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TESTIMONY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF MAYOR'S RE~~'~'R z y p s' S 6
<br /> FOR AUTHORITY TO SPEND $2 MILLION
<br /> TO BUILD AN IRRADIATION FACILITY IN EAST HAWAI'~CVti ~
<br /> Denise and Duncan Walker COUN I Y OF= HA'~NAII
<br /> April 24, 1997
<br /> Denise Walker, my wife, and I are testifying today in sVOng support of Mayor Yamashiro's requested
<br /> authority to spend S2 million to build an irradiation facility in east Hawaii; many of our friends who could oat be
<br /> here today also strongly support the mayor's request. Denise and I own an environmental consulting firm and a
<br /> macadamia nut faun in KurUstown. As small-business owners and farmers, we are keenly aware that our local
<br /> economy needs stimulation, and that one of the fastest growing types of diversified agriculture is Vopical foot,
<br /> which has grown five-fold since 1991. In the future, we look forward to diversifying our farm and growing
<br /> Vopical fruit for export. There are also growers waiting to increase their tropical fnuit acreage, and there are
<br /> mainland markets for additional Vopical fruit, but it must be Vented prior [o export. However, the ability to export
<br /> tropical fruit to the mainland is contingent on treating it, hence the need to build an irradiation facility here. In
<br /> addition to Venting fnuit from our island, it is likely that tropical fruit from other islands would be shipped here for
<br /> Veatment prior [o export. L` we were mainland consumers, we would far prefer to eat irradiated tropical fruit from
<br /> Ilawai'i than Vopical foot grown in Udrd-world countries where Were are little or no environmental conVOls; a
<br /> case in point is the recent hepatitis epidemic on the mainland that was traced [o infected strawberries from Mexico.
<br /> Like yourselves, we have been heard more than enough misinformation scare-tactics, hype, hysteria,
<br /> superstition, and witchcraft from those who from the mainland who oppose construction of an irradiation facility in
<br /> east Hawaii. The mainland opponents, Food & Water Inc., play on many people's anxiety from the mere mention
<br /> of "radioactivity" and have mounted a campaign of harassment, half-lies, distortion, and misinformation [o support
<br /> Weir conjecture that irradiated food is unsafe, but in 1991, an investigation by Date Line indicated that [heir claims
<br /> were without scientific basis. The membership of Food & Water Inc. numbers some 4,000 people, but Wey are
<br /> very active and vocal which magnifies their mm~bers. Presumably many of local opponents to irradiation are well-
<br /> intenUoned but have apparently been misled by Food & Water Inc.
<br /> The following are scientific facts about irradiation facilities:
<br /> Fact 1: Irradiation is a safe, proven technology which has been in world-wide use for more than 30 years.
<br /> There are more than 160 irradiation facilities in over 34 countries world-wide.
<br /> Fact 2: In more than 30 years of use of irradiation facilities, Were have been a few major accidents, all of which
<br /> were due to human error; redundant safeguards and safety procedures are in place to avert future
<br /> accidents. None of the accidents endangered public hea1W or environmental safety.
<br /> Fact 3: Irradiation involves [he use of ionizing gamma rays from cobal[~60, which is a similar to X-rays and
<br /> radioactive cancer Vea[ment. Irradiation is already used to Vea[ most of the spices and sterilize half of
<br /> We disposable medical and hygienic products we use.
<br /> Fact 4: The only radioactive elements in an irradiation facility are We 40 small "pencils" of cobalt-60. The
<br /> cobalt-60 does no[ activate or make iadioac[ive We Vented food, the irradiation chamber, or any other
<br /> objects.
<br /> Fact 5: Auer approxilrkately 20 years of use in an irradiation facility, the spent cobalt-60 is returned to its
<br /> manufacturer in Canada. The radioactivity of the spent cobalt-60 is reduced within 100 years to levels
<br /> where i[ can be safely h<~tndled, due to its short half-life.
<br /> Fact 6: Radiolytic products formed in irradiated foods are identical or similar to compounds found in cooked, or
<br /> otherwise processed, foods and even in unprocessed foods.
<br /> Fact 7: Irradiation of food has been endorsed by numerous scientific organizations world-wide, including the
<br /> American Medical Association, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, U.S. Public Health Service, World
<br /> Hea1W Organization, and U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization. Irradiated food Ilan been proven
<br /> nutritious and safe for human consumption.
<br /> Fact 8: There is no alternative to irradiation for treatment of many Vpical fruit other than papayas. Hot-vapor
<br /> and cold-storage Veatinents damage many tropical fruit varieties, rendering Wem unmarketable.
<br />
<br /> Fact 9: Thirty-four shipments of irradiated Vopical fruit from Hawaii have been successfully test-marketed on
<br /> the mainland during the past two years, demonstrating Wat Were is mainland market for irradiated
<br /> tropical fruit from Hawaii. Frieda's, Inc., a California produce wholesaler, announced IIIa[ i[ would not
<br /> accept irradiated tropical flail only aRer weeks of harassment from Food & Water Inc.
<br /> ~AYJ III. J. •
<br /> F1{e No. FN~ I C,~
<br /> Preser~~e~
<br /> IRRADfAC.DOC TOt
<br /> 1Ret. Ih+te APR 2 4 1997
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