HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.385 1996-1998
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Testimony and Information Presented to Hawaii County Council ~
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Regarding Irradiation Facility. May 20, 1997
The Hawaii County Council is considering and expenditure of some
two million dollars towards the construction of a fruit irradiation
facility.
This decision has many impacts upon the people of the Big Island,
and the state of Hawaii.
Some factors which should be considered by each Hawaii County
Council member are:
1) The general public, in Hawaii, on the United States mainland and
other areas of the world do not like to buy fruit or food which has
been sterilized by irradiation technologies.
"L) These public concerns revolve around a general concern over the
harmful effects of such irradiation, as well as the known decline in
nutritional value of such irradiated foods.
3) There are organizations and networks of concerned citizens who
are capable of handling effectrive food product boycotts on the U.S.
mainland, and who are concerned about this food irradiation process.
Unlike a state such as California, which has a variety of produce
which is shipped abroad, Hawaii's comemrcial fruit export business
is very easily targeted.
4) With a small handful of fruit varieties being commercially
exported, and with papaya's being perhaps the best known fruit
which may be irradiated, the impacts upon commercial papaya
growers is significant. The papaya industry has sponsored the
construction of heat treatment facilities which successfully treat
fruitfly larvae. Millions of dollars in private investment funds have
been successfully used to treat papaya using heat technologies. The
Hawaii County Council should not be undermining these successful
heat treatment technologies by subsidising the construction
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irradiation treatment facility. FND C 1 Q
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Statement by Greenpeace Foundation-Hawaii Regarding Irradiation , `pa'~e-Y ' "
2357 S. Beretania St., #767, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 * Tel: 595-0057
6
5) The hazards to human beings and the natural environment is
significant. Radioactive Cobalt 60 is a deadly substance. Even more
significantly, it is a substance whose harmful effects are, initially,
invisible. As has been observed at numerous of nuclear facilities,
sometimes the hazards to human health and the natural environment
only appear decades after the introduction of radioactive compounds.
Proponents of nuclear technology are notorious for hiding facts, for
lying to the public, and for allowing unsafe practices to occur which
often are discovered only decades later through statistics in higher
rates of cancer.
6) The transportation and storage of radioactive compounds also
pose hazards. Perhaps most pertinent is that natural disasters, such
as hurricanes and earthquakes are known to create great destruction
in Hawaii. Designing and constructing a facility which can withstand
such natural disasters is quite a challenge, and probably cannot be
safely and effectively accomplished on a 2 million dollar budget.
It is known that earthquakes in Hawaii can be significant, that any
structure built to withstand a hurricane, can also be greatly
affected by an earthquake. The financial liability to Hawaii
taxpayers could result in many millions of dollars in damages just
by having a small number of people affected or contaminated with
radiocative material.
7) One factor which should also be considered is that by creating a
nuclear facility, one is also creating a target for terrorism. As has
been seen throughout the United States and world at large, acts of
destructive terrorism are increasing. The ongoing costs of security
and construction designs needed to reduce the chances of effective
anti-terrorism activities is also significant.
By creating this radioactive site, the Hawaii County Council is
creating what may be the most highly visible and accessible location
for terriorism that is presently under public control in Hawaii.
8) Perhaps most importantly it should be recognized that there are
alternatives to irradiation. The main reason for constructing this
irradiation facility are that a couple of species of exotic fruit,
whose markets are not developed, may experience a slight change in
color through the use of accepted and existing thermal and heat
Statement by Greenpeace Foundation-Hawaii Regarding Irradiation ,page 2
2357 S. Beretania St., #767, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 * Tel: 595-0057
technologies. Similar arguments have been used by irradiation
proponents regarding papaya treatment
Several years ago there were claims being made that irradiation was
necessary for papaya exports. After some investment of resources
into non-nuclear technologies, methods of heat treatment were
successfully implemented.
It has been consistently demonstrated that through research and
experimentation, that alternatives to irradiation are possible.
Further research into non-radioactive treatment alternatives should
be initiated.
9) The markets for such exotic fruits are being proclaimed by a
handful of private investors as being their principal reason for the
irradiation facility. However, the marketing of such fruit within
Hawaii, including Hawaii's hotels, food stores and other local
markets is not being actively pursued.
If this fruit has a potential for being marketed overseas, it most
ce~,~tainly should be of keen interest locally. It is well known that
the marketing of this exotic fruit within Hawaii is largely
underdeveloped. Fruit marketed in Hawaii does not need any form of
fruitfly treatment. The logical first step is developing a local
market, and then consider overseas markets. This development of a
domestic Hawaii market can be done without an irradiation facility.
10) On behalf of al! the members and supporters of Greenpeace
Hawaii, and on behalf of the thousands of people who are watching
this process unfold, we ask that the Hawaii County Council deny the
funding for the irradiation facility. We also ask that the County
Council demonstrate that consideration for public health is sincere
by rejecting the proposed irradiation facility.
Thank you
Michael Bailey
Greenpeace Hawaii
2357 S. Beretania St., #767 Honolulu, Hawaii 96826
Tel: (808) 595-0057
Statement by Greenpeace Foundation-Hawaii Regarding Irradiation ,page 3
2357 S. Beretania St., #767, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 Tel: 595-0057