Organic the wave of the future
First, I would to thank Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for putting the health and safety of our citizens and the environment over industrial agri-business profits. We have a long way to go to start healing our poisoned land and make safe the towns and communities that have come in contact with these dangerous chemicals.
Our representatives are finally hearing the cries of the people for safer places to live and raise their families. We are all entitled to clean air to breath, water to drink and unpoisoned land to live on.
We do need to become more self-sustainable as islands in the Pacific. This needs to be done by growing food that is healthy and safe to eat, not by experimenting with dangerous chemicals to be sprayed on our food. There is no edible food being grown on the Westside, it’s all about experimenting with toxic chemicals. Other countries will not allow these companies to do this.
For some reason, ($), we allow this to go on. We would welcome big ag corporations if they would have the health and safety of the people and land at heart. I have an idea. Why doesn’t Dupont take the $12 million and do research on growing food with naturally occurring pesticides that are not harmful to humans and the environment.
And for the record, no, organic farmers do not use toxic chemicals on the food they grow. If they do need to use a pesticide, its from a natural substance, which is what I would like to see Dupont Pioneer and all the other chemical companies on our islands start doing. It’s the wave of the future so get with it.
It never ceases to amaze me why ordinary citizens feel it’s unfair to regulate these harmful companies.
The fact is that the organic farming and food movement is based on producing healthier foods without the use of toxic pesticides. I don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with that.
Linda Bothe, Kalaheo
Road resurfacing appreciated
Dear Grove Farm!
A huge mahalo nui loa! And kudos for the fine attempt at resurfacing the cane haul road out to Maha‘ulepu!
My only prayer now is that those drivers (especially four-wheel drives and Jeeps) will learn for what a speed bump is meant.
Bob Vlach, Koloa
Separating families a terrible plan
Our federal administration, to deter illegal immigration, has implemented (even though not formally adopted) a policy of separating minor children from their mothers pending asylum hearings or deportation, often in camps on opposite sides of the country.
One could also deter illegal immigration by disemboweling repeat offenders, and leaving them to die and their bodies to rot in front of federal buildings.
The practices are equally barbaric in a civilized society.
Jed Somit, Kapaa
Vote for lenny. He don’t mind chemical companies as long as he gets his donations. Who really cares if they have money take it!!! Aina will be fine. Lenny gonna take the race!!!
Sorry about your illness Jed. Cognitive reasoning is a horrible thing to lose when discussing a problem that is a primary cancer spreading in our society and that clearly portends it’s collapse! “Rot in front of federal buildings” indeed.
Linda Bothe, Kalaheo said, “It never ceases to amaze me why ordinary citizens feel it’s unfair to regulate these harmful companies.”
Maybe because of all the false claims the anti-GMO crowd are floating to scare naïve people and to generate donations to pay their non-profit salaries. Follow the money! The people of Kauai, the silent majority, know that these extremists’ claims are phony.
Some of the new immigration being implemented do not feel or look like the America I am proud of. The Dreamer DACA debacle is pure political humbug.
We live in interesting times. Modern agriculture has given us the most plentiful, safest food supply in the history of food. Unfortunately, marketers of alternative foods have convinced many that this is not true. The letter from Linda Bothe is a good example.
She begins with the myth that organic agriculture is not big business. The global organic food industry is valued at nearly $100 billion annually and is projected to double in coming years.
Nature produces some of the most toxic compounds known to humans. Many folks have come to believe that anything naturally derived is harmless. Ask your self this: if it is harmless then what good will it do to apply it to crops? Either it is toxic to pests or it is not.
Most of the organic food grown in the US comes from California. When you look at the California State agriculture data it becomes clear that more than 50% of all pesticides applied to crops in the state are applied to organic crops.
All conventional agricultural pesticides are exhaustively tested to ensure safety. This is not the case for all naturally derived organic pesticides. We do not need policy decisions based on marketing. We need policy based on sound science. In the future we will need the best of every agriculture system.
Robert Wager
Vancouver Island University
It never ceases to amaze ME how ignorant and close-minded people choose to be. Yes, it’s a choice, as demonstrated by Linda so eloquently. Linda, every single one of your preposterous claims can be outright debunked:
1.) There is most definitely edible food being grown on the west side, with much more to come soon, hopefully. One example: Hartung Brothers just finished up a sweetcorn fundraiser they did in conjunction with Waimea High School. This is something that HBI, formerly Syngenta, has been doing for years now.
2.) Dupont, and most other ag companies, absolutely do conduct research activities with “natrually occurring pesticides”, as you put it. It’s called bacillus thuringiensis, or bt. Look it up. A simple Google search will give you all the information you need, as it is something that has been around for years.
3.) Organic farmers absolutely do use “toxic” chemicals on their farms and fields. Per federal regulations, boric acid, sulphur, hydrogen peroxide, and chlorine are just some of the chemicals allowed.
Linda, let us all know when your sustainable and profitable backyard organic farm is up and running and ready for business.