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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0663.001 2008-2010Murashige, Laura From: William mason [billymason @mac.com] Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 9'28 AM To: counciltestimony©co.hawaii hi us Subject: Bill 193 (banning plastic bags) - William Mason testimony Bill 193 (banning plastic bags) - William Mason testimony Aloha, Page 1 of 1 1 am William Mason, a resident of Hawaii and the Service - Learning Sustainability Program Student Coordinator for the University of Hawaii at Hilo. 1 would like to express my support for Bill 193 to ban plastic bags on the Island of Hawaii. Hawaii's greatest assets are its unique beauty and the aloha spirit of the Hawaiian culture. The importation of single use plastic bags serves no purpose except to increase waste in our landfill, encourage social irresponsibility and kill Hawaiian wildlife. According the Ocean Conservancy, sea turtles, sea birds and dolphins mistake plastic bags for food and die when the plastic chokes them or clogs their digestive systems. The visual eyesore of plastic bags also has a negative impact on tourism and discourages community stewardship of Hawaii. The benefits of banning plastic bags are a reduction of imported petroleum toxic waste in our landfills, the creation of local jobs producing reusable bags and community participation in the protection of Hawaii. Therefore, the economic, social and environmental future of Hawaii depends on banning the use of plastic bags and the fostering of community participation in responsible stewardship of Hawaii. Mahalo nui loa for your time and consideration, Aloha, William Mason o University of Hawaii at Hilo 0 Service - learning Sustainability Program 28 Student Coordinator Z r i wnunason@hawaii.cdu '' cn =(Y} n • D -r' co C >'' cn Gil 1/5 /2010 Comm. Ho. 6(03, I Ref. To, ' f Ref. Dote J U S LU]U