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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.125 2012-2014 Murashi9e, Laura LAlti4F1*--------- From: nancy redfeather[nredfeather©kohalacenter.org] Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 10:29 PM I� NAT ( � To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Cc: Nancy Redfeather Subject: Testimony for Bill 079 Draft 1 resti_mony for Bill 079 Draft 1 l racy Redfeather uni i Farm. .....l a, ' awai ' i __ aha Members of the Committee, '"'::.lay I speak as a private citizen. .iany years ago, In 2002, after researching the topic et the genetic engineering of crops over a few years, I decided to call Mayor Harry Kim rid talk story with him about my concerns for the future of agricu iture on ia. jai ' i. lsiarld. As you well know, many pe.pie in the .Prate consider Haw ai' i Island to be the "breadbasket" of the state . I had been watching what was hraop r .ng on Kauai , Maui, ✓Ic okai, and Oahu and I was concerned that. Hawai ' i Island also rm .lnt become an island of cpirimental GE tie d crops and trla'_s that would gradu . I1. "replace" _ood in importance o land use and water , aria there continued_rued to be too many unknowns:; to rC , e_a :e sl.uh '~te -irr'.enta]_ crops lot' d traqiie environment . Co I called Harry, ar..a he said that he really didn't understand the :_::,sue, but he would tined someone for me who did. A few days later I got a sail from Carod. Okada at Plant aaYur:r ine at the [)1r tment of Agriculture in Honolulu. Chose Gt you who. know Ca rol, '.now that she sing_.e bandedl y received the GE field trial applications from the ttl:i. AP HID rpm the companies who wish 1.., conduct experiments of new GP crops in Hawaiii . I just tor'ked in with the IJH, nalienal database holding CE. t.Ier ilts for open field ' rio.Is i_- _ a/al ' i and currently there are arraad 114 experiments being conau 'ea and over ! _sted. id I talked with Carol at length about my concerns and askew her, what can we do aoou'r .__s 1 "Create a CM:) tree Zone, " she saio, "Every experiment needs a "control group" and . :aa1 ' l island could be t "contra r. " r-._ fr E are enough, serious, peer-re V1 ew 6d S tudie_ _r ldwide today to warrant the use of the Precautionary Principle and a cautious attitude infusing our legislative system. Ihere are health, environmental, and social concerns mat must be accounted for. 1 think there is enough concern today, to take this comment seriously, and to seriously consider Margaret Mille' s Ordinance to Amend Chapter 14 . I think 1 oouid amend Fill ", 19 Draft_ I with the following : i . Grandfather in papaya. it will be very difficult to Irtad-care im Don't punish the Nora_ `' ndust ry who wants GE flower colors . O . Be s: _cific about who would oversee the Ordinance. Thank. you for the opportunity to testify, `fancy Redfeather ilowanui Farm rualo, Hawai ' i 8-32l-1801 Comm. N�� 7 • ' � Ref. To: (( 1 Rc,f. Date_MAY 4 13