HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0143.039 2014-2016Murashige, Laura
From: Michael Ravenswing <mravenswing@gmail.com,
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 4:02 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: roundup poison
My name is Doctor Michael Ravenswing and I would like to add my serious concerns about the use of the
herbicide "Roundup" on our islands.
(I) The World Health Organization has recently issued a report from studies that link Roundup as a probable
cause of cancer. This fact alone should bring into question the use of this chemical anywhere in our
environment
(2.) Monsanto, the creator and marketer of Roundup has also designed GMO plants, including much of the corn
grown on the Big Island, to be resistant to Roundup so that farmers can and do spray more Roundup than ever
on their crops. This is a serious matter on two levels. First, that means more Roundup gets into plants, the soil
and then into our ground water. Second, Monsanto has not tested to any true degree the effects of consuming
GMO foods that include in their cellular make-up this Roundup resistance and defend the use of both Roundup
and their GMO crops with the same zeal that "Big Tobacco" used to defend the sale of their poison.
(3.) Roundup is sprayed so often by state and county workers and by individuals on this island that the
glyphosphates show up in our ground water and our soil. It's a rare day that I don't see a state or county truck
spraying right from the highway, often without any warning. Then, there are the homeowners with.their back-
pack sprayers spritzing and spraying yet more Roundup. At the current rate of use Roundup could win the title
of Hawaii State Beverage.
(4.) On a personal note, I have lived for over forty years with someone who has severe allergic reactions to
Roundup and it breaks my heart to see how this poison ravages her.
Please, it's time to stop using Roundup. Let's stop poisoning the soil, poisoning our water, poisoning
ourselves, and stop poisoning the Aina.
Thank you - Michael Ravenswing
comm. N014
Ref. TO:? Ism
Ref. DoteMAV I R 71115