COM 0212.104 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TESTIMONY ~IATION To: County Council Members97 APR 2y Pf1 1 2`f My name is Paul J. Kierkiewicz. ~i' ~ ~'p~sij~~'Mauna Kea Agronomics, Inc. I've been in the rt and vegetable exportation business for the last 18 yeazs. I'm the first to admit that I have a vested interest in the successful development of irradiation on this island. Today you aze going to hear over and over again the same three arguments against irradiation. The first will be that we will develop all the technologies only to be copied by Honduras, Brazil, or Thailand who sell cheaper. Now don't think for a minute that this could not happen; economic globalization is a reality. However we have proven time and time again that we can compete in this global market. Good examples are ginger, macadamia nuts, coffee, and cut flowers just to name a few. WHY? We have the production technology (transportation, post harvest handling, infrastructure and the best marketing promotional people to back it up.) The second argument you are going to hear is that irradiated food it not good for you. Well neither is the spam I ate of breakfast this morning or the wine that I had with dinner last night. The basic question we have to ask ourselves is "Are the findings of the FDA reliable?" Do our elected officials have enough confidence in themselves and our government agencies to make the right decision. The third azgument is that irradiation poses a danger to the environment. The question once again is, "Do we have enough confidence in the government institutions that we created to answer these questions?" You the council members aze elected officials who create, empower, and monitor many of these same government agencies. And although our government has given us many examples to mistrust government I still believe in the overall integrity of the instihrtions, the bureaucracies, and the people. ~-~to is~z~u,. tJo. ~.,r. ~ror Presented tzt.t. p~t„APR 2 4 1991