July 27, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Monday, July 27, 2009

July 27, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:14 PM :: 9717 Views

New target for Greenmail: 27-acre open-ocean fish farm nears launch off Hawaii's Big Isle

A dozen spherical cages each with a diameter half the length of a football field would be submerged in state waters off the Big Island if plans are realized to establish the largest open-ocean fish farm in Hawai'i.

The Honolulu company proposing to raise sashimi-grade 'ahi last week published a final environmental impact statement with the state, clearing a major regulatory hurdle in the effort to (get sued before) start(ing) operations projected to generate more than $100 million in annual sales.

On the Big Island, Kona Blue Water Farms has been commercially producing amberjack, trademarked as Kona Kampachi and harvested at about 5 pounds, since 2005 under a 90-acre ocean lease offshore from Kona's Keahole Airport. But the company is in the process of scaling back annual production from about 1 million pounds to 600,000 pounds because of trouble producing fish economically in part because of high costs to transport fish to the Mainland. (They were hounded by the Hokulia plaintiffs.)

Open-ocean fish farming has attracted critics concerned about environmental impacts from concentrations of uneaten food and fish waste, the potential hazard of cages to other sea creatures including whales, and the possibility of cages attracting other fish, including sharks.

Monitoring of existing fish farms suggests that water quality isn't significantly harmed by food or waste (But this is not important. What IS important is that they will be sued and will have to make a $ettlement of go out of business. Mexico beacons.)

Hawaii Oceanic anticipates employing 22 people earning an average annual salary of $51,500 at full production, and indirectly supporting 40 additional jobs. (Oh well. The key here is to wait for the point at which the company has the most capital invested in fixed equipment and then hit them with the lawsuit....)

Fresh start for Charter School (And STILL beats the regular DoE schools)

Despite a year marked by legal struggles, Waters of Life students made adequate yearly progress under the federal No Child Left Behind Act -- one of only three schools to do so this year among the island's 13 charter schools.

Global Cooling: 3,000 Low Temp Records Set This July!

First, some stats. 1,044 daily record low temperatures have been broken this month nationwide according to NCDC -- count record "low highs" and the number increases to 2,925, surely to pass 3,000 before the end of the month. Some thoughts on the 'low highs" below.*

(Yes, its true. AlGore is wrong. Climate change is caused by changes in solar output. And right now we don't have any sunspots= low solar output. And lo and behold--ITS COLD OUTSIDE.)

Carbon dioxide a growing threat to ocean life

The debate over reducing greenhouse gas emissions — through renewable energy, cap-and-trade programs, more fuel-efficient cars — often comes down to the cost. Is the price tag worth the effort to combat climate change?

When it comes to the world's oceans, the answer should be an unequivocal yes.

The evidence is mounting that the effects of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can cause significant damage to coral reefs and marine life, particularly shellfish.

(The evidence is mounting that the Earth is COOLING! So now we have to peddle CO2 as if it were a pollutant.)

Commercial fisheries and societies whose economies depend on the sea — including Hawai'i's tourism industry —could suffer billions of dollars in losses.

(Hawaii's tourism industry WILL suffer billions in losses. If Abercrombie & Hirono's Carbon Tax scheme becomes law--electricity cost will go thru roof.)

Climate data catches experts off guard

This figure shows the difference in surface temperatures from January 1999 to last December and average temperatures from January 1940 to December 1980. The average increase on this graph is 0.86 degrees Fahrenheit, and the widespread temperature increases are considered to be an aspect of global warming.

(They sure didn't want to produce a graph showing a comparison between 1999-2008 and 1981-1998 because as they know THAT chart would have shown COOLING everywhere. These clowns are scammers and they know it. But here's an admission:)

Atmospheric carbon increased 70 percent during the period known as Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum 55 million years ago, said Richard Zeebe. Yet it was less than expected to explain a rapid increase in temperatures, he said in an interview.

"This constitutes an enigma because carbon dioxide released cannot account for the entire warming. This means something else contributed significantly to the warming," he said. (Hmmmmm. Maybe the SUN's output increased and the warming caused CO2 to be released into the atmosphere???)

