HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0491.045 2020-2022 Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2021 8:24 AM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: palmtree7@hawaiiantel.net; Villegas, Rebecca; Araceley, Relley
Subject: FW: Support Bill 91
From:Janice Glennie
Sent: Monday, November 15, 20219:13 PM
Subject:Support Bill 91
Aloha Chair Villegas, Vice Chair Kimball,and members of the County Committee on Climate Resilience and Natural Resource
Management,
Mahalo for allowing me to speak in support of Bill 91 on behalf of the Surfrider Foundation's Kona Kai Ea chapter.
After decades of claims being made that glyphosate-based herbicides are safe, it's clear that much of that information has
been provided by the industry themselves,which should give pause to everyone buying and using those products including the
members of this committee.
I've been in the agriculture industry in Hawaii for over 30 years. In that time, I've found and relied upon the use of many
effective alternatives to toxic and questionable herbicides and pesticides rather than falling into the trap of using chemicals
that may or may not harm me, my pets, my property and the island and community beyond that space. It's been disconcerting
to hear of decades of financial support given to ag businesses and ag groups in our state by producers of these toxic chemicals
in a clear effort to advance acceptance and integration of their products. Yet,the fact remains that NO STUDY has proven the
safety of glyphosphate-based herbicides. So shouldn't the onerous be on the producers of these chemicals to prove their
safety(if it exists) and, meanwhile, not allow potentially extreme damage to our fragile and finite island resources as well as
human health to continue as if all is naturally well (aka,the Precautionary Principle)?
It's disappointing that this bill isn't as strong as in its orgiinal form, but it's an important step in moving toward protecting our
keiki and environment from potentially devastating and long term harm and in shifting the need for study and proof to those
who make millions of dollars selling it to our state and county.
Gomco. No qqpA
Mahalo for your vote in support of this bill, Ref. To:
1 Ref. Date NOV 1 7 20127
Mahalo;nui for your time and consideration on this matter.
2