HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.737 2012-2014 Murashige, Laura
From: J Yoshimoto [joshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us]
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2013 12:41 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us 203 J - "8 PM 12` 53
Subject: FW: In support of Bill 79
Original Message
From: Mike Kingston [mailto:bigmike7 @mac. com]
Sent : Wednesday, July 03, 2013 10: 14 AM
To: jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.HI .us
Subject: In support of Bill 79
Aloha, Council Member Yoshimoto
My name is Mike Kingston, a recently retired science teacher from St . Joseph High school .
I reside in your district, in Hilo, and I voted for you in the last election. I am
writing to support Bill 79.
While I am not opposed to the science that allows creating transgenic crops, I am opposed
to:
1) genetic modifications that create resistance to poisons,
2) the bullying legal tactics the GMO industry uses against small farmers whose seeds
become cross pollinated with GMO variants, and
3) the continuing effort by the GMO industry to keep relevant information out of the
public eye
Bill 79 is necessary, as it is the public's only recourse in Hawaii to counter the
practices listed above. The FDA and EPA are no longer working for the public; they are
working for Monsanto and the rest of the GMO industry.
It is unwise to modify crops to allow drenching the crops with the poison Roundup. We do
not want our island to become a toxic pesticidal sponge.
Glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, does persist in the environment.
Tests done in Mississippi have shown glyphosate in significant concentrations in both the
rain and in streams. Roundup contains many "inert" ingredients, some of which have been
recently found to be multipliers of Roundup's toxic effects. One of these, POEA, is toxic
to fetal and umbilical cells at low concentrations. Roundup is not well tested for safety
because tests have primarily been done only on the main ingredient, glyphosate. Monsanto
has kept the full list of ingredients out of the public' s eye, claiming it is
"proprietary. " Separately, super weeds, resistant to Roundup, have already evolved.
Monsanto had said this would be "highly unlikely" . You might be aware that Monsanto and
Dow are now working on crops that will be resistant to one of the two chemicals in Agent
Orange.
If you did not know this, and it sounds too horrific to be true, a quick search on the web
will verify it.
It is unfair to force Roundup- and Agent Orange-fed crops on the public without informing
the public what they are buying.
Not surprisingly, the GMO industry has fought labeling of GMO foods . Some farmers on the
Big Island are saying they are in favor of "choice" . Where is the choice for the public
when the GMO industry has succeeded in preventing labeling of foods as GMO? Where is the
choice when Monsanto will not list the ingredients in Roundup?
It is now public knowledge that Monsanto has used its team of lawyers to harass and
threaten small farmers all over the world who unwittingly planted GMO seeds when their own
seeds were contaminated due to cross pollination.
We do not need these Mafia-like business practices here on the Big Island.
Comm. NA �7 I ' 137
1 Ref. To: f I Ps M?L
Ref. Date JUL 02 ZUIJ�
The Big Island of Hawaii took a big hit when the sugar industry collapsed.
Since then, we have been struggling to create alternative industries and a positive public
image. With the continued interest in eco-tourism, the Big Island has a great opportunity
to establish itself as an eco-haven, and a center for sustainable growing practices.
Please vote for Bill 79!
Mahalo,
Mike Kingston
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