Bangor Daily News, Aug. 4
The history of aquaculture in Blue Hill Bay has so far been short and contentious. Now, environmental groups and coastal landowners are preparing to contest the latest proposal from a small company to place salmon pens off Tinker Island near the mouth of the bay. Erick Swanson and his company, Trumpet Island Salmon Farm, have also asked to expand operations off Hardwood Island, also in the bay.

Three days of hearings will be held on the plans this week where the scenic and recreational value of the waterway will no doubt be highlighted. What won’t be discussed, at least not much, is whether fish farming and other commercial ventures that provide local jobs are important too.

These larger discussions shouldn’t happen in the course of consideration of individual fish-farm permits as has been the state’s practice so far. Rather, there should be a statewide plan for where aquaculture is appropriate and where it is not. An aquaculture task force created by Gov. John Baldacci will begin its work this week. Developing such a plan, which must also allow for local input, could be its biggest accomplishment.

First, the group must decide if aquaculture, which contributes at least $100 million annually to the state economy, has a future in Maine. If it does, the state and local groups should work with fish farmers to find the best places to put pens, especially since state and federal rules now require that salmon farms separate fish of different ages, which means more sites will be needed for new pens. …

That is why the 11-member task force is right to focus much of its efforts on bay management. Akin to the state’s highly successful lobster zone management system, aquaculture bay management should consist of local stakeholder groups making decisions about their own waters while adhering to a set of statewide guidelines to protect ecosystems, navigation routes and other important assets. …

There will still be contention over specific lease sites, but if there is agreement on where aquaculture belongs and where it does not, the number and tone of the individual fights can be brought down.


Destabilizing policy
The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 3
The United States has both a legal and moral obligation to defend the democratic government of the Republic of China on Taiwan from attack from Chinese communists.

That commitment has kept the peace across the Taiwan Strait for 50 years, blocking aggression from the communist Chinese government on the mainland.

However, the status quo of 50 years might soon be challenged by the communists, if current trends continue. …

The communist government of mainland China is adding as many as 75 missiles a year to its arsenal of 450 already aimed at Taiwan, the report said. Further, the missiles are more sophisticated and accurate than before, with China’s army developing longer-range models capable of reaching as far as Okinawa, Japan, where U.S. Marines are based. …

Chinese belligerence is a grave threat to world peace. The U.S. government should do everything it can to dissuade the Beijing gang from this reckless and destabilizing policy.


Powell is credible
The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss., Aug. 6
If the speculation that Secretary of State Colin Powell would resign if President Bush is reelected was meant as a trial balloon, it flopped horribly.

Powell has disputed the rumors, which were trigged by a report in The Washington Post on Monday. The Post reported that Powell’s deputy, Richard L. Armitage, told National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice that he and Powell will leave on Jan. 21, 2005, the day after the inauguration, quoting “sources familiar with the

conversation.” …

The report triggered feverish speculation. …

The fact remains that Powell is a pillar of credibility in the administration’s foreign policy. …

Even a hint of Powell leaving has negative repercussions, which the administration must note with some gravity.


Parliament fails
The Jordan Times, Amman, Aug. 5
If we knew this was the kind of policy that the new Parliament would have upheld, we would have never called so eagerly for elections. The election of these 110 deputies, including six women, was meant to inaugurate a new era of democratic progress. It looks more like a return to the middle ages.

The lower house ruled that granting women the right to file for divorce … is ‘dangerous.’

The new Parliament also dealt yet another blow to the campaign against the so-called “honor crimes,” by rejecting – like its predecessor did in 2000 – amendments to the Penal Code that would make it harder for those found guilty of such crimes to get away without or with very light prison sentences. …

This Parliament has already proven that it is much more of a menace to public freedoms than the strictest of government legislation.

Against this backdrop, Jordanians remain helplessly thirsty for reforms.