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Letters for Monday, May 18, 2009
•‘Aina, that which feeds
•Ethics complaints
‘Aina, that which feeds
The “Embrace biotechnology” letter on May14 retorting Jeri DiPietro’s “Chemicals on crops threaten our soil, lives” letter May 4 responds rudely to justifiable concerns — “I’m not sure how long Ms. DiPietro has been in Hawai‘i?”
Corn is a heavy feeder and takes a lot out of the soil. Only with repeated high chemical inputs can corn grow on the same land over and over again. In addition, corn needs lots of water to grow.
How many pesticides are being used on Kaua‘i’s Westside corn production? Are there restricted use pesticides being used? How many different kinds of pesticides are applied at the same time, making the synergistic effects of the combined pesticides stronger?
Where does our community go to find out what the names of the pesticides used on our agricultural lands on the Westside? How many of the products used are new and being tested on the Westside?
Agent Orange was tested here on Kaua‘i in Wailua before it was used in Vietnam. The testing was deemed a success and Agent Orange was used to defoliate Vietnam. Only later were the tragic effects known. Several years back, it was revealed that there are still barrels of this now banned toxic chemical “buried” here on Kaua‘i.
Heptachlor was another “bad actor” chemical that was used extensively on Kaua‘i pineapples which contaminated the milk of our cows, leading to the demise of Meadow Gold Dairy, and the lasting contamination of the land.
The seed growing industry (the chemical companies) is based on repeated chemical applications to the land, which end up in our air and water affecting the health and welfare of those working in the fields and those living around the fields. Our children, the elderly and anyone with already compromised immune systems are at risk from exposure to pesticides.
Asthma rates for Hawai‘i’s children are far too high for a place with little pollution. The kids on the Westside are regularly exposed to the chemicals used in the fields; Waimea School children have been severely affected by pesticide drift numerous times.
‘Aina is translated as that which feeds. With so much talk on the importance of sustainability, many would like to see Kaua‘i agriculture lands in sustainable production, rather than growing one crop that requires so much water, chemical nutrients and pesticides. Kaua‘i has the ability to grow a wide variety of foods that we consume in the islands. With most of our food imported, is it naive to have a different vision? Thousands of acres of Kaua‘i agriculture land will grow seed corn for export rather than food.
Big agribusiness has dominated Hawai‘i agriculture for a long time; many have a vision of smaller, sustainable farms that grow food and do not leave a legacy of contamination behind. ‘Aina, that which feeds.
Caren Diamond, Hanalei
Ethics complaints
In response to “Bieber files complaint against Ethics colleagues” (The Garden Island, May 12):
After 40 years on the books, Charter Section 20.02D, which prohibits county officers and employees from appearing on behalf of private interests before any county agency, is finally getting a hearing from the Board of Ethics.
The hearing actually began in February 2008, when attorney and Charter Commissioner Jonathan Chun asked the board if he could continue to represent clients before county agencies. The board deferred a decision and asked for an opinion from the County Attorney’s Office.
In March 2008 the board issued an advisory opinion, purportedly based on the legal opinion, allowing Chun to continue his activities. The board conducted its deliberations in secret, refused to release the legal opinion, and refused to cite a statutory basis for its advisory opinion.
In February 2008 the Charter Commission began work on a proposed charter amendment exempting board and commission members from having to comply with 20.02D and it eventually was placed on the ballot in November. The commission rejected a suggestion from the Board of Ethics to exempt all members of government, and the voters rejected the proposal to exempt board/commission members.
I have asked the board to make public at its May 14 meeting the statutory basis for its decision in the Chun case. According to the Sunshine Law, government agencies exist to aid the people in the formation and conduct of public policy. How can the board satisfy that requirement if it fails to offer a statutory justification for an advisory opinion it issued in the name of the people?
Horace Stoessel, Kapa’a
•Ethics complaints
‘Aina, that which feeds
The “Embrace biotechnology” letter on May14 retorting Jeri DiPietro’s “Chemicals on crops threaten our soil, lives” letter May 4 responds rudely to justifiable concerns — “I’m not sure how long Ms. DiPietro has been in Hawai‘i?”
Corn is a heavy feeder and takes a lot out of the soil. Only with repeated high chemical inputs can corn grow on the same land over and over again. In addition, corn needs lots of water to grow.
How many pesticides are being used on Kaua‘i’s Westside corn production? Are there restricted use pesticides being used? How many different kinds of pesticides are applied at the same time, making the synergistic effects of the combined pesticides stronger?
Where does our community go to find out what the names of the pesticides used on our agricultural lands on the Westside? How many of the products used are new and being tested on the Westside?
Agent Orange was tested here on Kaua‘i in Wailua before it was used in Vietnam. The testing was deemed a success and Agent Orange was used to defoliate Vietnam. Only later were the tragic effects known. Several years back, it was revealed that there are still barrels of this now banned toxic chemical “buried” here on Kaua‘i.
Heptachlor was another “bad actor” chemical that was used extensively on Kaua‘i pineapples which contaminated the milk of our cows, leading to the demise of Meadow Gold Dairy, and the lasting contamination of the land.
The seed growing industry (the chemical companies) is based on repeated chemical applications to the land, which end up in our air and water affecting the health and welfare of those working in the fields and those living around the fields. Our children, the elderly and anyone with already compromised immune systems are at risk from exposure to pesticides.
