HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.175 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
COUNTY CLERK
Murashige, Laura i' ?""r n,� (0_.11AII
An 13
From: Plant It Hawaii [hami @plantithawaii.com] 7013 SEP j 0
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 1:51 PM 11:
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Oppose Bills 109 & 113
Attachments: GMO testimony.dat
Comm. No. 3�• 11
Ref.To: P//JM TG
Ref. Date SEP 2 3 2013
9/10/2013
How to submit testimony: Needs to be into the Council by 12 noon by September
3`d_ Even if you are late submit it!
By regular mail: Office of the County Clerk, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI 96720
By email.' counci ltestimony((ffco.hawaii.hi.us
Example testimony(Cut and paste or amend to your own liking)
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:
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.
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.
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: Jamie Nahl
Occupation: Farm worker
City where I live: Mountain View
Additional Comments: When 2% farm & feed 100%, the 2% should be listened to the
most. No farms, no food, NO SUSTAINABILTY. LET US CO-EXIST.