•‘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
•‘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