Asthma rates for Hawai‘i’s children are far too high for a place with little pollution. The kids on the Westside are regularly exposed to the chemicals used in the fields; Waimea School children have been severely affected by pesticide drift numerous times.
‘Aina is translated as that which feeds. With so much talk on the importance of sustainability, many would like to see Kaua‘i agriculture lands in sustainable production, rather than growing one crop that requires so much water, chemical nutrients and pesticides. Kaua‘i has the ability to grow a wide variety of foods that we consume in the islands. With most of our food imported, is it naive to have a different vision? Thousands of acres of Kaua‘i agriculture land will grow seed corn for export rather than food.
Big agribusiness has dominated Hawai‘i agriculture for a long time; many have a vision of smaller, sustainable farms that grow food and do not leave a legacy of contamination behind. ‘Aina, that which feeds.
Caren Diamond, Hanalei
Ethics complaints
In response to “Bieber files complaint against Ethics colleagues” (The Garden Island, May 12):
After 40 years on the books, Charter Section 20.02D, which prohibits county officers and employees from appearing on behalf of private interests before any county agency, is finally getting a hearing from the Board of Ethics.
The hearing actually began in February 2008, when attorney and Charter Commissioner Jonathan Chun asked the board if he could continue to represent clients before county agencies. The board deferred a decision and asked for an opinion from the County Attorney’s Office.
In March 2008 the board issued an advisory opinion, purportedly based on the legal opinion, allowing Chun to continue his activities. The board conducted its deliberations in secret, refused to release the legal opinion, and refused to cite a statutory basis for its advisory opinion.
In February 2008 the Charter Commission began work on a proposed charter amendment exempting board and commission members from having to comply with 20.02D and it eventually was placed on the ballot in November. The commission rejected a suggestion from the Board of Ethics to exempt all members of government, and the voters rejected the proposal to exempt board/commission members.
I have asked the board to make public at its May 14 meeting the statutory basis for its decision in the Chun case. According to the Sunshine Law, government agencies exist to aid the people in the formation and conduct of public policy. How can the board satisfy that requirement if it fails to offer a statutory justification for an advisory opinion it issued in the name of the people?
Horace Stoessel, Kapa’a
Related headlines
- Letters for Monday, May 18, 2009
- Letters for Wednesday, November 26, 2008
- Letters for Thursday, February 12, 2009
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
blueblood wrote on May 18, 2009 8:26 AM:
" Caren, Thank you for such a great letter. It addresses a lot of concerns in the community. Don't worry about the negative comments that you will get about this letter. I believe that the safety of our community (especially the kids) and the 'aina are far more important than providing a job are making a buck. I hope that all the families on the westside that had a child get sick at school are not just forgetting a going along with business as usual. I personal know of some that are. They say " well, my friend works for the seed company so I do not want to rock the boat". I know times are tough and people need jobs, including me, but I will not take a job that is damaging our community. Anyone who is going to tell me that those chemicals are perfectly safe are full of it. Great letter. Keep up the good fight. "
hulali wrote on May 18, 2009 12:48 PM:
" Manawai
If you can't some something nice (or even informative), then don't say anything at all. You comment to Ms. Diamond was uncalled for. She has a right to express her opinion as do you without being personally insulted. "
If you can't some something nice (or even informative), then don't say anything at all. You comment to Ms. Diamond was uncalled for. She has a right to express her opinion as do you without being personally insulted. "
wailuaguy wrote on May 18, 2009 5:52 PM:
" I would like to see ANY scientific proof GMO's are bad. So far, (20+ years) I have not seen any. The way I see it, GMO's = less chemicals, not more. "
blueblood wrote on May 19, 2009 7:11 AM:
" There is no proof that GMO's are bad because there have not been enough studies done. Organic farming = no chemicals, not GMO. "
interesting wrote on May 19, 2009 11:10 AM:
" ---------- "There is no proof that GMO's are bad because there have not been enough studies done"
...see, in a way this is a trick....what constitutes "enough studies"....it can be made to be pretty arbitrary, almost like a forever moving goal line. so how many studies do you want? 5? 50? all university studies? just nobel prize people? only studies outside the US?
my question is not a hostile one, and i trust you get my point
the research, by definition, is going to be exploratory by nature....it is reaching out into the unknown to a large extent. i trust this is not confused with what has been vetted and is now on the market for public consumption
and there is no way in hell this topic is more important than the local domestic violent rates (punch a girl lately, anybody?), drunk driving (teen or otherwise), or even economic diversification independent from tourism, PMRF, and biotech whatever crops "
...see, in a way this is a trick....what constitutes "enough studies"....it can be made to be pretty arbitrary, almost like a forever moving goal line. so how many studies do you want? 5? 50? all university studies? just nobel prize people? only studies outside the US?
my question is not a hostile one, and i trust you get my point
the research, by definition, is going to be exploratory by nature....it is reaching out into the unknown to a large extent. i trust this is not confused with what has been vetted and is now on the market for public consumption
and there is no way in hell this topic is more important than the local domestic violent rates (punch a girl lately, anybody?), drunk driving (teen or otherwise), or even economic diversification independent from tourism, PMRF, and biotech whatever crops "
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manawai wrote on May 18, 2009 7:28 AM: