HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1075.007 2014-2016 Welke.
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Murashige, Laura
From: Diane Koerner <dianekoerner@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2016 5:56 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 245, Environmental Management Committee, Oct.4
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To: County Council t, <Li
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From: Diane Koerner, 14-5027 Kapoho Beach Rd, Pahoa, HI 96778 a
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Re: Bill 245 which prohibits toxic herbicides on County owned or maintained areas after July 1, 203
providing a reasonable deadline by which time the county can determining viable alternatives—froriMalteniative
ground covers to more ecofriendly sprays where necessary.
This testimony is in regard to Bill 245. There is NO DOUBT that glyphosates sprayed on our roads
and in our parks can cause harm to our environment, wildlife, pets and people living on the island and
those visiting paradise. In the 23 years I have lived in Hawaii, I have heard hundreds of testimonies
from mothers whose children were made sick by the County's Roundup use, doctors who explained
the health consequences they've seen, and I have experienced migraines and breathing difficulty
when I come into contact with Roundup spray. This is not even taking into account the newest studies
showing that glyphosate can cause cancer.
There's no doubt that Roundup is the cheapest, easiest method of weed control. But many other
countries and U.S. counties have found ways to ban Roundup and use alternatives, from organic
weed killers to more manual maintenance. The County's excuse that budget is the main concern does
not consider the long-term cost to our health and our environment.
The three years that this bill would provide the County to test and put other means of weed control
into use seems more than sufficient.
Comm. No.
101G l
Ref.
Ref. Date CCT 0 4 7(a
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