun

Kalihi

—

Return historic bells to Philippine village

Around the country, Confederate monuments have been taken down or are scheduled to be taken down to stop honoring white supremacy and privilege.

In the spirit of promoting peace and ending imperialism, Hawaii’s congressional delegates should spearhead efforts to return the three Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines. A brief history of the bells: Filipino villagers attacked the occupying U.S. Army 9th Infantry, who responded by shooting every male villager 10 years of age and older, destroying the village and taking the bells as spoils of war. Two bells are kept at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; the third is kept at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea.

The occupation of the Philippines and murder of thousands of Balangiga’s children is a shameful history often unaddressed in discussions of U.S. history. Returning the bells to the people of Balangiga would be a step toward long-overdue healing.

Michael Miranda

Puhi, Kauai