STUCK WITH ANOTHER UNENFORCEABLE LAW

Once again, the politicians have made a decision to enact unenforceable laws. When I first heard about the proposal to ban cell phone usage in cars, I thought it was a joke. Once it was enacted I found that really was a joke.

The police are unable to enforce our speeding laws, our red-light laws, our crosswalk laws, and yet the council and mayor expect them to catch cell phone users inside speeding vehicles that are running through crosswalks to beat red lights.

To make matters worse, the penalty for using your cell phone while driving is a whopping $15 minimum. I'll just bet that makes the phone users cringe. I sincerely wish our politicians would, just one time, try to use a little common sense before enacting these laws.

Don Chambers | Mililani

REEFS

RUNOFF SEEMS BIGGER PROBLEM THAN SAID

Rick Grigg was my oceanography professor at UH and knows far more about reefs than I'll ever know, but I must call into question his recent statement of May 14 alleging that "Pollution and land runoff is only a problem in confined waters." I'm no expert on pollutants, but I would imagine that pollutants such as fertilizers contribute to algae growth which is definitely detrimental to reefs. On the other hand, the effects of land runoff are easily observed while snorkeling.

One of the biggest recipients of land runoff is Kane'ohe Bay, and perhaps that could be called confined despite the channels to the open sea. Runoff is also smothering much of the reef in Honolua Bay on Maui. Due to the narrowness of the bay, this might be called confined as well. However, the only thing confining the large open stretches of reef that are being blanketed with runoff along Olowalu on Maui and the northeast shore of Lana'i, as two prime examples, are the reefs themselves. I hope Professor Grigg can shed a little more light on his statement.

John Floyd | Kailua

MARSHALL ISLANDS

HELP GIVE BIKINIANS THEIR ISLAND BACK

We are seventh-graders at Niu Valley Middle School and are learning about the environmental problems of the Marshall Islands, specifically the island of Bikini. Most importantly we are learning that the United States is the cause of these problems.

In 1954, the Bikinians were evacuated to a different island with no idea what was about to happen to their home. Two radioactive bombs were tested; one on the island and one in the surrounding ocean. It left the island uninhabitable due to high levels of radioactivity and inadequate food and water sources. Ever since this tragic event, the Bikinians have been unable to live on their beloved island, and long to return there.

It's been almost 50 years since the bombs were tested. At first look, the island is back to its original beauty. But studies show that radioactive contamination still exists.

Scientists have been working on getting the island inhabitable again, but it's been a slow process. We can all help to make a difference by giving Bikinians their island back.

To see what you can do to help, go to www.helpthebikinians.weebly.com (a Web site created by two of our peers).

Taylor Fisher and Megan Suzuki | Seventh-graders, Niu Valley Middle School

NATATORIUM

NAMESAKE BEACH WILL HONOR VETERANS

I'm all for honoring Hawai'i's veterans, but it seems to me that spending several million dollars on a memorial when the state has a huge budget deficit is extreme folly ("New beach may rise from aging Waikiki natatorium," May 17). I believe the natatorium should be torn down and a small, inexpensive sign and plaque should be built on the site.

The new beach that could be created there should be called "Veterans' Beach." What better way to honor our heroes than to name a beach after them? It would be on everyone's lips daily. "Meet you at Veterans' Beach." "We're surfing at Veterans' Beach."

That name would honor veterans on maps and tourist brochures. Veterans' Beach would replace that gaudy manmade structure with nature's memorial and would open up more ocean for people to enjoy.

Ray Graham | Waikiki

BOTTLE BILL

TRY 10-CENT DEPOSIT ON WINE, SPIRITS

It is a wonderful thing how successful the bottle bill recycling program is. It has made our city and county parks cleaner, provided income for many unemployed people, and given the state badly needed revenue. Now I hear that our recycling program is so successful that there is the possibility of raising the deposit a half a cent on soda and beer bottles already being recycled.

Let me just suggest another alternative here for your consideration. Why don't we have a 10-cent deposit on all wine and spirit bottles? Is the bottling-distributor wine and spirit lobby too powerful to penetrate? Whether on the low end you pay $5 or on the high end $30 plus for a bottle of wine or spirits, it seems 10 cents is a small fraction of the total cost that could generate badly needed tax revenues while at the same time expanding the already successful recycling progam here in Hawai'i.

Rev. Jim Walsh | Hale'iwa

TEEN EDITORIAL BOARD

YOUTHS SHOW SUCCESS TRANSCENDS PRIVILEGE

Parents whose children did not recently receive a letter of acceptance into the local private schools should not be discouraged.

For those who truly believe in their children, continue to do so. Enrollment in a private school will not guarantee success.

Success for children can be found in the mixture of students on The Advertiser Teen Editorial Board.

Comments by these young students were inspiring, emotional and confirm that Hawai'i is the Aloha State.

Being young, they were unable to donate money but they realize they had a voice, time and a willingness to be involved.

Their comments were not on careers, music, TV shows, but on the need to be involved in our community: civic engagement.

An outstanding feature of the board is that members were a mixture of homeschool, private and public education.

They also range in age from freshmen to seniors in high school.

Congratulations to their parents, teachers and friends for providing these students the education and lessons in life that are available to all.

Thanks to The Advertiser for providing a forum for these young adults who understand the duties of citizenship.

Leonard Leong | Honolulu