HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1062.008 2014-2016 P/AWEsc
Gomm.: (00,
Murashige, Laura
From: Syd Singer <sydsinger@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 6:00 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 242 Testimony
Attachments: comment on bill 242.pdf
Aloha,
Please see testimony below, also attached as .pdf file. Mahalo.
Good Shepherd Foundation
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P.O. Box 1880 --t
Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 SF
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September 30, 2016
Comment on Bill#242
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983
2005 EDITION,AS AMENDED), BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO
IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE PRINCIPLES FOR THE
LONG-TERM WELLBEING OF THE COUNTY AND ITS INHABITANTS.
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I would like to make two comments on this proposed Bill. Rei. To: ?js 0
OCT 016
P P Ref. [dote
This Bill needs some additional definitions to be clearer. The terms "conservation", "natural resources", and
"cultural resources"need to be defined. "Sustainability"needs some tweaking,too.
1
These additions will make this guideline of principles for sustainability more inclusive and representative of the
environment and culture of today's Hawaii.
I propose the following definitions be added:
"Conservation" and"conserve"means the sustainable use of natural resources.
"Natural Resources"means all environmental resources, including wind, ocean, water, land, lava, and flora and
fauna, regardless of whether these flora and fauna are native or introduced.
"Cultural Resources"means historical as well as current resources important to the many diverse cultures which
comprise modern Hawaii."
In addition,there needs to be a more explicit recognition of food self-sufficiency as part of sustainability. We
cannot rely solely on agriculture. Hawaii has a long history of hunting and gathering. Wild, natural food
resources must be kept at sustainable populations for continued harvesting. Many people rely on these natural
food resources in their daily lives, and these food animals must be kept at high enough populations to sustain
continued subsistence harvesting.
Currently, the labeling of these food animals as "invasive" species threatens their numbers to the point that
subsistence hunting and gathering will no longer be possible.
I suggest the following changes to the definition of"sustainability", in order to make it more inclusive and
reflective of Hawaii's multi-cultural and multi-environmental diversity. (Changes in brackets and italics.)
"Sustainability" means achieving the following: ( 1) Respect and protection for the culture[s],[diversity],
character [delete], beauty, and history of the Island of Hawaii; (2) Ensuring the proposed action will not result
in permanent damage to the environment [and its natural resources] and significant cultural assets; and ( 3)
Meeting the needs of the present economic, sociocultural, and environmental wellbeing without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own need[s].
2
Thank you for your consideration of these comments.
Sydney Ross Singer
Environmental Anthropologist
Director, Good Shepherd Foundation
Sydney Ross Singer
Environmental Anthropologist
Director, Good Shepherd Foundation
P.O. Box 1880
Pahoa, Hawaii 96778
808-935-5563
3
Good Shepherd Foundation
P.O. Box 1880
Pahoa, Hawaii 96778
September 30, 2016
Comment on Bill#242
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983
2005 EDITION,AS AMENDED),BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO
IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE PRINCIPLES FOR THE
LONG-TERM WELLBEING OF THE COUNTY AND ITS INHABITANTS.
I would like to make two comments on this proposed Bill.
This Bill needs some additional definitions to be clearer. The terms "conservation", "natural
resources", and"cultural resources"need to be defined. "Sustainability" needs some tweaking, too.
These additions will make this guideline of principles for sustainability more inclusive and
representative of the environment and culture of today's Hawaii.
I propose the following definitions be added:
"Conservation" and"conserve"means the sustainable use of natural resources.
"Natural Resources"means all environmental resources, including wind, ocean, water, land, lava, and
flora and fauna, regardless of whether these flora and fauna are native or introduced.
"Cultural Resources"means historical as well as current resources important to the many diverse
cultures which comprise modern Hawaii."
In addition, there needs to be a more explicit recognition of food self-sufficiency as part of
sustainability. We cannot rely solely on agriculture. Hawaii has a long history of hunting and
gathering. Wild, natural food resources must be kept at sustainable populations for continued
harvesting. Many people rely on these natural food resources in their daily lives, and these food
animals must be kept at high enough populations to sustain continued subsistence harvesting.
Currently, the labeling of these food animals as "invasive" species threatens their numbers to the point
that subsistence hunting and gathering will no longer be possible.
I suggest the following changes to the definition of"sustainability", in order to make it more inclusive
and reflective of Hawaii's multi-cultural and multi-environmental diversity. (Changes in brackets and
italics.)
"Sustainability" means achieving the following: ( 1) Respect and protection for the culture[s],
[diversity], character [delete], beauty, and history of the Island of Hawaii; (2) Ensuring the proposed
action will not result in permanent damage to the environment [and its natural resources] and
significant cultural assets; and ( 3) Meeting the needs of the present economic, sociocultural, and
environmental wellbeing without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
need[s].
Thank you for your consideration of these comments.
Sydney Ross Singer
Environmental Anthropologist
Director, Good Shepherd Foundation