"We're not saying carbon dioxide is not important," he emphasized. "It is very important. (True: Without CO2 nearly all life would die on Earth. That's pretty important.)

Current and future warming is almost entirely due to carbon emissions. There is no doubt about this." (When this scientist genuflects to show fealty to the Church of AlGore we must read between the lines knowing such pro-forma statements are necessary to avoid excommunication and the loss of research grants which would come with it. One cannot be a scientist and say "About this there is no doubt." As any child knows, in science there is ALWAYS doubt.)

Stimulus will buy low-income Hawaii families solar heaters

About 420 low-income households in Hawai'i will soon be getting solar water heaters paid for with $3.7 million from the federal economic stimulus program.

(That's $8810 per water heater.)

SB: Middle class ~~wary of~~ not fooled by health care bill (cheer unabashedly--DEFEAT OBAMACARE YEEEEAH!)

"Most Americans understand the need for universal health care but want assurance that it will be affordable and will strengthen rather than weaken the economy. Those are the legitimate concerns of some Republicans — others are cheering unabashedly for the reform's defeat ...."

SB Editors telling us what is "legitimate" in a futile effort to re-shape debate in a way that would help Obama' socialist medicine scheme.

Some tips:

America is the source of most of the world's medical advances
America medical advances are improving health care world wide
Obamacare would destroy medical innovation and technological improvement by removing the profit incentive...

New "illegitimate" slogan:

"Save the planet! Stop Obamacare"

Some "illegitimate" thoughts:

Obamacare would also allow government to determine whether YOU live or die. Do you want government to have that kind of power over you? And why are members of Congress and the Obama Administration excluding themselves from this wonderful new plan?

Congratulations, by reading this you have committed a thought crime.

Commentary: State legislatures facing grim outlook

The National Conference of State Legislatures had its annual summit meeting last week in downtown Philadelphia, at the corner of Gloom and Doom. Attendance was down, thanks to the rotten economy. (Hawaii had plenty of freeloaders there) Lawmakers from the host state were among the no-shows, since they were (and still are) wrangling over a bad-news budget in Harrisburg.

(Yes, unfortunately the State has failed to cancel the return tickets of the legislators who went on this Philadelphia junket. And the results of them coming back will be grim indeed.)

Check out this piece of genius: "If any clear lesson is emerging from all this darkness, it’s that heedlessness in good times makes bad times even worse."

(They had to go all the way to Philadelphia to ~~learn~~ hear something we've been telling them for the last decade?)

Budget cuts increase fears for child safety

Healthy Start began in 1985 as a child abuse prevention project and has been a model for others across the country.

The program, which contracts with other nonprofit agencies for services to at-risk families, was allocated about $10 million for 2008-09 in the Health Department's budget but was dropped in the 2009-2010 budget.

DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo said the department wanted to use $7 million in tobacco funds to continue the statewide program but was unable to do that. (--Because the Legislature is now dumping tobacco tax revenue into the general Fund to support HGEA--which is why this article does not assign blame.)

Hawaii nonprofits hit hard by ~~funding cuts~~ accountability

Officials stressed the shortened contracts don't necessarily translate into cuts. (So why the headline?)

In a statement, state human services Director Lillian Koller said her department is "reworking many of its contracts to include performance measures." The agency said 32 contracts, valued at $8.2 million, were issued for shortened periods of three to nine months.

HGEA Agitprop: Rape no less a crime when victim is in prison

Good point. But in the real world, dumping CCA = returning to Hawaii. So why does this editorial implicitly demand a return of female prisoners to Hawaii where prison rape is much higher and much less reported?

Marking our statehood milestone

Statehood is much more than an anniversary date on a calendar or a circle around the year 1959. It represents the long journey and shared struggle for recognition and civic rights.

The commission's capstone event will be the New Horizons for the Next 50 Years Conference on Aug. 21 at the Hawai'i Convention Center.