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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.109 1996-1998 rl '97 APR 24 A(1 9 58 COUNTY Or HAWAII 933 F'd4 '~~Nk Gu 'y'! 14:J~ Natloonl Ne negonaes American f 0 BOx 3063° Tnm pn, iL 37630 Natural Hygiene ,6~3,655.GG°~ Society inc. nautlve Diregor inures '~i. and Lennon f Living in Harmony with Nature April 24, 1997 County Council of Hawaii 25 Aupuni St. Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Councillors, I am writing to you today on behalf of the more than 10,000 ' members and friends of the American Natural Hygiene Society, the oldest health education association in the united States. our members--physioiana and laypersons alike--are united in opposition to foofl irradiation for reasons of health and safety. We respectfully urge you to discontinue support for an irradiation facility in your community. Y7e believe the arguments against food irradiation are compelling for moral, sci¢ntifiC, and economic reasons. Soma are listed belo•d. 1. The Society works actively to oppose the sale of irradiated foods in the United ~3tatea. If the irradiation of food takes place in Hawaii, w¢ will be among the national and international groups considering a boycott of all Hawaiian produce. 2. Radiation is very dangerous. Radiation accidents are frequent, and the history of the nuclear industry is a history of coverups. Japan i® ,currently facing the disgrace of its nuclear industry having covered up a (%vcurn. No. <IL serious accident. It took the United States government 40 years to admit it had injured American soldiers and A'lle 1~o.FNb/~C1P _ civilians during atonic tests. Citizens in Honolulu were subjected to an unreported radiation leak far 12 RBI. ~btProsent years before Cleanup began. 3. Radiation facilities put your constituents at ~t• p~I+~R 2'4 unjustifiable and uncompensatabie risk. Most homeOwners~ insurance policies carry an exemption for nuclear accidents. can the County OP fiawaii assume the li; 'lity for damages related to an irr 'ation fay .ity, including the transportation nuclear materials to or from the site, that no insurance company is willing to assume? a. Americans have already rejectedirradiated foods. The only food irradiation facility in the nation is located just miles from our national headquarters hero in Florida. It has lost millions of dollars since 1992 933 PGS 'nFR 24 '9? 14:x3 since no suppli®rs or retailers want to be assoclated with food irradiation. Mast Ameriaann know that food irradiation is not an outgrowth of the farming or food industries. zt ie an outgrowth of the problem of nuclear waste. It is a technology in search of a use. Food irradiation is a poor solution to the problem of,nuc sear waste. We consider the introduction of nuclear waste materials at anX new sites a reckless contamination of our neighborhoods and communities. 5. It has been Widely reported that radiation damages the makeup and structure of food. Good health dictates fresh foods, not preserved foods, and certainly not foods exposed to deadly radiati~,n. 6. Food irradiation is unnecessary', All of the supposed benefits attributed to food irradiation are already obtainable from other less expensive, less dangerous processes. taayor Yamashiro, we respectfully urge you to withdraw your support for an irradiation facility in your community for health and environmental safety reasons. 19incerely, dames Michael Lennon Executive Director II tfl'd L£fOSLd808 }WtlN] O>10JIH Htl OL16© IIHl L6-bZ->JdC