HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.096 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
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From: Al Beeman[albeeman @gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday,September 03,2013 8:39 AM 1013 SE1� 12: 08
To: Testimony County Council I
Subject:Testimony Against Bills 109 and 113
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:
The County Council lacks the medical and biotechnical background to ban
GMO in Hawaii Council and therefore the County Council should stay out of
this discussion and quit playing on the emotions of the small portion of the
County population that is equally lacking in expertise to make policy in
scientific and agricultural subject areas.
To be clear, I am not opposed to labeling GMO products clearly so that
consumers know what they are buying and eating but I am totally opposed to
the County Council banning or limiting use of GMO since they have no
technical knowledge of the subject.
I strongly 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.
I am pro-farming and the right to farm.
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 bill 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. How will Hawaii County farmers and ranchers
compete when everyone but us has access to GE technology?
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. Albert E Beeman
Occupation: Farmer in Hakalau
City where I live Hilo
Additional Comments: This GMO effort in Bills 109 and 113 is just as
irresponsible as your attempts to add an annual bus pass that breaks the
budget you just submitted to run our bus system.It is time that the County
Council visits reality for a change!!!
Comm. No. 3 S5. '7d
Ref.To: P/ ■S■ TG
Ref. Dote Sk Y u 4 2013
9/3/2013