HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0392.023 2014-2016Murashige, Laura
From: Serafina Gajate <sbgajate@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2015 9:19 AM
To: Council Testimony; Kanuha, Dru; Wille, Margaret; Eoff, Karen; David, Maile; Ilagan,
Greggor; Poindexter, Valerie; Chung, Aaron; Paleka, Daniel; Onishi, Dennis
Subject: I Support Bill 71
Aloha mai kakou,
I am writing as a resident and registered voter of Hawai'i Island to express my support for Bill 71, introduced by
Councilwoman Margaret Willie, to ban the use of roundup/glyphosate in maintenance of county land, including
roadsides and parks, and I respectfully urge you to adopt this sensible and sustainable measure.
There are many alternatives that can be used to manage weeds, with numerous examples offered during the last county
budget hearing in Kona. My personal belief is that by tapping into the Road Beautification fund and using what would
have gone towards the purchase of glyphosate, the county can instead commit to beautiful and functional permaculture
plantings along roads and in parks, to fill in empty spaces that would otherwise be taken over by undesirable plants, ie.
weeds, as was once done in Kona and Volcano areas. This simultaneously removes a dangerous chemical from our
environment (please seethe latest World Health Organization report for the listing of glyphosate as a probable
carcinogen), beautifies our island, and stimulates our economy through the creation of more longterm maintenance
positions.
As one of the top tourist destinations in the world, I find it appalling that we simply poison our vibrant ecosystem,
leaving behind vast, unsightly and dangerous swaths of death in the most heavily traveled areas. Permaculture-inspired
maintenance is not only beautiful, healthy and safe for ourselves and our environment, but also encourages travelers to
drive more slowly, helps to offset the increased heat put into our ecosystem from blacktops, and protects and promotes
our rare native species, both flora and fauna.
I again respectfully urge you to vote yes on Bill 71 banning the use of glyphosate on county managed land, and choose a
more safe and sustainable future for our beloved Hawai'i nei. We can do better, and this is the first step.
Me ka mahalo piha ame ke aloha nui,
Serafina Gajate
c-)
Resident of'Ola'a (Mt. View), Moku o Keawe (Hawai'i Island)
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Comm: No. 318.23
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