HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0392.134 2014-2016Murashige, Laura
COUNT"I' CLE
From: kati lahey <kativasti@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 10:13 PM 20 AUG —4 Rt 3.. 46
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Please support Roundup Ban!
Aloha Council Members,
plain
r..t:---cess
CoM Ivi . -5q2
My name is Katherine Lahey, i am a resident of North Kohala where i live with my Husband and two small
daughters ages 2.5 and 6 months.I recently had the opportunity to testify during the Budget meeting this spring,
where myself and many others islandwide made it perfectly clear that we do not want this toxic substance used
by the county, and I am so pleased to see the response by our council member Margaret Wille in proposing this
crucial legislation. It is evident in the aftermath of so many testimonies against county use of Roundup that the
county is not likely to make any major changes to its policy unless.leg�lly forced to do so. This bill comes at a
time where countries around the world are banning Roundup, following the World Health Organization's
statement that glyposate, the main ingredient in Roundup, is a "probable carcinogen". Dr. Stephanie Seneff,
senior researcher at MIT, has published a recent report outlining her research of glyphosate, including her
discoveries that link Roundup to cancer, Alzeimers, autism and Parkinson's disease, as well as various digestive
disorders and gluten intolerance. Her studies show that by 2025, 1 in 2 children may be autistic. Other studies
show the genotoxic effects of glyphosate as well as damaging effects on our DNA and reproductive systems.
Monsanto scientists and lobbyists will tell you that their independent studies show that Roundup is safe, but do
not be fooled! They have spent billions of dollars to subvert proposed laws to ban their products. The have our
judges and elected officials bought and paid for. And don't forget, they have used glyphosate in chemical
warfare in Vietnam, El Salvador and Colombia. Given the kinds of highly respected studies conducted by
numerous respected scientists worldwide, we need to very urgently act in a manner that will protect the health
and safety of Big Island residents, especially our keiki, who are the most vulnerable victims of this systemic
toxicity. I was at Waimea farmers market at Parker School a few weeks ago with my family. We were cutting
open some coconuts while my daughter was running around in the grass barefoot all around us when i noticed
the lines of dead grass on the sides of the path that cuts directly through the market. I immediately pointed out
the sprayed areas and we moved to the side of the path to finish our coconuts. But this is a school where little
kids are exposed to these toxic chemicals every day! When we pointed this all out to the market manager, he
agreed that he had not seen evidence of spray on the paths before and it must be a new practice. This comes at a
time where the rest of the world is waking up to the dangers that we now know for certain are associated with
these products! We need to be moving in the other direction to ensure the health and safety at our schools, our
parks, our waterways - all of which employ completely unacceptable practices of spraying near the presence of
children. We need to decide as an island what kind of future we want to create with the decisions that we make
today. This issue cannot wait. For the safety of our aina and our keiki, and everyone else in between, please do
the sensible thing and support Bill 71.
Mahalo,
Katherine Lahey
Cenrrn; No
Ref. To:
0-4 Doty AUG 0 7 2015