Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> February 1, 2008 <br /> <br /> To: Donald Ikeda, Chairperson <br /> County Council Committee Members <br /> Public Safety and Parks and Recreation Committee <br /> <br /> Fr: Melissa Rapoza, REAL <br /> <br /> RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224, <br /> Relating To Smoking in Certain Places in the County of Hawai'i <br /> Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 9:30 a.m. <br /> Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation <br /> <br /> My name is Melissa Rapoza I am the Island Coordinator with REAL for this County. I <br /> strongly support Bill 224, which would prohibit use of tobacco products at all County of <br /> Hawaii parks and beaches, effectively providing a clean and healthy environment for <br /> Hawaii's keiki, ohana, visitors and wildlife. REAL is a statewide youth led movement <br /> against the tobacco industry. We try to teach empowerment to youth, as well as inform <br /> them how the tobacco industry uses different tactics to target people. <br /> <br /> I enjoy our parks and beaches frequently with my family and friends. I am a mother of <br /> three small children that are five years old and younger. The main reasons for wanting to <br /> have our beaches and parks smoke free include but are not limited to; the effects of <br /> second hand smoke, the damaging effects to our environment and its living beings, such <br /> as animals and sea creatures, the island oasis that we know and love are in jeopardy for us <br /> as lovers of our beautiful home as well as visitors. <br /> Second hand smoke is very deadly in fact it is more damaging than someone who <br /> actually smokes. Now that I have children it is not only my health that concerns me, it is <br /> my entire family. I am responsible in protecting their health and well fare as well. My <br /> family loves to enjoy our beaches, and we are having a wonderful time, then all of a <br /> sudden we get a disgusting over powering smell of second hand smoke. My infant twin <br /> daughters get sick with respiratory ailments when they smell second hand smoke. <br /> The environment and its inhabitants become damaged and destroyed by the <br /> constant litter from tobacco and its products and/or accessories, such as matches, <br /> wrapping, lighters, etc. Birds take the waste from the cigarettes and build their nests with <br /> it, and even feed their babies. These animals as well as sea life are ingesting thousands of <br /> deadly chemicals. Fish may eat the butts and we in turn eat the fish causing us to ingest <br /> the thousands of deadly chemicals. The land becomes massively littered with all of the <br /> tobacco waste (butts) and its accessories (lighters etc.) <br /> Individuals have used our beaches as their ash trays. I can recall numerous events <br /> where I would build sand castles or dig into the sand with my children, and end up <br /> retrieving cigarette butts. There were events where I have caught children finding the <br /> cigarette butts and ingest them or put them (cigarettes) by there mouths and pretend to <br /> smoke. This type of behavior needs attention it is NOT ok to expose our children to <br /> images of tobacco. The tobacco industry targets our children enough we as a society as <br /> the spirit of Aloha and love should not encourage it. By allowing our innocent children <br />