HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0765.113 2016-2018 GO UNTYC I_
Murashige, Laura r, .
From: Richard Forster <forsterr1974@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2018 8:22 PM Btu NV, ! 5 AM II" 02
To: Poindexter, Valerie; Chung,Aaron; Lee Loy, Sue; Ohara, Eileen; Ruggles,Jennifer; David,
Maile; Kanuha, Dru; Eoff, Karen; Richards, Tim; Council Testimony
Subject: Rooster Bill 112
Aloha Council Members,
I would like to submit testimony concerning the so-called "Rooster Bill," Bill 112. While I sympathize with the
goal of curtailing the inhumane treatment of roosters for the purposes of cockfighting and gambling, I am
opposed to the current bill for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, I understand that cockfighting is already illegal but that the laws prohibiting it are rarely enforced. Why
not put attention towards prosecuting existing laws before creating new ones?
Secondly, I have heard from many fellow farmers that they are adamantly opposed to interference with
agricultural practices on land zoned for agriculture. I agree that keeping roosters for cockfighting is hardly
"agriculture," but I also agree that were this bill to become law it would establish a dangerous precedent
whereby the right to conduct legitimate agricultural activities are curtailed when they become a nuisance to
residential neighbors. As one poultry farmer has pointed out on multiple occasions on social media recently, a
small scale poultry breeding operation could easily fall foul (fowl?) of the proposed legislation, as four roosters
at any one time is really not that many if you are attempting to preserve multiple heritage breeds, or even
develop new desirable traits in both egg-producing and meat breeds. At a time when we should be embracing all
possible measures to enhance local food security, I believe this would be a seriously retrograde step to make life
more difficult for small-scale farmers.
Thirdly, I believe that this bill has already been unintentionally successful in creating an atmosphere of
divisiveness within and between our communities, and that this would only be intensified should the bill
become law and neighbors start submitting complaints against one another. Again, I absolutely sympathize with
goal of ending cockfighting as a cultural institution on our island. However, I believe that for this transition to
take place successfully we need cultural rather than legislative change.
For real change to occur, I believe we need substantial leadership from members of those communities which
are steeped in the family traditions of cockfighting, and that the Hawaii County Council can best serve our
County by fostering such leadership. Perhaps one way forward would be to identify such leaders and invite
them to participate various forms of community outreach condemning the inhumane side of cockfighting and
permanently tethering roosters? I am thinking of the radio ad that features a young "local" man speaking out
against the practice of chaining up dogs all day and being cruel to them to cultivate their hunting instincts. I am
sure that this ad alone has had a more positive impact on the lives of dogs than any legislation could hope to.
Thank you for considering my testimony and for your service to the people of Hawaii Island.
Aloha,
Richard Forster
Comm. No. 1(, � 13
.
RRefef. Date MAR 1 3 2013