Ads not enough in meth crisis

It’s great and relieving to know that more teenagers are being more aware and scared of meth drug use. The statistics frighten me. The world feels as if it’s so corrupted, and teens are so easily persuaded.

I think it’s good that TV commercials have taken a great toll on viewers of the reality of it, considering how much TV our teens watch. I think watching these commercials, and the ways they exaggerate the outcome of drug use, is a perfect way to scare our young ones.

I just think that TV shouldn’t be all it takes to open up the minds of these teens to the consequences.

I think that a great toll needs to be brought to the table when it comes to the subject of drugs. It is a brain killer. There needs to be more drug education in schools. We need to somehow implant not only in most, but in all teens’ heads that drug use is horrid.

Protect Arctic from Big Oil

Thanks are due to President Barack Obama for his decision to postpone offshore drilling in the Arctic Ocean.

This decision is our first real indication that Washington is beginning to see the Arctic as more than a giant playground for Big Oil.

We cannot stop pushing for protection until our leaders fully understand: Our only Arctic ecosystem, vibrant and fragile, is a national treasure that cannot be bargained away for political gain.

America’s Arctic deserves the kind of planning and preparation that the Gulf of Mexico, unfortunately, was never given.

Civil unions face federal hurdles

The article on health insurance aspects of taxes only hits one area that those in civil unions (at least those who are same-sex) will have to face ("Civil union pairs might face taxes," Star-Advertiser, June 9).

Many companies in Hawaii already offer health insurance for a partner, but must treat the payment for a partner and possibly the partner’s children differently than if for a married spouse.

Due to federal law, there will continue to be limits on retirement plan benefits, an exclusion of Social Security even if one partner passes away, and, of course, federal taxes. And while a few insurance companies may provide for same-sex couples to be treated similarly to opposite-sex couples, many continue to not provide for such coverage, causing difficulties in securing the proper coverage for a home or car and shared assets.

Yes, civil unions will be a great step forward for Hawaii, but until federal laws catch up, same-sex relationships will continue to face many issues.

This is just another reason why civil unions are in no way equal to "marriage."

Improve comics and crosswords

I suppose you will get many letters about your "new" newspaper. I would like to add that I have a generally very favorable opinion, based on your first issue.

Yes, there is more news; yes, the paper is easier to read; yes, navigation through the paper is sensible; yes, the coverage seems unbiased; and, yes, the columns are interesting.

I must say I miss many of the comics that we were treated to before. The ones chosen are not familiar and are not cutting-edge.

I am glad to see that you are continuing The New York Times crossword puzzle, although the size now is a bit over the top.

Perhaps you are not aware that the Times crossword puzzle increases in difficulty as the week goes on. In that regard, if might be advisable to add the other easier puzzle that was in The Advertiser. I am not saying that I am a crossword whiz, but, for some people, having only the Times puzzle may prove difficult for them.

Advertiser had better website

As a critical component of Hawaii’s leading newspaper at the time, honoluluadvertiser.com was a model of an effective, accessible, active, user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing online news source.

With constantly updated, late-breaking news stories, quality reporting, meaningful connections throughout the isle news scene, and a variety of popular columns and blogs, honoluluadvertiser.com truly set a national example for what an online news source should be.

It seems as though the design of the Star-Advertiser website was meant to be a synthesis of the Honolulu Advertiser’s and Star-Bulletin’s website designs. Indeed, it was an unfortunate compromise.

Although staradvertiser.com is a good attempt at a new website, it should be scrapped for a design similar to the late and great honoluluadvertiser.com.

Save money on fireworks shows

The Fourth of July fireworks are a huge tradition in Hawaii. I don’t believe it’s necessary to spend $50,000 on fireworks every year just to keep this tradition alive. By minimizing the amount of locations where the firework shows are held, this will help save a lot of money. That $50,000 could be used for fixing roads, buying school supplies and other important things to help our community.

I don’t understand why our communities try to raise all this money on shows that will last a few minutes while people are getting laid off and struggling financially.

Although these shows are very enjoyable, I think they’re just a waste of money.

Meth ads worth the $1 million

As a teenager in Hawaii, I agree with the amount being spent on Hawaii Meth Project’s media campaign.

It prevents the younger adults from taking the risk of doing methamphetamine and warns them about all the consequences that can happen to them.

Even though they spend more than $1 million on the media campaign, it’s way less than meth abuse costs, which average over $500 million annually. The negative impressions seen in the ads and commercials will help to change people’s attitudes toward use of the drug.