The latest article reporting the woes faced by the City and County of Honolulu to site a new landfill emphasizes two facts about the general unsustainability of our modern way of life: it is fundamentally unsafe for the environment and our own health; and we cannot afford it.
Much like the other wicked problems we face, we are focusing on trying to come up with technological and legislative fixes rather than truly reflecting on the changes needed in how we live and relate to each other and the natural world. The HPOWER garbage incineration plant on Oahu is a perfect example of this.
There are zero-waste alternatives; just look up this phrase online. But this requires us to change ourselves, our economy and our society — not just the location or the technologies we use to get rid of the waste our unsustainable way of life generates.
Travis Idol
President, Hawai‘i Interfaith
Power and Light
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
In the spirit of this season, take a moment to count your blessings. Recent times might’ve been tough — politically, economically or otherwise — but surely there are positives.
Here’s your chance to reflect on what you appreciate. Today through Dec. 9, we’ll be accepting “Count Your Blessings” letters (150 words max) or essays (500-600 words). A collection of these will run in mid-December.
Email to letters@staradvertiser.com; or send to 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Bldg. 2, room 200, Honolulu 96813, c/o Letters.
EXPRESS YOURSELF
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.
>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.
>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite #7-500 Honolulu, HI 96813
>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter
