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WI, "I'IIF, PEOPL.1; OF "I'IIC COUNTY Or HAWAII SUPPORT
<br /> TIIr rOLLUWING ItLSOLUTION
<br /> W} {EREAS, a national hoycoti against irradiated food has already resulted in the loss of
<br /> important markets on the mainland including Marsh's, Keim's, S&K and others; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the nearly 8,000 postcards and letters from people on the mainland have
<br /> warned the County of Hawaii that they will not buy irradiated fruit from Hawaii; and
<br /> WHEREAS, Japan does not allow irradiated fruit into their country, and five consumer
<br />
<br /> groups from ,lapin have warned that Japanese people will "back away" from all
<br /> Ilaeaaiian fruit; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the FDA has stated that potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals
<br />
<br /> are created b_y the irradiation process at 30 parts per million; and
<br /> WI 1L;REAS, irradiation facilities which use cobalt-GO or cesium=137 support, legitimize,
<br /> and rely on nuclear power and nuclear weapons production; and
<br /> WI IF.RF,AS, these nuclear industries result in the authorized, non-accidental, random
<br /> killing of innocent people including children; and
<br /> WHEREAS, these nuclear industries are leaving a horrific legacy of nuclear wastes
<br /> products for future generations to deal with; and
<br /> WHEREAS, accidents at irradiation facilities, including the Hawaii Development
<br /> Irradiator, have resulted in radioactive contamination of land and water; and
<br /> WHEREAS, food irradiation facilities are allowed to emit 100 millirems of radiation per
<br /> year and, under special circumstances, 500 millirems per year; and workers are allowed
<br /> to receive 30 to 50 limes more radiation per year than one would receive from natural
<br /> background radiation; and
<br /> WI IEREAS, these radiation levels will lead to increased cancers and birth defects; and
<br /> WHEREAS, as of 1995, the first "food-only" irradiator in the United States, Food
<br /> Technology Services Inc., located in Mulberry, Florida, had lost 5.5 million dollars; and
<br /> WHEREAS, no factual economic studies are available to the public to support an
<br /> assumption of economic feasibility for an irradiation facility for Hawaii; and
<br /> WHEREAS, it is not fair to subsidize an irradiation facility with County funds to the
<br /> possible detriment of existing privately funded vapor heat facilities; and
<br /> W} ll-~.RLAS, Mayor Yamashiro's proposal for $2 million fora "post harvest treatment
<br /> facility" does not specify how the money would be spent;
<br /> "TI-IEREFORE, we oppose any ordinance or resolution favoring irradiation; and
<br /> THEREFORE, we believe the most logical and economical solution for agricultural
<br /> development in Hawaii would be to develop the local markets as a priority, and then, if
<br /> necessary, to encourage use of existing treatment facilities, and to export specifically to
<br /> cold-climate regions, i.e. Canada and the northern United States to prevent spreading the
<br /> fruit 11y, until s ch time as non-toxic disinfestation methods can be developed.
<br /> Signed: ~ ~
<br /> Address: t -
<br /> ~ ~ .
<br /> I beli the $2 million dollars could be better spe,~t for:
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