HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.104 1996-1998 TESTIMONY ~IATION
To: County Council Members97 APR 2y Pf1 1 2`f
My name is Paul J. Kierkiewicz. ~i' ~ ~'p~sij~~'Mauna Kea
Agronomics, Inc. I've been in the rt and vegetable exportation business
for the last 18 yeazs. I'm the first to admit that I have a vested interest in the
successful development of irradiation on this island.
Today you aze going to hear over and over again the same three arguments
against irradiation. The first will be that we will develop all the technologies
only to be copied by Honduras, Brazil, or Thailand who sell cheaper. Now
don't think for a minute that this could not happen; economic globalization is
a reality.
However we have proven time and time again that we can compete in this
global market. Good examples are ginger, macadamia nuts, coffee, and
cut flowers just to name a few. WHY? We have the production technology
(transportation, post harvest handling, infrastructure and the best marketing
promotional people to back it up.)
The second argument you are going to hear is that irradiated food it not good
for you. Well neither is the spam I ate of breakfast this morning or the wine
that I had with dinner last night. The basic question we have to ask ourselves
is "Are the findings of the FDA reliable?" Do our elected officials have
enough confidence in themselves and our government agencies to make the
right decision.
The third azgument is that irradiation poses a danger to the environment. The
question once again is, "Do we have enough confidence in the government
institutions that we created to answer these questions?"
You the council members aze elected officials who create, empower, and
monitor many of these same government agencies. And although our
government has given us many examples to mistrust government I still believe
in the overall integrity of the instihrtions, the bureaucracies, and the people.
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~.,r. ~ror Presented
tzt.t. p~t„APR 2 4 1991
Lastly don't kid yourself, we have a unique opportunity to become the
foremost exotic tropical fiuit center in the world. It starts with the farmers
but it impacts many secondary industries (transportation, packaging, equip.,
educational, and marketing, etc.) This is your opportunity to show a vote
of confidence in yourselves and the overall government process to make
this work. So vote yes.
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