The University of Hawaii faculty union appears to be instigating a campaign to argue that the University is so important to the future of Hawaii that faculty should not be forced to take furloughs and pay cuts, otherwise they will leave, thus jeopardizing the reputation of the campus. Most initial reactions, including mine, were…here they go again in their ivory tower, having the gall to suggest they are too important to share in the state-wide effort to reduce spending because of the severe economic downturn. On second thought, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, maybe the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly is being responsible.
There was an astonishing op ed article today by the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, specifically criticizing the State of Hawaii for being the only state to reduce the length of the K-12 school year, especially during this period when the Federal Government has given the State $650 million to meet educational needs. He provides sound arguments that are compelling.
However, the fact of the matter is that the State is in trouble. Where, then, to cut the budget? The terrible part about this all is that the worse is yet to come.
My blog of July 21 opines that we will go into a local great depression when the price of oil jumps past $100/barrel and jet fuel prices increase again, for our economy is too dependent on tourism. If our leaders can do anything now, it is to do everything possible to work with the White House, Congress and the private sector to accelerate a program in next generation sustainable aviation: either a new type of plane, say powered by hydrogen, or a replacement for jet fuel, like from marine algae. The former will take 25 to 50 years, while the later, if possible, is at least a decade away. Unfortunately, Peak Oil and Global Warming will probably climax during the next ten years. I review the subject of sustainable aviation in the Huffington Post.
Coming the day after my global warming blog yesterday, it was timely, too, that the Honolulu Advertiser this morning published an article indicating that, with all the brouhaha about climate change, with the stall in Congress for legislation and the upcoming Kyoto 2 talks in Copenhagen in December, American belief in the issue took a dive. Only 36% feel that our burning of fossil fuels is the cause. I have long felt that governments will not act until one hot summer when millions perish. Thus, don’t expect much from that next environmental summit in Copenhagen. For one, it's too cold in Scandinavia. The next gathering should be held during the peak of summer in a place like Delhi.
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The Dow Jones Industrials again dipped below 10,000, down 109 to 9972, while world markets were mixed. Gold dropped $6/toz to $1056 and oil is sliding, now below $80/barrel.
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Incredibly and thankfully, Tropical Storm Lupit appears to now be moving away from the Philippines, and appears headed north northeast into the Pacific, maybe avoiding even Taiwan.
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