Thursday, March 31, 2016

Musings: False Claims

So the state Department of Health says Hawaii Dairy Farms didn't cause the high enterococci bacteria counts at Waiopili ditch in Mahaulepu:

Currently, there is no significant impact to the Waiopili Ditch from any activity that can be attributed to the proposed dairy.

But we've heard no apology from Bridget Hammerquist or Carl Berg for smearing the dairy all these months with false accusations, or intentionally mischaracterizing a ditch as a natural stream:

What some call Waiopili Stream is actually a man-made drainage ditch at the terminus of the Mahaulepu Valley irrigation system which was constructed to drain the former Kapunakea Pond and connects to the Mahaulepu Drain. No sewer lines, injection wells or cesspools discharge directly into Waiopili Ditch; however, a healthy population of feral pigs, chickens, ducks, and sheep were observed in the area. Waiopili Ditch is on private land with limited public access and there was no evidence of recreational activity occurring within the Waiopili Ditch.

In other words, no keiki are playing there, as Bridget and Carl have claimed. The DOH report also pisses on Carl's contention that Kauai waters are constantly polluted with sewage, offering a very interesting review of the problems associated with using enterococci alone as an indicator (see page 9)

But then, there's no money or publicity to be had in rational discussions, only hysterical fear-mongering.

Curiously, it turns out the real problem may be the doo doo produced by Bridget, the Hyatt and its guests and other anti-ag agitators on the southshore:

DOH is concerned that the large number of injection wells and cesspools in the adjacent Poipu/Koloa watershed may adversely impact the waters of the Waiopili Ditch. The geological and hydrological composition of the watershed indicate that these facilities may contribute to the high levels of enterococci detected in the Waiopili Ditch via the groundwater.

A portion of the injection wells and cesspools in the Poipu/Koloa watershed are located very close to the ocean, further leading to concerns that the beach fronting the Mahaulepu watershed may also be adversely impacted by the adjacent watershed.

In other words, tourists themselves may be polluting what Councilman Gary Hooser termed the “crown jewel of our visitor industry” while blasting the dairy. Oh, the irony. But hey, let's blame the dairy, even though it has yet to bring in a single cow.

Moving on to other news (and resisting the snarky segue), anti-GMO activist Fern Anuenue Rosenstiel pulled papers to run for the 14th District House seat now held by Derek Kawakami.

Fern's legislative experience is thus far limited to holding a SHAME banner at the state Capitol. But she's boning up as a student in the supposedly non-partisan Kuleana Academy candidate training program sponsored by Hooser's anti-GMO group, HAPA. Oh, what a surprise, that they're graduating one of their own.

Fern, a bartender and waitress at Tahiti Nui in Hanalei, also boasts that she directs the anti-GMO 'Ohana O Kaua'i, along with Dustin Barca, who two years ago made a failed bid for mayor. Hey, maybe he can connect her with the New York developers and Hawaii Life Realtors who financed his campaign. He might even have some surf swag left for handouts.

I'm hearing reports that Council Chair Mel Rapozo and mayoral assistant Nadine Nakamura may also be eying the 14th District seat, since Derek plans to run for Council instead. 

Now let's see, who should we vote for? Nadine, a thoughtful, intelligent, experienced lawmaker who seeks to bring people together, or Fern, a loudmouthed bully and serial liar who has ripped our community apart?

No contest. Literally and figuratively.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fern was caught trespassing on private property last year with a foreign media crew. She and Dustin appear to be soul mates given their common disregard of the law. What great role models!

Anonymous said...

The trespass rumor is bogus. Joan why do you let these blatantly false rumors continue? You nor anyone ever produced the supposed picture proof.

Joan Conrow said...

It's not false.

Anonymous said...

She was never charged but she was definitely involved in a trespass. And BTW...Fern and her friends are the Kings and Queens of false rumors.

Anonymous said...

Made up crap. How typical. ; )

Anonymous said...

