Letters to the Editor – February 27, 2019

First seed critical

The man who led Fiji to our first ever Olympic gold medal had a simple message for FRU, Baber and our boys – being the number one seed going into the Olympics would hand Fiji a psychological advantage. Ryan has been there and he knows what the boys and team management need to do to defend the title that he won after battling past Great Britain 43-7. I have fond memories of the 2016 win in Rio and it would be fitting that every bit of resource and manpower is invested in winning our second Olympic gold medal. But before that it is important to set our sights on winning the Las Vegas 7s and cut NZ and USA’s lead on the WRSS points table. Fiji is in a must-win situation and a win will set the platform! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu

Number one

Thank you Ratu Peni Rayani for reminding us of the number one seeding or ranking going into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In the 2015/2016 series we made a late surge to claim the HSBC series and the number one seeding. Our path to the then Rio Gold 2016 started with a bang and never turned back. The number one seeding gives a lot of privileges and at the same time allows the number one team to lead by example. The first step to 2020 is being declared number one seed because when it comes to pool draws or any other event leading up to the games you automatically become the number one choice. Fiji as defending champs and gold winners need to set the pace of the game and show the world that 2016 was not a fluke but a reality for the world to see. Joka Viti, joka koula, Viti kei na vuravura. Shalwyn Prasad Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva

Together we shall rise

It’s been three years since Fiji was hit with the most elusive cyclone in history and every Fijian remembers the havoc of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston which devastated the country in 2016. It is also regarded as the most devastating cyclone in the southern hemisphere. TC Winston caused severe damage to houses, buildings, schools, crops, farms and also claimed more than 40 lives and left many injured. Fiji was going through its darkest times and was in need of assistance and I thank other nations for coming out and embracing their Fijian brothers and sisters, favours which we shall never forget. I take time to reminisce the moments and share deep condolences with the families of the victims. Together we shall rise! Raynav Chand Nakasi

Savusavu soccer

I must thank the above soccer association for hosting the above club competition over the weekend. It was a delight to see the talents on show, eventhough out of the three (max) scheduled matches only one took place, whereby Naqere United outclassed Black Rock 4 to nil. The rest of the matches were all unfortunately postponed. I hope this weekend all teams do turn up or else the FFA constitution, which states that a minimum of six clubs per district, might penalise the Savusavu district team. I believe they can be demoted just like Levuka, Nalawa and Vatukoula. A. SHARIFF SHAH Savusavu

Marijuana images

I’m no expert in marijuana but looking at images posted online about marijuana plants being uprooted in Kadavu and the way it is being transported, I believe the police might as well just be farming it themselves. Now if you wrap all the plants together at the stem and hang the buds off the back of the police truck and with the rough terrain and pot holes here in Fiji what do you think happens to all the seeds? Duuuh… it will fall everywhere and grow. And again, do the police, and Koronivia Research Station know the difference between hemp and marijuana? I believe marijuana features broad leaves, dense buds and has a short, bushy appearance and has 5 per cent to 35 per cent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the chemical in the plant that makes you high. In stark contrast, I believe hemp features skinny leaves that are concentrated towards the top of the plant and grows taller and skinnier than marijuana and has less than 0.3 per cent THC, with few branches beneath its upper portion. Hemp actually refers to the industrial, non-drug variant that is cultivated for its fibre, hurd, and seeds and has about 25,000 different uses from paper to oils and fibres just to name a few. Most of these images I was looking at on the news online, these plants all look like hemp. I wonder if Koronivia tests for THC levels or if they just test for whether it is cannabis because yes they both come from the same family but one is used (medicinal) or abused as a drug marijuana the other is used for health and industrial purposes — hemp. Most of these farmers probably don’t know the difference. I believe the Government should look into these differences in the two plants and yes capitalise and make money on it. Since it grows wild here in Fiji and I believe will never be eradicated no matter how many millions or billions they spend in trying. Why not grow hemp and produce paper, oils and fibre etc? Export marijuana to countries where it is legal for pleasure and medical purposes and everything that can be done with it and make money and everybody wins. Who knows, it could greatly benefit Fiji’s economy and be a new industry. Might even do better than the sugar industry. Johnathan Smith Lami

