HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0392.045 2014-2016Murashi e, Laura ' �' 111N!Ty r
L=t,& I ' OF HAWAII
From: Diane Koerner <dianekoerner@yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2015 5:21 AM 2015 AUG _3 PM 2:,.,06
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 071 Testimony
I strongly urge the council to pass a bill on banning Roundup for use in Hawaii County. It.has been
harming the health of our citizens and our environment for far too long, just because it is inexpensive
and deadly. Yes, the World Health Organization and now, the FAO of the United Nations, are stating
Roundup is potentially carcinogenic.
As a person who has been chemically injured by pesticides, I need to wear an oxygen mask when
driving the roads in Hawaii to protect myself from dizziness, migraines, and other short-term effects
of exposure to Roundup. I'm asking that the council ban Roundup and request non-toxic weed
management that has no ill effects to health, creating less cost to our island residents and visitors for
treatment of short-term symptoms like asthma and headaches, and long-term injuries like chemical
sensitivity, autism, ADHD, and cancer.
We need to create safe walking, biking, driving and recreation conditions w/o worry of individual:
injured by products used. Glyphosate herbicides such as Roundup have been linked to both short -tern
symptoms and long-term health problems for people and pets. (Nearly 1,500 Big Island residents sign(
recent petition to ban glyphosate and neonicotinoide pesticides from the county budget due to ill healtl
We need to reduce toxic chemicals in our environmentally -sensitive island. (Chemical herbicide,,
Roundup have been found to pollute waterways, harming the reef, as well as marine mammals, fish, a
humans that swim in these waters and eat the contaminated fish.)
Hawaii should provide scenic beauty by reducing the visual pollution of dead, brown weeds. For ex
1990-1995 test of 20 miles of roads in North Kohala and Lapahoehoe, and 5 Hilo parks, showed that r
maintenance alone, including weed whacking, side cutting and letting ground covers grow in, provided
roadsides with more fire resistance, and greener parks with more space to enjoy.
We need our county Public Works and Parks & Rec departments to create an Integrated Vegetation
Management (IVM) Plan and monitor its success using least -toxic means: e.g., more mowing and wee
whacking; planting ground covers where needed or allow existing vegetation to grow in. Around rocks
corners where there is a line -of -site issue, or on steep hillsides, there may be the need to use a minim
weed killer such as Avenger Organic Weed Killer (which has been tested by the Maui DOT with succe
because it is more expensive and less toxic and not as deadly as Roundup, Roundup is still what the K
that -be choose to primarily use, without worrying about the cost to health and safety.
Thank you,
Diane Koerner,
Steering Committee Chairperson
Hawaii's Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
14-5027 Kapoho Beach Road
Pahoa, HI 96778
comm. No. 3 /g • qS
Ref. To- P I CML
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