HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.058 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Donald Thomas [donald.m.thomas @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 12:08 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: testimony in opposition to County Bill 109
Attachments: Bill 109.pdf
Attached please find my testimony in opposition to Bill 109.
Don Thomas
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Comm. No. ✓8'5. 50
Ref. To: PiPSMTC
Ref. Date SEP 0 4 ZU13-
9/3/2013
Donald M.Thomas
104 hula St.
Hilo,HI 96720
September 2, 2013
Testimony in Opposition to Proposed
County Bill 109
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposal to restrict or eliminate the cultivation of
genetically modified crops on Hawaii Island. This misguided attempt to further burden Hawaii's
farming community is based on a concerted disinformation campaign put forth by a tiny minority
of the agriculture community and those opposed to large scale agriculture. The arguments
alleged in support of this legislation are based on outright distortions and junk science and is
simply an attempt by producers of 1%of the food supply to dictate to the other 99%of the food
producers how they will operate their farms. If passed, this bill will make the local production of
food even less economically viable and will increase the costs of groceries to the local consumer
—all to satisfy the demands of an ideologically-driven minority.
Genetically modified crops have enabled farmers to reduce their costs, reduce the carbon
footprint of their production, resist disease, and reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Genetically modified crops have been developed to enable the populations of developing nations
to meet minimum dietary requirements and rectify debilitating vitamin deficiencies. Extensive
testing of GM crops has demonstrated that they are no more likely to cause health problems than
conventionally bred crops; the allegations that these crop improvements have had adverse health
effects or adversely affect the environment are simply shameless fear-mongering.
If passed, this bill will deprive the farming community, and me, from growing legally sanctioned
crops, animals, and plants, and is an infringement on currently held property rights which could
be construed as a form of"taking". If a lawsuit is filed against the County as a result of passage
of this ordinance, I will join in and support that effort. Further, I will support State legislation
that will remove the County's ability to recklessly impose this and similar misguided, damaging
ordinances.