HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.355 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY r'" HAWAII
From: Sandra Herndon [2dalwahine @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 11:52 AM 20IB JUN 17 PM It 21
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Support of Bill 79
Aloha Council Chair and Members,
Mahalo for allowing me the opportunity to submit this testimony by email.
I am a resident of Kauai, and we are suffering from the onslaught of unexpected outcomes of our
County's permitting of GMO companies to use and abuse our land. We have confirmed Atrazine in the
water system of Waimea, near the test fields; we have inordinately higher cancer rates in the immediate
area; we had keiki from the school adjacent to the fields experiencing nose bleeds and later
bronchitis/asthma during the spraying periods and of course, there is the toxic soil conditions resulting
from the use of their designer chemicals. We are fighting hard to get the GMO companies off Kauai as
well as Maui, and O'ahu.
The illusion of financial gain by employment or taxes does not bear up in reality. Most of their higher
earning employees are brought in, leaving minimum wage positions available to locals and even then, in
peak picking periods, more of the lower paid labor positions are imported. The tax breaks accorded to
the Agro Business Corporations provides minimal income to the county coffers and does NOT offset the
additional costs incurred by the "fallout" of their presence. It will take years to revitalize the soil for
healthy food to be grown again on your Island.
I ask you to hold the line on allowing GMO's onto Hawaii's fertile, sacred soil!
Peace & Aloha on behalf of Kauai Rising,
Sandy Herndon
Kapaa, HI
Comm. ■oi 471 ' 35-5 Ref. To: t'/P5 M7
Ref. Dote 0 2 2013
6/17/2013
Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura COUNTY
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COUNT
From: Sandra Herndon [2da1wahine @gmail.com] 5 AM
28
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:04 AM 70B JUN 2
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Support for Bill#2491
Aloha Chair Furfaro and Members of the Council.
I ask you to support this essential bill, # 2491 introduced by Councilmembers Hooser and Bynum.
It is a first step in reclaiming the health and well being of our community and our 'aina. I realize that
there is much education required in establishing a firm foundation of truth from which to operate. There
are many "facts" available such as federal regulation "compliance" and there are many, many indications
by independent researchers that the "truth" is that those regulations are inadequate, erroneous and
frequently crafted by the Big Pharm industry itself.
Please look at the world wide history of this lethal approach to "feeding the world"- the actual statistics
of success in mono-crop production, the severe health issues of the families living in adjacent areas to
the experimental fields, the true financial benefit to the community, both in small number of local
employees hired and the tax structure afforded the Bio -Tech Corporations. Calling them "Agricultural
companies" is not just a misnomer, it is strategically misleading. What they produce is not fit for man
nor beast to eat, according to recent studies. The long term impact on the soil and water is so negative
that it will take millions of dollars to restore and revitalize the lands used for their Petri dishes, long after
they have pulled up stakes and left. The chemicals leaching into the waters endanger coral and sea life,
not to mention the humans. There is so much information available that scientifically disputes the self
serving claims of the Chemical Seed consortiums, if you but will take the time to evaluate it.
I would also like to suggest that there be provisions within the bill for enforcement measures, with
monetary penalties for violations.
Please make our community proud of a strong and ethical Council which had the integrity to do what is
right for the Island and her people. The world is watching us! Mahalo nui loa!
Peace & Aloha on behalf of Kauai Rising,
Sandy Herndon
6/25/2013