HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.397 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura COUNTY CLERK
From: Joni Kamiya kami a74
COUNTY
OF HAWAII
y G y @yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday,May 26,2013 8:27 PM 9A'3 MAY 28 �L
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us tU 17 Aft 9 3
Subject:Testimony Against Bill 79
Testimony Against Bill 79 Regulation ofGMOs
The anti-GM movement has started to pit farmers against farmers in our state. Hawaii
cannot afford
to have such discord in our agricultural industry that serves a vital element to local food
security. To
take away a potential tool from our farmers is treading on the fragility of how we will be able
to
maintain local agriculture here in our islands. We need to re-establish dialogue, not create
conflict
when it comes to food and agriculture,which this law has already created. The issue is about
how are
going to feed people and have the least amount of impact on our environment and the tools
available.
Denying farmers that tool will be highly detrimental towards our food sustainability.
Research of the best methods of farming and the impact it has on the production of foods is
what will
guide farming of the future. Continuing building a wealth of knowledge through science is
what helps
to determine best practices for protecting the environment and food production with a
smaller
footprint. If it were not for the genetic engineering of the papayas, lots of intact forest lands
would have
had to be bulldozed to combat the situation while maintaining the industry. That is how
genetic engineering and science can have a positive environmental effect on agriculture with
less impact.
We can't also ignore that same science that helps us determine how we eat and grow our food
either.
The advancements in technology in the last 20 years have become lightning speed while our
ability to
communicate science let alone understand it has not kept pace which leads to many people
not
understanding and hence fearing it. Hopefully,that will someday meet at the same place
where there
will be a symbiotic relationship between science and food production rather than what we are
seeing
now which is a disconnect by the content in this proposed bill.
I urge you as City Council members to kill this bill and support local agriculture on the Big
Island.
We can't afford not too. Farmers need to support each other in the quest to do the vital and
honorable
contribution with the tools available. Elevating one type of farming over another with a law
will not
solve the problem of keeping local agriculture local.
Sincerely,
Joni Kamiya
Kaneohe, HI
Comm. N .. I. 343
Ref. To:
Ref. Dote JUL 40 2
5/28/2013