HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0604.036 1996-1998 Statement to Hawaii County Council
August 28, 1998
Lanny Sinkin
I support the plan put forward by Councilman Yagong for the
County lands in Hamakua.
Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to local communities
participating in defining our island's future.
Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to creating an island
economy based on sustainable enterprises, rather than industries
that simply use up our resources and leave us to clean up the
mess.
Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to the growing
understanding that diverse agriculture and forestry is superior
to plantation monocrops.
Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to locally-based economic
activity, rather than dependency on an inherently unstable global
economy.
In using cattle to manage the land for the first two years,
Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to land management that
protects the environment by minimizing the use of herbicides and
other chemicals which poison our land and our waters.
Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to providing opportunity
for individuals to work cooperatively, rather than everyone
working for a few land holders or large corporations.
Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to our island taking
control of its own future, rather than having that future defined
by those who see our island as simply a resource to be exploited
by outside economic interests.
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Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to a system that promotes
individual sovereignty, rather than dependency on the decisions
of a few.
In giving two years for small farmers and foresters to
prepare their seedlings, develop their plans, and form their
cooperative groups, Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to giving a
helping hand to those the plantation economy treated as
expendable.
In providing an opportunity for everyone who is willing to
do the work to have a chance, Councilman Yagong's plan says yes
to putting government on the side of the people.
In keeping the initial financial requirements low and
providing for an increase in County income in later years,
Councilman Yagong's plan says yes to government helping the
people to succeed, so that the people can then contribute their
fair share to the public good.
If you do have concerns, I hope you will seek to resolve
those concerns within the Yagong plan, rather than turning away
from Councilman Yagong's plan to proposals that may have been
suggested by others who are saying no to everything the Yagong
plan says yes to.
To be able to say yes to all the good parts of Councilman
Yagong's plan should be a pleasure for the Council. I urge each
of you to support this plan.
Thank you.