President-elect Joe Biden hopefully will be a better steward of our Earth’s environment than President Donald Trump (“Trump pushes forward environmental rollbacks,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 19).

The number of rollbacks during Trump’s presidency has been numerous. Exiting the Paris Climate Accord in 2017 was a mistake. The president’s administration has watered down environmental laws on water and air quality to benefit industry. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is to protect our birds. Trump’s folks want to protect companies from criminal liability for preventable, unintentional deaths.

In Alaska, a number of harmful rollbacks are in the works for natural resources exploitation: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, Pebble Mine development. National parks might be subject to energy exploration unless stopped. Native Americans are being disrespected as their sacred lands are exploited and desecrated for worldly gain.

Trump needs to immediately cease his rollbacks, since he is now a lame-duck president. The Earth is our only home. Humans must treat Mother Earth’s environment well; otherwise, there will be little left for future generations.

Lawrence M.O. Chun

Kailua

U.S. foreign policy must change fundamentally

I admired Doyle McManus’ column, but the portents I read into it cause me great anxiety (“Rejoining the fold,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 18). While welcoming our escape from the chaos and bullying of President Donald Trump, my primary interest in foreign relations says: What?! All these retreads with ossified mindsets? Will Biden continue America’s military-and-power belligerence?

For a nation and people “under God” and paying homage to and faith in the Prince of Peace, we sure don’t walk the walk. I want an immediate 50% cut in the budgets of the Department of Defense (DoD) and its tentacles; absolute primacy of the State Department over DoD; diplomatic recognition of Cuba and engagement of normal friendly, diplomatic niceties; complete stoppage of economic and any other sanctions on Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Russia, Iran, Syria, and on and on. Those countries’ common people like us will appreciate it. And finally, the Palestinians need a real measure of justice and TLC.

Let’s get it together — for all of humankind, all of God’s children.

Robert H. Stiver

Pearl City

Trump undermines peaceful transition

Two weeks ago, I had tears of frustration and helplessness over President Donald Trump’s lack of humanity. Last week I feel nothing but anger. Obviously there has to be rules with penalties put in place regarding transitions after elections.

It is not enough any longer to expect a peaceful transition with an ex-president who suffers from terminal delusions.

Trump is clinging to the White House, like a tenant behind in his rent. He is afraid if he leaves, the landlord will dump his stuff on the sidewalk.

Judith Pettibone

Makiki

People recovering from COVID should count, too

The mayor should subtract the number of people recovering daily from the new daily count of people infected with the coronavirus in order to get us to the higher tier. The people who are better should count for something, as they are also less likely to become infected again.

Many of us still don’t know anyone who has contracted the virus and it seems everyone we ask doesn’t know of any cases either. It seems that this virus is something we can live with, like the common cold or flu.

Lincoln Whang

Hauula

Rail station landscaping neglected and weedy

I work at Pearl Harbor and pass by the new Aloha Stadium rail station each day. Several months ago, the fences were taken down to reveal beautiful and well-thought-out landscaping on the Kamehameha Highway and Salt Lake Boulevard borders of the station.

Unfortunately, all those plants and shrubs already have been taken over by weeds and vines. It’s getting so bad they will kill all the landscaping paid for to make the station welcoming. Long before a single train goes through the station, it is already turning into an eyesore.

How can we expect the city to maintain the rail properly when it can’t even control the weeds?

Michael Carr

Pearl Harbor

With budget shortfall, stop rail at Middle Street

With a possible $400 million-plus shortfall for next year’s city budget, maybe city officials should consider the rail project.

It seems our political leaders would rather furlough people rather than choose the obvious solution to stop the rail at Middle Street. Yes, there will be some associated costs for stopping the rail, but at least the taxpayers will not be on the hook for another $1 billion or more. The savings would build a lot of truly affordable housing units, and not the ones proposed by the greedy developers.

Ken Takeya

Kailua

EXPRESS YOURSELF

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BEING THANKFUL

2020 has been a whopper of a year: the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hurt, politics and elections. But surely there is much to be thankful for and to appreciate. We want to hear from you.

In the spirit of the season, we are now accepting letters (150 words max) and essays (500-600 words) with uplifting messages to share. Submissions received by 5 p.m. Wednesday could run on Thanksgiving weekend.

Email to letters@staradvertiser.com; or send to 500 Ala Moana Blvd. #7-210, Honolulu 96813, c/o Letters.