HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0258.036 1996-1998 JTM gLBERTINI ~ uVe vee race „
31G IS~(~f~D P~I~IFOREST (~CTIC~~I GROUP
dlr. James Arakalti, Chair
~a, and Hawaii. County Council members
25 Aupuni 5t.
~ y~ kilo, Hawaii 96720 August 27, 1997
' ~ , a~ ~
"'S~ Oear Mr. Wilson & Board members:
We are strongly opposed to the lease of CoulTty
• ~jJfi lands to Oji Timber for a eucalyptus plantation and a
j polluting pulp industry. We want clean industries that
L bill provide a solid employment base and truly benefit
W~•ic the local conununity, It is hard to find something that
will provide fewer jobs per acre than a eucalyptus
i~`, plantation,
c,~ Let's develop a real vision for our future and
let's start by feeding ourselves. Presently, over 95 %
g of w}Iat is consumed in Hawaii comes from thousands of
miles away, That's a society grossly out of balance. A
modest visiorT to consider is that by the Year 2010,
' Hawaii become 50% self-sufficient in food. If we can
agree to that, let's mane County lands and othQr
resources available to local residents to move toward
~ ' ~ that
goal.
.
Certainly there is a place for a forest industry, but
it should be focused on native hardwoods for value
added products.
The bottom line is this. The plantation system is a
failed s.vstem. To replace one plantation cash crop
(sugar} with another (wood chips/pulp) is to lose sight
of the forest for the trees.
Shelve the O.ji lease, Put it in the "dumb idea" file
along with destrol'in8 the Wao Kcle o Puna rainforest
for geothermal energy.
~ c:~
Sincerely, C")
~ -7
ate-- G~
~ ,
~ ,
Jim Albertini
coordinator
,
- t--
CC: the Mayor
~ news media
N,cyt. 'i.,:.
i gp 0 ~ 1997
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