HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0393.512 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Brenda Johnson [bpj1245 @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2013 6:29 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony for Bill 113
Attachments: Bill 113-BJohnson testimony-111913.doc
I attach my written testimony that I sent by email earlier today to the Council members. Please make
sure this is included in the record. Mahalo, Brenda Johnson
CD
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=T
Comm. No. 39 3, s/°2,
Ref.To:
Ref. Date V 9
11/21/2013
Hawaii County Council
Hearing: Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 9:00 a.m.
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 113
Chair, Vice Chair and Councilmembers:
My name is Brenda Johnson. I have lived in Honoka'a for 15 years.
During these years and initially through my position as a VISTA volunteer at
Honoka'a Elementary School, I received training as a reading instructor and
tutor. In all I worked at Honoka'a Elementary School for over 7 years which also
included providing after school art and tutoring programs as well as summer
science and art camps.
From 2004 to 2006, I also served as chair of the Environmental
Committee and as a member of the Steering Committee of the Hamakua
Agriculture Plan. Among other things, the Environmental Committee oversaw the
analysis of community input regarding the use of genetically modified crops in
Hamakua as well as the corresponding recommendations in the final Hamakua
Agriculture Plan report issued in May 2006.
Through many hours of community meetings, Committee meetings and
living and working in the Hamakua community I saw first hand the need for
oversight regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Over and over
again concerns about the effects of GMO's on health, environment and liability
were expressed. Accordingly, of the three environmental Goals identified by the
community, one was "Determine whether GMOs have a place in Hamakua
agriculture."
To more fully gauge the community's views on CMOs, a short written
survey form was prepared and distributed. The form asked respondents to
answer only one question, namely whether GMOs have a place in Hamakua.
Three answers were possible: yes, no, or not sure. The survey forms were
made available at the Hamakua Peoples Theater, food stores, restaurants,
stores, and the Honoka'a public library.
More than 300 survey forms were completed. The overwhelming
response was "no," i.e., that CMOs have no place in Hamakua. Only one
respondent said yes, and one said not sure.
After presenting the results of the survey to the Steering Committee, it was
determined that there was a need to postpone the finalizing of the Hamakua Ag
Plan to allow concerned ranchers and farmers to meet with the Steering
Committee. During these meetings, the Steering Committee was surprised to
find that although these individuals said they were opposed to GMOs they
admitted they did not know what GMOs are or how GMOs would adversely affect
them. The feeling the Environmental Committee had was that they were simply
voicing the views of a national organization that vigorously opposes any
restrictions on the cultivation and use of GMO crops wherever they are being
considered in the country.
Nevertheless, hoping to achieve consensus, the Hamakua Ag Plan
compromised by urging the Hawaii County Council to adopt the Precautionary
Principle as opposed to an outright ban on CMOs as survey respondents
overwhelmingly preferred. This recommended action in connection with the
planting and cultivation of any GMO in Hamakua agriculture (other than papayas)
would require proponents to bear the burden of proof of first establishing that no
safer alternative exists.
Have we come very far in honoring the Hamakua community's wishes? I
would like to say yes but here we are years later going over the same ground.
Worse, one known mainland individual has planted a large GMO corn crop in the
interim with no regard at all for the concerns so clearly enumerated in the
Hamakua Ag Plan.
Hawai'i Island still has the opportunity to lead in promoting sustainable,
organic food crops and provide jobs in so many sectors of food production.
Organic produce is a growing business here and nationwide. Non-GMO
products command higher prices for the farmer, rancher and food producer.
Instead of using our land and our population as laboratories and guinea
pigs, we can connect to the ancient sustainable and profitable farming systems
that have been practiced here in Hawaii for thousands of years. Our elected
officials should be responsive and responsible to our communities and land,
rebalancing our farming systems in the ecological/sustainable ways towards the
future.
The genie may already be out of the bottle to some degree, but we still
have a much greater opportunity than any other Hawaiian island to limit any
further risk of GMO cross pollination by restricting genetically engineered crops
and plants here on the Island of Hawai'i.
For the above reasons, I strongly support Council approval of Bill 113.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this much-needed legislation.
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