Laserfiche WebLink
JIM RLBERTINI 808 966 7622 P,01 <br /> '97 P19Y 6 f~,~ 7 ~u <br /> `}r. Jantea Y. Arakaki <br /> <br /> Council Chair COllf`,i, <br /> Hawaii County Council COUNTY lir f{~~5r 1997 <br /> 25 Aupuni St, <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Dear Mr. Arakaki: <br /> This letter concerns the economics of a food irradiation <br /> plant on the Big Island. A now famous line from a Hollywood <br /> movie says: "Show me the money." I would like you to show me the <br /> business plan, impartial economic analysis and market study to <br /> justify $2 million dollars of taxpayers money going to a dubious <br /> food irradiation projent.. No such economic ,justification has <br /> been put forward to date. <br /> Everr with massive federal subsidies, Hawaii sugar could not <br /> compete on the world market and make a profit. What mates people <br /> think Chat irradiated tropical fruit from Hawaii will be any <br /> different? If anything, irradiating Hawaii fruit will hurt, not <br /> help, the marketing of such products. Will the $2 million County <br /> subsidy bein8 pushed by the Yamashiro administration and the <br /> Council. turn into $20 million, $200 million of taxpayer dollars <br /> down the road? <br /> It is a colonized mind and colonial t}Iinlting that <br /> advocates more cash crop exports as a solution to the ills of <br /> dependency created by 100 years of sugar exports. It's time to <br /> take the colonial chains from our brains and the land out of <br /> the hands of corporate agribusiness. Instead of exportin6 cash <br /> crops and importing what we eat, it's time we feed ourselves. A <br /> food irradiation plant and eucalyptus plantations are steps away <br /> from sovereignty, self-sufficiency and a sustainable future. <br /> Please provide copies oP this letter to the other council <br /> members and make this letter a numbered communication for the <br /> nexC councS.l agenda. Thank you kindly for your consideration. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Jim Albertini <br /> taro farmer <br /> P.O. Box AS <br /> Ola'a, Hawaii 96760 <br /> 966-7622 <br /> arm... ;,la? :~1s3~.- <br /> ~a. x. <br /> lief. Tos Prosented <br /> 1 <br /> lien. Uate NAY 0 7 <br /> <br />