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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.595 2012-2014 NA . COUNTY CLERK Q i� .,p COUNTY rP .! WAII M ' ;A° 2013 JUL - 1 All 11: 18 • Market&rye Island Naturals Market&Deli - 1221 Kilauea Ave.,Suite 170 - Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Ph#808-935-5533 - Fax#808-934-8035- www.islandnaturals.com July 1, 2013 Aloha Council members, I urge you to support Bill 79, relating to Genetically Modified Organisms. 1 am the State Senator from Puna and Ka'u, and the owner of Island Naturals Markets, which employs over 150 people on our island. It is very appropriate to address this on a County level,as Hawaii County still has a choice to protect our environment from the many dangers of GMO cultivation. The concern over GMOs in the general public is growing exponentially.The number of people who want some kind of regulation over GMO is at least double what it was just last year. This is an issue which has reached a boiling point. Besides the genetic dangers themselves, one important point must be understood: GMOs are a vehicle for delivery of chemicals. Thus Monsanto and other chemical companies are pushing this, not farming or seed companies. 95% of all GMO introductions have either been to increase use of chemicals, such as roundup-ready soy, or deliver the chemicals directly as in Bt corn. Thus, there will be damage from cultivation -to neighbors, workers, our groundwater, air and reefs. The crisis is that Hawaii is being used as a laboratory to develop the most highly poisonous form of agriculture yet, and our fragile environment cannot tolerate it. Another important issue is the economic danger that any GMO crop presents to our agricultural community. Any crop with GMO introduction will see a drop in value, and be added to lists of avoided foods, which millions of people worldwide follow. This bill protects Hawaii County's agricultural crops both financially and botanically. There are valid reasons why over 60 nations have regulated or banned GMO crops. It would be ideal to address all GMO regulation from a federal level. But the FDA is controlled by the biotech industry, and that's the reason federal regulation is lacking. Just as an example,the former V.P.for Monsanto is now the head of the FDA's food regulation branch. Comm. No, Ref. To: PrA /`'1Ic.' 1 Ref. Date JUL_O Thus the burden falls to local levels of government. This County has an opportunity to prevent future harm from new GMO crops. Such harm has been well-documented on the other islands. On other islands where GMO cultivation and testing is widespread,we are seeing health problems in the neighborhoods adjacent to the GMO crops, and both water table contamination and reef damage from the poisons used. We have a unique opportunity to prevent such problems in Hawaii County. This is the right law to pass for the Big Island for the following reasons: • We have reason to act—to protect our agricultural crops, water table, and reefs. • We have seen economic impacts from GMO contamination,both locally and nationally. • At the Federal and State level action is thwarted by the influence of biotech money, which so far has scuttled the will of a large majority of the people for reasonable regulation. At the County level, perhaps it's not too late. • This bill does not harm one single job on this island or elsewhere. No Monsanto project is threatened. No existing GMO farmer,including papaya famers,will be forced to change. I would not support the bill if it harmed papaya farmers. • It does not interfere with interstate commerce, and requires no labeling changes. I think of this as an invasive species protection bill. This bill protects all of us from the unknown damages of future GMO introductions, our farmers from contamination, our people from increased chemical use, and our water table and reefs from chemical pollution. There are few issues to which the voting public will pay this much attention come election time. I urge you to stand with the vast majority of your constituents and not be swayed by inaccurate statements by those who are paid to represent Monsanto's interests. Please allow Hawaii County to protect its farmers and environment by passing this well-crafted, much needed bill. Mahalo, Russell Ruderman State Senator, District 2 President, Island Naturals Markets HC 1 Box 5352 Keaau, HI 96749 russell @russellruderman.com 2