HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.205 1996-1998 JIM RLBERTINI 808 966 7622 P,01
'97 P19Y 6 f~,~ 7 ~u
`}r. Jantea Y. Arakaki
Council Chair COllf`,i,
Hawaii County Council COUNTY lir f{~~5r 1997
25 Aupuni St,
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Mr. Arakaki:
This letter concerns the economics of a food irradiation
plant on the Big Island. A now famous line from a Hollywood
movie says: "Show me the money." I would like you to show me the
business plan, impartial economic analysis and market study to
justify $2 million dollars of taxpayers money going to a dubious
food irradiation projent.. No such economic ,justification has
been put forward to date.
Everr with massive federal subsidies, Hawaii sugar could not
compete on the world market and make a profit. What mates people
think Chat irradiated tropical fruit from Hawaii will be any
different? If anything, irradiating Hawaii fruit will hurt, not
help, the marketing of such products. Will the $2 million County
subsidy bein8 pushed by the Yamashiro administration and the
Council. turn into $20 million, $200 million of taxpayer dollars
down the road?
It is a colonized mind and colonial t}Iinlting that
advocates more cash crop exports as a solution to the ills of
dependency created by 100 years of sugar exports. It's time to
take the colonial chains from our brains and the land out of
the hands of corporate agribusiness. Instead of exportin6 cash
crops and importing what we eat, it's time we feed ourselves. A
food irradiation plant and eucalyptus plantations are steps away
from sovereignty, self-sufficiency and a sustainable future.
Please provide copies oP this letter to the other council
members and make this letter a numbered communication for the
nexC councS.l agenda. Thank you kindly for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jim Albertini
taro farmer
P.O. Box AS
Ola'a, Hawaii 96760
966-7622
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