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Murashige, Laura CQ 1 J v r,
From: Sandra Herndon [2da1wahine @gmail.com] 1013 3
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 1:55 PM ti 50
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony for Bill#2491
TESTIMONY RE: Bill 2491
Aloha County Council Members,
First and foremost, Mahalo nui loa for bringing this urgent matter forward. I particularly want to commend
Council members Hooser and Bynum for introducing the bill, inasmuch as it feels like the David and Goliath
scenario. That said, I must state that I feel like this bill can only be a stepping stone to creating a healthy,
livable environment for those of us who call Kauai, home.
The money that is brought in via the "BioTech/Chemical Seed" industry, will do little to erase the long term
damage to our Island. There are many reasons that Kauai, and indeed the rest of Hawaii, has been chosen as
the site of their scientific experimentation. Our position in the middle of the ocean makes us a perfect Petri
dish for their chemical warfare. I will not go into the issue of the toxicity of the chemicals being poured into
our earth, water and even our air. To say that they are worse than asbestos, lead paint and even Agent
Orange, is undeniable because of the cumulative effects in our environment.
I prefer to focus on the blatant disregard of these companies, and their lack of Aloha for us and for our
lands. They have corrupted our community, turning neighbor against neighbor, for their corporate agenda,
the almighty dollar. They have wreaked havoc in other countries like India, where the reported suicide rate
for farmers exceeded a quarter of a million deaths between 1995 and 2010. There are valid reasons why
Europe and the rest of the world do not allow GMO crops to be grown or sold in their countries. Why should
we allow our Paradise to be desecrated with their toxins? Do the people of Kauai deserve to give up health
and well being for the sake of a paycheck? Is there not other ways that we can grow edible food, serve the
land AND the people at the same time?
Aside from the obvious fact that these Chemical companies have been permitted to set up housekeeping here
in Hawaii by greedy landowners and loose legislation, there is a real issue of Sovereignty, in all it's
implications.
FACT: Hawaii is an occupied country. Although the US government recognized and acknowledged their
past transgressions on several occasions, Hawaii remains under their control, for the purposes of military
strategy and economical benefit. Are we now to be sacrificed to the Money God of the Corporatacracy?
We not only have the right to know, we have the right to say,NO!
Mahalo nui loa,
Sandra Herndon
Kapaa, HI
Peace & Aloha on behalf of Kauai Rising,
Sandy Z.� '• c Sy
Comm. No
Ref. To: L
Ref. Date 0 2 2613
7/30/2013