HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0393.024 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura COE TY CLERK
CI S 4 ,`All
From: Julia Nemoto [julianemoto @googlemail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 10:44 AM
2013 SEP -3 PM 12= 13
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Public Safety and Mass Transit Committee, Bill 113
Dear Council Members,
I am writing you to support Bill 113 introduced by council member Margeret Wille.
I, Julia Nemoto, testify in my own behalf.
1. Currently there is an on-going lawsuit on Kaua'i Island. The residents are suing Syngeta because of their heavy
use of restricted and non restricted agricultural pesticides and herbecides close to homes, schools, waterways and
public places. This agricultural practice takes a toll on the people, the land, the water and the air and becomes more
and more problematic. I am very concerned about what is happening on Kaua'i and I feel that we cannot allow
something similar to occur on Hawai'i Island. We should use the precautionary principle and ban GMO crops on the
Big Island.
2. Right now 64 countries world wide have restrictions and bans on the commercial growing and research on GE
crops. Many other countries have strict labeling laws for food that contains GMO ingredients or have a total ban on
all GMO ingredients.
3. Growing GMO crops makes it difficult for other farmers to grow non GMO crops due to the danger of cross
contamination. Studies and real world examples show that the GMO pollen crosses out into other crops and wild
plants. Pollen can travel long distances. Once released this new gene strains are not controllable. I do not see how
GMO farmers and non-GMO farmers can coexist without the non-GMO farmer getting contaminated. As a starting
farmer I am very concerned about this point.
4.The extensive use of Round up on some GMO crops causes serious health problems and is a threat to our land,
air and water. Most of the GMO crops are designed to withstand the use of herbicides or to produce a insecticide in
every cell of its tissue. In my opinion, this methodology is a backwards approach of agriculture. The use of GMO
crops steers us away from a sustainable future that we could provide our communities with healthy local food.
These are some arguments that that made me to testify in favor of Bill 113.
Kind regards
Julia Nemoto
Comm. No. 3. 1(4
Ref. To: II 1
Ref. Date y �-
9/3/2013