HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.569 2012-2014 Miwa, Amy
From: Malia Pruett [maliapruett @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2013 9:59 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Bill 79
Attachments: counciltestimony.gmo.bill.doc
Please log this as my formal testimony
Malia Pruett PT, DPT
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Monday, July 1, 2013
To: Hawaii County Council Members
Re: Council Member Willie's anti-GMO Bill (Bill 79)
From: Malia Tallett Pruett, P.T., D.P.T.
To those who get to vote:
Aloha, my name is Malia Tallett Pruett. I am a native Hawaiian and a local physical
therapist residing in the city of Hilo. I married a wonderful man from Dallas,Texas. We
have two beautiful daughters that whom we strive to do our best to raise here in Hawai'i.
As parents,we make numerous decisions that affect our daughters every day. As
concerned citizens, my husband and I rely on our city council to help make decisions that
represent our best interests. Hawaii county Council is suppose to act in our best interests.
Right now,we are outraged that Ms.Willie, a non-native Hawaiian, is misrepresenting the
"best interests" of Hawai'i's people. Ms. Willie should best be reminded that she has not
spent much time in Hawai'i. We are sadden at the potential death of an important aspect of
Hawai'i's agricultural history. We are also afraid of what repercussions such enforcement
will entail. Ultimately,we feel like this is a repeat of Hawai'i's history to see a "foreigner"
come to power and take away what is not theirs - Freedom. As citizens of the United States
of America,this bill undermines the very fabric of our constitution, "The right to choose."
We hear the mantra all the time, "Buy Local." If 90% of all items on our grocery shelves are
already GMO, then why are we adding to the burden of our local farmers and forcing them
to grow in a way that has no know benefit to anyone? As it stands now,you have the choice
to purchase imported goods or purchase locally. But, if you remove the local choice by
eliminating the farmers, then we are now forced to eat foreign GMO products? Can we take
it another step and ask ourselves, as an island that is solely dependent upon imported
goods for our survival and livelihood (as a result of eliminating local farming),what does
this mean if our ports are damaged from a natural disaster? How will we be able to
survive? How long can 200,000 people survive off a few organic farms?
So, Ms.Willie, I ask you.... You've eliminated the farming community which you represent.
Do you even have a clue to the complications that our local farmers face every day? Where
were you when the vacuum coolant farmers had their annual meeting to discuss these
issues? I was there,you were not. You have forced us to import our produce from other
countries. Did you even think about the other economies that will be directly impacted by
the loss of our local farmers? Hundreds of jobs are lost. Non-GMO products only on
Hawaii island?? You can say goodbye to Papaya farmers (Oh, you already have ... by
imposing impossible conditions in your bill). You can say goodbye to corn (you definitely
haven't been to a local luau party, local school or sporting fundraiser, etc...). For your
information, the corn on Hamakua coast is not just for feeding cows. You can say goodbye
to lawn service providers and other grounds maintenance workers who use GMO products.
I guess with all of these economies gone,why do we need distributors? As a result,you can
welcome back uncontrollable over growth of non-native, invasive vegetation. Is Hawai'i
county ready for the mass influx of welfare recipients to increase? Is Hawai'i County ready
to say goodbye to the millions of tax revenue loss as a result of such a bill?
On the other hand,what about the fact that Hawai'i is predominantly a welfare state? The
cost of food is already difficult for our truly local Hawaiian families. In fact, a large majority
of welfare recipients are not even native Hawaiian. A family of four (4) on welfare is only
able to afford the food on their table through SNAP and other welfare benefits. Their
limited budget is already stretched and starvation amongst our local children is already a
major concern. So, the elimination of our local farmers now means that shipping costs will
rise to meet the influx demand of imported goods. The cost of food will rise due to the
increase in cost for farmers, shipping, and foreign goods. Now,this welfare family of four
(4) is left with a third of the volume to eat. Again, Ms.Willie, are you really representing
the best interests of Hawai'i's people? Let's be realistic, any welfare family of 1 or 4 or
more can not afford the food they put on their table now. Are you ready with a funding
plan to help the majority of the people of Hawai'i to continue to put food on their table for
their keiki?? (Ms.Willie, their children?). If children are not your concern,what about the
large retired community that struggles to exist on their fixed income or relies on food
stamps and SNAP benefits? How far do you think their$500.00 will carry them when a
non-GMO broccoli bunch at the farmer's market cost$5.00 each? By these concerns alone,
you just discriminated via people's economic status. In the words of my 4 year old, "that is
not showing ALOHA!"
The Papaya farmers of Hawai'i share and carry with them recent, but an important part of
Hawai'i's history. How is it so easy to dismiss their importance? The State of Hawaii and
the communities of Hawaii have fought to preserve their existence. Many historical events
have occurred during their battles with different pest issues. Are you truly willing to throw
that all away? We're asking you to rethink your quick dismissal of such a large part of
Hawai'i's history. Don't sign their death certificate. The little amendments made to the bill
to nonchalantly address papaya issues are very degrading. The expense to meet the 750
foot set backs proposed would put almost all papaya farmers out of business. With this bill
you decrease their harvest, the decreased harvest decreases revenue,the decreased
revenue means decreased "TAX" dollars.
As a health professional, I see that change is not something you can achieve over night. I
can't force a disabled young man to return to war to continue fighting for his country. I
can't force a woman who hurt her back at work lifting, to return to work if she cannot stand
up for longer than 15 minutes. A law cannot change a person, group of people, or culture to
change eating habits because one person told them. What you will witness is a mass
exodus of people from Hawai'i Island along with a mass importation of more foreign foods
and poverty. What does this mean? This means less tax dollars in the county pockets and
less money to fund your special interests. We need to find a way to stop importing goods
that do not understand our local needs. We need to find a way to encourage self-
sustainability and local business. We need to find a way to make it affordable for our
community. These are actions that speak and represent our Hawaiian communities. We
would like to hear about food changes that can address these issues. We are outraged to
hear about food changes that make it more difficult for our local Hawaiian communities.
I ask you now to strongly consider your vote in support of this bill. It has been brought to
my attention from many different sources that the majority of testimonials in support of
this bill, do not even come from our island. Those voices flew in on the same day of
testimonial and flew out immediately after. How can snowbirds have such strong feelings
about the political concerns for local business, native Hawaiian communities, retired
communities, and our growing population? What do they know about our"AINA?"
This issue carries with it a weight of responsibility. Do you want to be responsible for the
death of Hawai'i Island's economy? Please, I ask you to vote "NO!" on Ms. Willie's Bill. If
you truly represent the best interests of Hawai'i's people,then vote "NO!" You,the selected
few,get to vote. Please represent our"Ohana" correctly. We are Aaron Pruett, a hau'ole
man married to a native Hawaiian, and Malia Pruett, a native Hawaiian physical therapist
with a large Hawaiian Mix Plate family.
Aaron Pruett and Malia Tallett Pruett, P.T., D.P.T.
Parents of 2 daughters