HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.677 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY or HAWAII
From: Ana Webb [moonstruckfarm @hawaiiantel.net] .
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 11:13 AM 2013 JUN 18 AN 11 $8
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: RE: GMO
I stand vehemently opposed to allowing any corporate testing or seed production
or Department of Agriculture testing of Genetically Mondified (GM) crops on Hawaii
Island.
Once a GM plant has been introduced into the environment, is is virtually
impossible to keep it from contaminating non-GM plants of the same species. This
is very unfair to organic farmers and the community as a whole. The offspring
containing the genes of GM traits creep into conventional crops gradually and are
"hidden" as they slowly contaminate our non GM food supply. This is significant as
European feeding studies of rats fed diets of GM corn and soy showed organ
damage within the first three weeks of observation. In spite of this important
finding, the US Dept. of Agriculture has agreed with Monsanto and other
bioengineering companies that their GM crops are "essentially equivalent" to
conventional crops of the same species and do not need human testing. So we
truly do not know that they are safe. It is suspected that GM foods are
responsible for a number of human disease states and particularly for allergies.
Only through the powerful biotech lobby has the public been subjected to the
wholesale contamination of our food supply with GM ingredients. People have a
right to know if their food contains GMO's. There is widespread anecdotal
evidence of damage to animals and many observations that animals will not
voluntarily eat GM plants when given a choice of conventional ones nearby.
In spite of the "success" some point to around the GM papaya on Big Island, our
sales of papayas has shrunk to 1/3 of pre GM times and much of the local papayas
have been contaminated. So far as I know, this is the only widespread GM plant
on our island at this time but it is possible that individuals have purchased GM
seeds and we may have small patches of GM corn, soybeans or sugar
beets already as there is no law preventing the use of such products. If our
legislative process can prohibit the commercialization of GM plants on Big Island,
we have a unique and probably very time sensitive window in which to act.
Please find a way to prevent any biotech company using Big Island for testing of
GM crops or production of GM seeds. Please prevent our Department of Agriculture
from considering testing or research related to GMO's on Big Island.
Submitted by Beth Webb of Moonstruck Organic Farm in Honaunau on Big Island
Comm. No. a'1 1. 677
Ref.To: J 2 5 C.
Ref. Date 2013
6/18/2013