HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.048 2012-2014 May 14, 2013 Testimony in support of Bill 79 COUNTY CLERK
Kea Kapahua COUNTY OF HAWAII I
Hilo, HI RECEIVED
Time a, _By
Date
Aloha County Council,
I am supporting Bill 79 that prohibits further introduction of genetically
modified organisms on Hawai'i Island. I believe this is a good start and it is
necessary and urgent to implement protection of our resources (water,land),and
protect the safety,well-being and future of our people and keiki.
It is widely known that transgenic crops create unwanted and devastating
consequences both in the environment by contaminating water, air and land,and
harming humans with high levels of toxicity (respiratory issues,cancers,birth
defects) from overuse of pesticides. Most transgenic"food" crops are developed by
chemical corporations with a track record of destroying environments and
communities with their chemicals,and are currently using"food"as the medium to
sell more pesticides and herbicides which continue to harm people and our
environment. If we look at the devastation already happening on our other
Hawaiian Islands—fugitive chemical dust storms on Moloka'i, Monsanto using the
people's water resource to drill 6 more wells for water for their agrochemical crops
on Maui, 50,000 sea urchins dying off the west coast of Kaua'i last year near the
growing of transgenic crops not to mention the pesticide-laden fugitive dust
blowing into Kaua'i residents'homes and schools, North Shore O'ahu again with
chemical dust and chemical runoff,we need to protect Hawai'i Island before it is too
late for us.
In addition to increased pesticide overuse,there are other multiple negative
and unwanted consequences of growing transgenic crops, one of which is genetic
contamination through pollination.As a Hilo resident and backyard gardener, I do
not grow papaya because I don't know what's genetically modified and growing in
my immediate community even on accident. I choose to not eat genetically modified
papaya though I love papaya,because there are potential health risks associated
with genetically modified foods. Papaya has been the perfect example of the inability
to control or contain life. Big Island Dairy owned by Idaho dairyman Steve
Whitesides who does not live in Hawai'i, is growing 700 acres of Round-Up Ready
corn in O'okala and Pepe'ekeo to feed their Dairy Cows. In addition to excessive
pesticide drift from Big Island Dairy, I am very concerned about cross-pollination
with Loeffler corn so I will not buy Loeffler corn though it is locally grown. I am
concerned for other farmers and backyard gardeners who are growing corn,that
they are growing GMO corn unintentionally and may not realize their corn could
potentially become genetically contaminated.
Here is an excerpt from the Open Letter from World Scientists to All
Governments Concerning Genetically Modified Organisms through ISIS (Institute of
Science in Society) "We urge all Governments to reject GM crops on grounds that
they are both hazardous and contrary to ecologically sustainable use of resources.
Instead they should support research and development of sustainable agricultural
methods that can truly benefit family farmers the world over...We urge all
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Ref. Datej4Y 4
Governments to take proper account of the now substantial scientific evidence of
actual and suspected hazards arising from GM technology and many of its products,
and to impose an immediate moratorium on further environmental releases,
including open field trials,in accordance with the precautionary principle as well as
sound science."This letter was signed by over 800 scientists worldwide.
Examples of places banning GMO crops:
Philippines: The community of Valencia called for a five-year moratoria on GE food
and GE crop trials and commercialization. The Philippine president announced a
moratorium on GE crop research.
Peru: has said "no" to genetically modified foods.There is a 10-year ban on GMO
foods. Peru's ban on GMO foods prohibits the import,production and use of
genetically modified foods.The law is aimed at safeguarding the country's
agricultural diversity and preventing cross-pollination with non-GMO crops. It will
also help protect Peruvian exports of organic products.
EU countries that do have bans on one or more strains of GMO products include
Austria,France,Germany,Greece, Italy, Poland and Romania,among others.
GMOs do not understand country boundaries or follow laws, and they are known for
sneaking into the supply of what is expected to be non-GMO seed. This is a major
problem if you are a farmer trying to grow GMO-free crops.
San Juan County,Wa: Proposed by organic farmers and others,the GMO ban makes
it unlawful to propagate or grow plants or animals in San Juan County that have
been genetically modified and provides for penalties and destruction of such
organisms.
There is more information that you can research. I have listed some resources here:
Center for Food Safety
The Institute For responsible Technology
GM Watch
Hawai'i Seed
Food and Water Watch
Greenpeace
Hawaii GMO Justice Coalition
Films:
Islands At risk
The World According to Monsanto
Food, Inc.
Stop Monsanto From Poisoning Hawai'i
Mahalo,
Kea Kapahua
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