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Murashige, Laura
From: Michael Colson [drmikecolson @gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2013 12.17 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: BILLS 109 AND 113
Attachments: hcc - Sept 4 testimony.docx
Please add my testimony to Bill 109 and 113 Council action/discussion.
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Michael A Colson North Kohala -°
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9/3/2013
Hawaii County Council
Committee on Public Safety & Mass Transit
Wednesday September 4, 2013 1:30 p.m.
Testimony Against Bills 109 and 113
Committee Chair Ford and Members of the Committee:
Subj: DEFEND HAWAII...STOP THE ANTI-GMO LOBBY WHICH IS ANOTHER IMPORTED IDEA
FROM MAINLANDERS SEEKING AN EASY VICTORY
I oppose Bills 109 and 113 because any anti-GMO legislation in Hawaii County will discriminate against our
farmers and ranchers who choose to use approved genetic engineered technology to grow safe and wholesome
food and other agriculture products. These Bills also damage Hawaii's reputation for producing some of the
best crops on the planet, harms our markets, and eventually destroy our agriculture industry. ALL FOR THE
SAKE OF SUPPORTING FUNDED LOBBY'S IN AREAS WITHIN THE UNITED STSTES THAT HAVE
THE IF ABILITY TO ABSORB SMALL CHANGES IN POLICY. In Hawaii, we are a small market that depends
on fewer and fewer farmers and ranchers to feed ourselves and profit from our various ventures.
I am pro-farming and the right to farm in the United States of America, still a free country, under laws of and
regulated by the USA and the State of Hawaii. NO FUNDED LOBBIEST HAS THE RIGHT TO INTERFERE
WITH OUR WAY 0 LIFE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE PERFECTED THE ART OF CONFUSING
SCIENCE, ARGUING, AND BULLYING PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SHARE THEIR VIEWS.
Hawaii's farmers and ranchers may need virus resistant GMO crops to protect Hawaii from the next papaya
virus strain. banana bunchy top virus, tomato spotted wilt and other vegetable viruses, or the bacterial citrus
greening disease that is destroying the Florida citrus industry and may soon come to Hawaii. Furthermore. this
hill will stop development of GMO ornamental and floral crops with enhanced horticultural or disease resistant
characteristics. These Bills would prohibit livestock and aquaculture producers from efficiently growing cost
effective feed locally, requiring them to import at a higher price the exact same feeds. I-low will Ilawaii County
farmers and ranchers compete when everyone but us has access to GE technology? THIS IS A WORLD
WHERE WE ARE ALREADY STRUGGL.ONG TO MEET APPRECIABLE STARGETS FOR LOCAL
SUPPLY.
The consensus of independent scientific organizations worldwide is unanimous and can be summed up by this
statement from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, " The science is quite clear: crop
improvement by the modern molecular techniques of biotechnology is safe."
Please vote against Bill 109 and Bill 113
Name: DR MICHAEL A COLSON — MANKIANA CATTLE AGENCY (KAMUELA)
Occupation: PHYSICIAN, RANCHER, PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER
City where I live: NORTH KOHALA
Additional Comments: