HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.736 2012-2014 J Yoshimoto
COUNTY CLERK
From: Joel kelley <joelndi.kelley @inbox.com> COUNTY fir" 4 IAll
Sent: Monday,July 01, 2013 2:13 PM
To: jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us 2013 JUL "2 PM 2= 0
Subject: Testimony against GMO
Aloha concerned decision makers.
Please allow me to take this opportunity to express my extreme opposition to the use of Hawaii nei as a
laboratory for GMO products.
Hawaii nei is home to many unique organisms and biosystems, systems we are only beginning to understand,
and they are fragile. The story of extinction in our islands is one of unintended consequences; always humans
making changes with one goal in mind, while another outcome is decided, usually ending the existence of a
species. How many species have been lost in Hawaii over the last two centuries due to such well intentioned
tinkering? 28 species of birds, 72 taxa of snails,74 taxa of insects, and 97 taxa of plants, and these are just the
ones identified by the Bishop museum. Hawaii is the endangered species capital of the world, and allowing our
unique biosystems to be contaminated by GMO species will come with unintended consequences we simply
cannot forsee, including the potential loss of even more of the biological uniqueness of our beloved 'aina. GMO
can be beneficial, as in the case of the papaya modification which has increased yield and reduced diseased
fruit. In this case the University of Hawaii has made a genetic modification that seems to be in the best interest
of growers and consumers both, but we have no way of knowing what the long term effect will be. The same is
true of Monsanto, the primary player in GMO, and a company dedicated to making all crops immune to
Roundup, a'weed killer' that has the potential to eradicate one plant species after another across Hawaii.
As elected representatives you are charged with protecting your jurisdictions residents and resources, and I call
upon you to do so.
Please help our state protect all that is unique and special about our 'aina by passing bill 79, and prohibiting
GMO in our state.
Sincerely,
Joel Kelley, Kurtistown
808-990-4223,
808-966-5522
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