The NCD affair

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” ­–– Jim Rohn NCDs was one of the topics discussed at the 3-day workshop in Nadi of medical gurus (FT 23/2). According to research, the most common NCDs are cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. They also found that NCDs are largely caused by unhealthy lifestyles or risky behaviours such as tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet and insufficient physical activity. Every health professional and anyone with common sense along with anyone that eats, should know this. “To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” –– La Rochefoucald Strangely, the more we have discussions and workshops and create awareness on the topic, the more we find unhealthy food and snacks, tobacco, and alcohol everywhere we turn. On the one hand, we are being preached to, while on the other, we are being encouraged to buy exactly what we are being told is unhealthy. Is there truly genuine interest in our health? How do we really prevent NCDs? “Mainstream medicine would be way different if they focused on prevention even half as much as they focused on intervention” –– Anonymous. The fight is not about our health only, it’s also about our economy. What we need to ask ourselves is how do we balance the two? How do we live healthy while keeping the economy rolling, while promoting healthy food and drinks and healthy behaviours? “The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” –– Ann Wigmore. Prevention is always better than cure! We need to focus on keeping diseases away and not finding solutions after we are sick and diseased. “Every time you eat or drink, you are either feeding disease or fighting it.” –– Heather Morgan. On the topic of diseases caused by poor choices of food, often, the side effects of medicines that are taken in the hope to cure the disease, has a negative effect on the organs of the body. To get yourself back into the state of health you were in before you became sick, takes almost just as much time as it took to get you into an unhealthy state. Holding this thought, Bernard Jensen discovered the secret to the natural way of nursing one’s body back to health. “Nutrition is the only remedy that can bring full recovery and can be used with any treatment,” he said. “Remember, food is our best medicine!” And our creator, in all his magnificence, saw that we could not live in happiness without being healthy. He wished that, “above all things, we prospered and be in health…” 3 John 1:2 Doesn’t this give us enough direction? “Our bodies are our gardens –– our wills are our gardeners.” –– William Shakespeare. Even William Shakespeare understood the power that our wills have over our state of health. We must have the will to want to be healthy to be healthy. “Healthy eating is a way of life, so it’s important to establish routines that are simple, realistically, and ultimately liveable.” ––– Arthur Agatston. Healthy living is actually a simple affair. Food, in its natural state, contains what the body needs just as it comes. The simpler it is prepared, the better it is for the body. Jack Weatherford found, “Even in this high-tech age, the low-tech plant continues to be the key to nutrition and health.” The body works like a clock so set up food preparation and eating routines that work for your body. “Your body is a temple, but only if you treat it as one.” –– Astrid Alauda. Research always into what will bring your health. In this age, with technology at our fingertips we have what we need to find out more about what is best for our bodies. “Thou shouldst eat to live; not live
to eat.” –– Socrates. And share what you know brings health. Invest your knowledge in your children so that they too can grow up to pass it on.
“Investing in early childhood nutrition is a surefire strategy. The returns are incredibly high.” –– Anne M. Mulcahy. This way, we won’t be starting
all over again as we are now! NOLEEN BILLINGS HAZELMAN, Savusavu

Stunning change

It is quite amazing that the FijiFirst Government has managed to achieve nine years of straight economic growth despite the fact that in those nine years we were hit by cyclones Winston, Gita, Keni and Josie, and flash floodings and droughts. Each one of those disasters saw thousands of affected Fijians helped by the Government. I believe this is a stunning change from pre-Bainimarama governments where even one cyclone would see a massive downward spiral of the economy and very little help provided to Fijians. As a youth I have nothing but mad respect for our Prime Minister, honourable Bainimarama and Minister for Economy honourable Saiyed-Khaiyum for placing Fiji in this position for the first time in our history. Kaushal Kumar Nadawa, Nasinu

Only in Fiji

Only in Fiji is where newly constructed roads and footpaths are dug up again. Only in Fiji! Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka

Maternity leave

In the Philippines I believe this has extended from 60 to 105 days. Dan Urai Lautoka

Road space

I think if we line up all the vehicles in Fiji, bumper to bumper on the road, there will still be surplus vehicles left with no road space. An exaggeration it may seem but this loan driven prosperity is creating havoc. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka

Bus station

A frequent traveler to the West, I notice the Sigatoka bus station is becoming smaller each day. The size of the buses nowadays have made them bigger than the station. It’s also so congested. As the market can no longer expend because of the surrounding shops, the bus station to be relocated to an open space would be ideal. Maybe having the long distance traveling service buses relocated elsewhere would reduce the commotion in the area. Tomasi Boginiso Nasinu

Illegal drugs

Bula to my brother Allen. Answer to your question is that there is a market for it. K.Sahai Lautoka

City cabs

We have a new (breed) phenomenon in Lautoka, the stray taxi. They stop in the middle of the road, cut in front of you, toot their horn anyhow, drive very fast, and don’t know where Kava Place is. Anyway the neutering program can also extend to these mammals? Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka