HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.149 2018-2020 From: Jeff McKnight
To: Council Testimony
Subject: "Please vote in favor of Bill 101"
Date: Wednesday,October 09,2019 4:08:43 PM
Aloha Honorable County of Hawaii CounciIpersons:
Please vote in favor of Sill 101 to limit the County's use of chemical herbicides.
Children have unique susceptibilities to the potential toxicity of herbicides,yet they are still being exposed every
day when they go to County parks or walk or ride along the roads,
Long-term exposure is linked with increased risks of cancer including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as we learned
from the recent visit by Dewayne Lae Johnson,the school groundskeeper who won the lawsuit against Monsanto
for the connection between Roundup and his cancer, It is also connected to miscarriages, attention deficit disorder
and reduced production of sex hormones. It can also trigger aggressive breast cancer when combined with other
risk factors.
Studies indicate that glyphosate can contaminate streams;which empty into our oceans,and affect sea life
including fish and coral. Problems with drift of glyphosate herbicides occur frequently.
Fortunately,the County has chosen alternatives to toxic chemicals,such as the choice to use goats to clear brush
at the Hilo Soccer Field, It was more cost-effective than regular maintenance, and safe for our communities,
streams and coastline ecosystems,tool Let's expand these non-toxic alternatives, and transition away from the
use of toxic chemicals for land management.
Mahalo,
Jeff McKnight
Paauilo, Hl
Secretary, Environmental Caucus
Comm.
Ref. o:
Ref. Bate_ OCT 1 5 2019