Joan Conrow said... "It's not false."

Well then, back up your claim.

Joan Conrow said...

We've been through this before. I saw the photographs on the phone of a seed worker with my own eyes. But I couldn't get a copy because they were afraid of retaliation from the antis.

I think I have just a tad more credibility than an anonymous Hooser supporter like you. But hey, believe what you want. I know what's real.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Real credible. Chemtrails are just conspiracy theory for crazies, right Joan? Obviously, you never look up at the sky. Or look at photos from around the world. Or read article by whistle-blowers. Just regular planes producing contrails, right? Yep, credible you are.

Anonymous said...

Since Fern is a bartender she should know that she is serving a known carcinogen to people everyday.

Anonymous said...

I walked Waipili stream quite ways up from Gillins. There is evidence of many feral pigs in the area especially at the stream/ditch edge. It's never been a wonder to me why it's polluted.

Anonymous said...

@ 3:26pm- I have seen literally hundreds of photos like you speak of, they are posted daily from around the world. Now the question is, why does Joan accept "the photographs on the phone of a seed worker" she saw "with my own eyes" and then reject the thousands of photos, links and articles that millions have seen with their own eyes? Makes you wonder, doesnʻt it. Just last week was the biggest widest longest unexplained "trail" I have ever seen over north and east side of Kauaʻi. Look up, look up- open your eyes. And then do the research.

Anonymous said...

It's contrails not chemtrails. They're not unexplained except to people from Oz. Go see the Wizard.

Manuahi said...

The problem is that if you tell a lie over and over again, the uninformed and ideologically receptive accept it as truth and they repeat it to more and more conspiracy fools and eco-fantasists. It doesn’t matter that it is false. If you get a majority of the voters, or maybe just the loudmouths, to support your false claims, the politicians who are fellow travelers and those who are less-than-informed, will accept the tirades as truth. It's all about noise! Forget the evidence; forget the proof; forget the tests by impartial authorities. It’s an activist tactic that works quite well on non-thinkers of which we sadly have many! MANY!

Anonymous said...

6:14- You mean you do not know the difference between a contrail and a chemtrail? And you refute the testimonies of whistle blowers? Perhaps a little research will introduce you to the reality? I could provide many links, but surely you can do your own research. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

WOW. More nuts than my macadamia nut tree. Chemtrails? No need Bra. You are already so stupid and nuts that nothing need be done.

Anonymous said...

Here is an interesting video of doctors, scientists and pilots speaking at at a conference at Shasta, Ca. Experts present revealing evidence of the dangerous effects of Geo-Engineering Chemtrails has had on nature and human health. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeTaejpg18g

Unknown said...

Chemtrails? As a former air traffic controller, pilot and FAA meteorologist, I can tell you that the aviation industry is the last place such a conspiracy could foster. The aviation mechanics alone have some of the highest professional integrity I've ever known; across more than one career. The plainest fact is that with trade winds at the surface, and multidirectional "winds aloft" (that's what is changing the appearance of the contrails), you could never hit a 25 mile wide island like Kauai from 25,ooo feet (roughly the altitude you see those planes passing overhead) with any kind of lightweight material! Also, if you took a plane up to those altitudes and went around doing whatever you wanted to do, you would never be allowed to fly again! In order to believe in Chemtrails, you have to know just about nothing in regards to aviation!

Anonymous said...

Isn't it neat? Today someone can post some stupid stuff on the Internet and there will always lots of idiots around to believe it and cite the BS sites as proof. lol What totally absurd twits! Most entertaining!

Anonymous said...

The pigs are all over the forested slopes of the valley. They thrive in the water that runs down the south facing slope.

Anonymous said...

@5:31pm

Credibility is the reason most people don't take your photos seriously. Just saying.

Anonymous said...

GMO whiskey and I'm pretty sure the food they serve is not GMO free

Anonymous said...

