HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0021.099 2014-2016Murashige, Laura -` - A"'�''
From: Devin Herlihy <devinherlihy@yahoo.comv 73 1-' G P, 11: 40
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 9:44 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony relating to Resolution 22-14
Attachments: Testimony on Resolution 22-14.pdf
Aloha,
Please see the attached PDF of my written testimony relating to Resolution 22-14, advising the corporation counsel to appeal
Magistrate Judge Baby Kurren's ruling on Ordinance 13-121. 1 have copied it below as well. Thank you.
December 15, 2014
Dear Hawaii County Council Members,
I would like to ask all of you to protect our island by voting in favor of Resolution 22-14 and appeal Magistrate Judge Barry
Kurreds ruling on Ordinance No. 13-121. 1 am currently farming on the Hamakua wast on Dept of Agriculture lease land
under the Hamakua Ag Coop. It is challenging enough restoring the land scarred by the poor farming practices of sugar
plantations back when the commercial interests and economy created by such an industry ruled. If a county council back in the
early plantation days existed and knew what we know now about degrading effects of abusing top soil and using pesticides and
herbicides (especially when they accumulate in run off which in tum deteriorates our precious coral reefs and marine life) they
could have taken some steps to curb the exploitation of the land in hopes of protecting it for the future generations.
You now have a chance to be stewards of the land, armed with scientific data and resource management practices your
predecessors couldn't begin to understand. I urge you to err on the side of caution and honor the intentions of Ordinance 13-121
by appealing Judge Kurren's decision. We must keep GMO crops off the Big Island to protect our unique and special growing
environment.
I have been to Molokai and flown over the many acres of barren and dry GMO crop seed testing lands. I find it a sad misuse of
valuable agricultural land. It is the amazing soil, weather, isolation, and growing season that attracts these companies and their
scientists to our islands to conduct their research. It is these same reasons why we should be extra vigilant and protective of
these resources. We already have highly productive and biologically diverse ecosystems, let's not put them at risk of being
destroyed.
Our food, farmers, and history have proven that through solid, `aina-conscious agricultural practices, Hawaii can produce all the
food its people could eat, and provide a viable export market, without risking the health of the land, sea, and the people who are
lucky enough to call this place home.
Aloha,
Devin I lerlihy
Pa`auilo Resident
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L!i( December 15, 2014
Dear Hawaii County Council Members,
I would like to ask all of you to protect our island by voting in favor of Resolution 22-14
and appeal Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren's ruling on Ordinance No. 13-121. I am currently
farming on the Hamakua coast on Dept of Agriculture lease land under the Hamakua Ag Coop.
It is challenging enough restoring the land scarred by the poor farming practices of sugar
plantations back when the commercial interests and economy created by such an industry ruled.
If a county council back in the early plantation days existed and knew what we know now about
degrading effects of abusing top soil and using pesticides and herbicides (especially when they
accumulate in run off which in tum deteriorates our precious coral reefs and marine life) they
could have taken some steps to curb the exploitation of the land in hopes of protecting it for the
future generations.
You now have a chance to be stewards of the land, armed with scientific data and
resource management practices your predecessors couldn't begin to understand. I urge you to err
on the side of caution and honor the intentions of Ordinance 13-121 by appealing Judge Kurren's
decision. We must keep GMO crops off the Big Island to protect our unique and special growing
environment.
I have been to Molokai and flown over the many acres of barren and dry GMO crop seed
testing lands. I find it a sad misuse of valuable agricultural land. It is the amazing soil, weather,
isolation, and growing season that attracts these companies and their scientists to our islands to
conduct their research. It is these same reasons why we should be extra vigilant and protective
of these resources. We already have highly productive and biologically diverse ecosystems, let's
not put them at risk of being destroyed.
Our food, farmers, and history have proven that through solid, `aina-conscious
agricultural practices, Hawaii can produce all the food its people could eat, and provide a viable
export market, without risking the health of the land, sea, and the people who are lucky enough
to call this place home.
Aloha,
Devin Herlihy
Pa'auilo Resident