HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0393.446 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Ben C. [livingfoodshawaii @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2013 11:41 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Bill 113: A response to ranchers and papaya farmers in support of the bill
The process of crafting Bill 113 has been very diplomatic and considerate of the needs of local farmers and ranchers.
The main goal of the bill in its current form is to stop the introduction of any new GMO crops while providing a
process for new GMO crops to be introduced under emergency circumstances. The opposition to the bill have made
public statements and testimony along the lines of working together and co-existence. The bill has specifically
exempted the GMO papaya farmers and local ranchers, as a testament to working together and co-existing.
Bill 113 effectively halts the infestation of large Biotech companies from experimenting and testing new GMO crops
and pesticides. Dow Chemical, BASF, Syngenta, Pioneer/Dupont, and Monsanto are currently operating on our
neighbor islands. They are being sued and widely protested by residents who are experiencing pesticide dust drift
into their homes, drinking water, beaches, ocean, and reefs. For example, in neighborhoods bordering biotech farms
on the west side of Kauai people have elevated rates of leukemia and birth defects that have been documented and
submitted by more than 15 pediatricians, doctors, and nurses headed by pediatrician Dr. Lee Evslin. These problems
have gotten so bad for the residents on Kauai, that on their small island it was estimated between 4,000-6,000
people (nearly 10% of their population) marched down rice street to their county council building in protest.
Bill 113 is a clear and safe measure that prevents the situation on Kauai from happening on the Big Island. Bill 113
preserves the jobs and livelihoods of local farmers and ranchers. In the spirit of aloha and working together it is
important we pass bill 113 as a responsible measure to ensure the safety of our community.
-Ben Cohn of Holualoa
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Comm. No. .393.
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Ref. Date NOV 1 8 ZU13
11/18/2013