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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

"Ted Turner..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.
Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news and is the author of the
famed novella, "The Scam."  Her latest fiction
 "Children of extinction" is now  released and available on Amazon!
Ted Turner

Just when too many of us despaired about  billionaires and such, someone came along. Fell off my screen and into my lap as it were. Saw pictures-cute-and read on my computer about a guy who owns more land in America than any other American. Two million acres of personal and ranch land. That's'a'lot'a square feet.

What does he do with it? This question coming from a lady who once lived in comfortable middle class territory but who has downed-or upped-her economic status but managing to survive as upper lower. I got some land. 160,000 square feet of jungle to walk around on. Ain't so bad. I got shelter, transportation, feed me and my zoo, Aristotle-my famous horse-a grown up puppy, two cats, one hen and a Macaw and, so far, manage to pay my bills.

So who is this guy?

His name is Ted Turner. I started with his quotes. I'm a writer. I love quotes. "The sad thing about destroying the environment is that we're going to take the rest of life with us. The bluebirds will be gone, and the elephants will be gone, and the tigers will be gone, and the pandas will be gone."

I fell off my stool. Plunked off on my skinny okole'. Picked myself up, brushed myself, and began to google.

Mr. Turner, I read, managed to unite economic with ecological sustainability. Relying on bison and hunting/fishing/nature and tourism. On his web I see a picture of happy bison in green grass. I see gorgeous open land and hear he created this "...to save the land from development."

Another quote, "I love this planet...I want to see the environment preserved and I want to see everybody living decently in a more equitable, kind-hearted, thoughtful, generous world."

He's an incredible philanthropist. His foundations. The Ted Turner Foundation (TFI) supports efforts for improving air and water quality, developing a sustainable energy future to protect our climate, safeguard our environmental health, maintaining wildlife habitat protection, and developing practices and policies to curb population growth rates.

Mr. Turner?  May I call you Ted? Speaking for many of us on Kauai who like coqui frogs, crowing roosters, parakeets, feral pigs and goats and cats and the beauty we are surrounded with on our little piece of paradise, please help us out.

We are threatened with over development. Suburban sprawl.

Destruction of our air, waterways, and soil by powerful corporations-with dollar signs instead of hearts-who would turn Kauai into one vast experimental plantation. Growing GMO corn we cannot eat. Producing milk we cannot drink in a milk factory that threatens every living thing in its path.

We invite you to visit us. Stay with us. Bed and breakfast. Free. As long as you like. Incognito. Meet interesting guys. RSVP

My horse, Aristotle-who in a previous life was a famous philosopher-told me to write this. He said, "Even billionaires love a free lunch."

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...