@ 1:46 pm

If Joan says she saw the picture I would be more apt to believe her than someone who says where's the proof. Being innocent in a court of law does not necessarily mean you are not guilty of a crime.

John Kauai said...

Just to allow myself to be yelled at I guess,

It is true that Children usually do not play in the ditch, but I have seen Children there.
It is also true that the ditch ends up in the ocean and there are lots of people who go past that point everyday.
So, I guess I'm suggesting that perhaps Berg isn't due the vindictive.

I was not able to find whether the bacteria stays active once it hits salt water.

I'm neither for nor against the diary. I do not find anything in the DOH report that prompts me to be against the dairy. I do know that Cows not properly cared for stink and that smell can travel a long way, so I am a bit cautious in taking the dairy's word for it.

The sewage plant at Lydgate often stinks causing me to want to avoid the water there. It doesn't help that the park is so close to the stream (or should I call it a river?). Reminds me of swimming in the ocean in one of the Cinque Terre villages in Italy, it was quite fun until the toilet paper floated by. Or the scuba dive in Acapulco Bay where I felt like I was in a sewer.

So, it all comes back to there being too many people using too many resources and having too many babies. This is all people everywhere so let us not try to insinuate this comment is racist somehow. Note also, I didn't suggest that anyone do anything about there being "too many people" although it is sad to read stories about Millennials who feel trapped.

It would be nice if we could use the information in this report to make some actual progress in keeping the ocean around Kauai clean.

Thanks Joan for the link to the report! I've downloaded it for future reference.

Joan Conrow said...

You're welcome, John. And believe me, Berg is due every bit of invective and then some.

As to the chem trail commenter, here again we have another classic case of the "whack-a-mole" game that the activists love to play. You bust them on one issue, and then they quickly throw up another one. Divert and deflect, but never take responsibility.

Anonymous said...

This JOKER

Kawakami to leave Legislature

Keith Erickson - The Garden Island Posted:

LIHUE — Calling it the easiest decision he has ever made, Kauai Rep. Derek Kawakami, D-Kapaa, announced Thursday he not run for another term i…

Anonymous said...

It appears that the chem trail commenter was using chem trails to speak of credibility. Why accept a photo from someoneʻs phone, but not photos and testimonies from "doctors, scientists and pilots"? Seems credibility is the issue here, not whack-a mole change the issue to chem trails. I watched the 8:00ʻs video? Maybe Peter Antonson can address specific questions raised in that video, especially from the pilots? We need to understand why the participants in this conference are not credible.

Anonymous said...

Not a joker at all, a good family man and a Kauai Boy , who wants to be home with his family and work on Kauai. He was a really good councilman before, he has my vote for council and hopefully Mayor after. He is calm and collected, kind and thoughtful and smart, glad you are coming home Derek. Hopefully someone good will step up.

Anonymous said...

Welcome home Derek,

Kauai definitely needs you on Island!

Anonymous said...

5:22 we need him because what will he do? Raise taxes? Support more bike and pedestrian paths, what?

Anonymous said...

Our island does need more bike and walking paths

Anonymous said...

Nope our island needs more haters and complainers. We need guys like Barca and Hossier that make sure to post anything they possibly can for the their social media glory. Kawakami has got my vote simply for taking the time to listen to all sides and fighting for what's right. You can point out all the little things you want, but when it comes down to it no one is more qualified and that will do a better job. If there is someone with a proven record please share. Aloha

Anonymous said...

Kawakami has got my vote. We need him for his sound business sense, which is lacking from a few. All we have heard over the past two years are dogs cannot then dogs can, then dogs cannot and let's raise every tax available till the people bleed. Let's start to think about the things that are important to the people of Kauai like roads and traffic and affordable housing.

Anonymous said...

Fern is a huge fake. Punches men,bullies everyone. She is also nosy,gossipy,rude and a liar. Do not trust her, she is just after popularity and is full of her self.