Bees and the Super Ferry

It is still disturbing that Legislators haven't thought
of protecting our environment. For example, I have
received an email from the local beekeepers
organization to lobby the legislature on this.

Basically, since the varroa mite has already gotten
here, the outer islands are in danger of also getting
this horrible exterminator of bees. When this mite
kills of all the wild hives, then only beekeeper hives
will be left to polinate our local crops. so much for a
sustainable agriculture and source of food supplies in
Hawaii. To control this mite, each car on the ferry
should be carefully examined. Currently, the state
inspects cars and other stuff on barges, but the SF
hadn't intended to do that.

Saw on Hawaii ETV the other nite, that a new disease
CCD is even worse for bees. It comes from a virus that
originated in Israel, which harms the bee's immune
system much like AIDS does humans. At some point the
bees simply can't find their way back to the hive, and
the hive appears abandoned. It's unlike the varroa mite
which would have a lot of dead bees near the hive.
Seems to me that this virus might make shipment of
flowers to and from Hawaii-- even by air-- impossible.
This virus first appeared in Florida, but now all
sections of the country are at risk.

Local beekeeper society would also like each car's
undercarriage washed going on and off the ferry, state
inspection of the car and contents, and fumigation of
the car while on board the ferry. Don't think they'll
get it though, because the legislature dosen't want to
be blamed for the demise of the ferry. Perhaps, an
cheaper and easier extermination method might be
similar to irradiating papayas. Ie, irradiate each car
for a minute while on board the ferry. Ie the ferry
should have a cobalt pit on board for irradiating cars.
Or perhaps the pit should be below ground level on
shore for safety reasons.

Perhaps more concern for the environment will take
place when we have those pesky things from the mainland
and the big island. Ie fire ants from the big island,
and africanized bees, bee CCD virus, and those
mosquitoes from the mainland. When it gets to Oahu
perhaps people will take more notice of how it is
spread to the outer islands.

"Alvin E. Toda" <aet@lava.net> wrote in message
news:1193986504-sch@news.lava.net...
>
> On Wed, 31 Oct 2007, Jerry Okamura wrote:
>
>
>> Think about this. "If" these islands had a way to
>> prevent these things from happening, they would not
>> happen. They happen because we have not figured out
>> a way, not to have it happen.
>
> Jerry, I guess you feel that if there is no guarantteed
> sure fire way to prevent the spread of these bugs, then
> we shouldn't try? That sounds like the state and the
> Super Ferry position-- completely irresponsible.
>

Well, yes. Humans are an "invasive" speies, which does more harm to the
"environment" than the plants and other animals do to our environment. It
is we "humans" that decide which "invasive" species is acceptable and which
are not acceptable, and they come here via us "humans". As for the Super
Ferry, like most everything else, there are advantages and disadvantates.
You think the one disadvantage should prevent the Super Ferry from
operating, I think the opposite...who is right? Ships that come into Hawaii
waters are "bad" for the environment. Airplanes of all sorts are bad for
the environemtn. Cars are bad for the environment. All those water craft
you see in Hawaiian waters are bad for the environment.