HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.426 1996-1998
FROM :MRILHOXES ETC TO ~ 9693291 1997.05-17 11:35AM 8423 P. O1/O1
Fax:808-969-3291 - .
To Hawall County Council, County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720. ' 97 (~~fiY 19 7 r' 6
We are firmly against the use of taxpayer revenues for an irradiate ~ -
NTY G= HP,~VAII
the state of Hawal'I for the following reasons: It has not been proven sa e.
There are dangers of radiation exposure to humans, the water and the alna.
The consequences of eating irradiated fruits are not all known. And ft benefits
only a certain segment of our society who are raising tropical fruits for export. Il
does not help to make Hawaii more self-sufficient in food, but makes Hawaii
even more dependent on export for profit.
Countries like Japan will not buy Irradiated fruit and may even stop
buying fruit from Hawaii they think may be Irradiated.Other less toxic, less
hazardous and less capital-intensive methods exist for the control of fruit flies
and other post-harvest pests that currently Ilmlt export of our locally grown fruit.
Rather than Spend millions of taxpayers' dollars on Cobalt 60
technology that 1) proliferates the nuclear weapons cycle; 2) has proven
damaging to the economy and the environment in the event of natural or
man-made disasters; and 3) is prohibited by the organic Food Production Act
of t gg0, we prefer post-harvest treatment technologies that do not use
ionizing radiation. Integrated techniques employing pest-specific IPM, such
as temperature, pressure, Inert gases, pheromones, trapping, insect growth
regulators, biological control, improved sanitation and pest habitat
reduction ere much more promising and less risky strategies than utilizing
fission by-products.
Papayas concealing maggots at the time of irradiation will harbor
either sterilized or dead maggots at the point-of-sale. This unappetizing
consumer-acceptance problem is exacerbated by widespread re~ectlon of
Irradiated fruit, And lastly, food is more than a collecilon Inert chemicals, energy
sensitive enzymes and amino acids. Food also Contains its own particular
mane, which when neutralized by irradiation will lack nourishment value,
The public relations liability surely will be felt If lawmakers choose nuclear
fission technology over the more benign and equally efficacious systems
approach to managing the fruit fly problem facing fruit growers in the state of
Hawal'I.
Yours slnC rel ~
Robert and Keala Smith
Fax:808-885-6514
xo. 212• ?.10
Itef ~rPresenteQ~
Ft„i. Date MAY 1 9 1997