HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0480.010 2010-2012Murashige, Laura
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From: Julie Stowell [Julie @lomikai.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 6:46 AM
Page 1 of 1
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us — 2
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Subject: Testimony in Support of GMO Labeling
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TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF LABELING GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS . -1 (-)
HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, Wednesday, December 7, 2011 M --r- r
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FROM: Julie Stowell, lomkai @Hawai.rr.com 808 - 987 - 0212 =
To the Council Members of the County of Hawaii,
Aloha and thank you for this opportunity to offer testimony in support of labeling genetically
modified.
Given the awareness I have gained about the many negative consequences of GMOs, including their alarming
health impacts (such as organ damage, allergies and infertility), I now make a conscious daily choice to avoid
them in my diet.
My status as an "informed consumer" has taken years of personal dedication, including time spent
attending meetings, watching films, and reading informational material. Undoubtedly this is a
commitment that many if not most others are unwilling or unable to make. This is precisely why it is
our and your duty to ensure that genetically modified foods are labeled.
I encourage you all to approach this issue with openness and a deep reflection on your
responsibilities. It is critical for you as decision makers to know that genetic engineering IS
substantially different than classical, natural breeding, and that classical breeding in agriculture has
been proven to be vastly more efficient and effective than genetic engineering, and without the
unintended consequences.
In 2008, 60 governments signed the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and
Technology for Development (IAASTD) report, which was produced by over 400 scientists from
around the world over a 3 -year period. This landmark assessment of global agriculture states that
industrial agriculture has failed and that genetically modified (GM) crops are not a solution for
poverty, hunger, or climate change. It recommends small -scale farming and agro - ecological methods
as the way forward.
I urge you to please include and pass this floor draft for GMO labeling. Please do your part to allow
Hawai`i's people the right to full disclosure of what we are feeding our families and contributing to
our environment and future generations. We have a right to know what is in the foods we are eating.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Julie Stowell
Comm. No. 486.10
Ref. To -�
Ref. Date. DEC
12/7/2011