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| Hurricane Hilda is expected to reach Ka`u as a tropical storm late Thursday, but rain and winds could begin earlier. Map from Weather Underground |
“There’s never been studies proving the long-term safety of these chemicals,” Ruderman said. “Glyphosate in particular has been famous for decades as being safe and having no effect in humans based mostly on a marketing campaign. But it has huge effects on our gut flora, and as some of you may know, our gut flora are essential to our protein synthesis and our overall health. I’m pro-science; I’m a biologist by training.
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| State Sen. Russell Ruderman spoke in support of limiting county use of herbicides. Image from Hawai`i County |
“I’ve been very influenced by the work of senior MIT researcher Dr. Stephanie Seneff. If any of you are really interested in the science of chemicals, her work is online, and she has identified the correlation between the exponential rise in the use of glyphosate in particular over the last 15 years in our county, with the exponential rise in autism, food intolerance, liver and kidney disease, birth defects and cancer.
“Since there’s no long-term studies, the fact is, we are the experiment. Let’s take a look at how the experiment’s going. We can compare the experiment in the United States to what’s happened in the European Union, where there’s been no such exponential rise in the use of glyphosate, and there has been no exponential rise in autism and these other diseases. That’s the control group. We’re the experimental group; they’re the control group. The effects are very clear.
“If you guys haven’t been aware of the exponential rise in these diseases, it’s right there for you to see. The correlation is greater than 99 percent, meaning the scientific chance of this being a coincidence is much less than one percent. That’s called proof. That is science. It’s inconvenient sometimes. The World Health Organization agrees, by the way.
“Since there’s no long-term studies, the fact is, we are the experiment. Let’s take a look at how the experiment’s going. We can compare the experiment in the United States to what’s happened in the European Union, where there’s been no such exponential rise in the use of glyphosate, and there has been no exponential rise in autism and these other diseases. That’s the control group. We’re the experimental group; they’re the control group. The effects are very clear.
“If you guys haven’t been aware of the exponential rise in these diseases, it’s right there for you to see. The correlation is greater than 99 percent, meaning the scientific chance of this being a coincidence is much less than one percent. That’s called proof. That is science. It’s inconvenient sometimes. The World Health Organization agrees, by the way.
“I don’t oppose any chemical use whatsoever. I think that the targeted, cautious use when there is great benefit is appropriate, but that’s very different from the indiscriminate, widespread, ongoing use of chemicals as if they were safe.
“The alternatives are not more expensive. Ground covers, for example, would end up having less ongoing cost. …
“There’s a worldwide trend to protect people in reduced exposure of chemicals, particularly glyphosate. Please show leadership and courage, and make the simple choice to side with protecting people instead of protecting chemical companies.”
Ka`u residents who spoke in support Kohala Council member Margaret Wille’s Bill 71 included Olivia Ling, Paul Komara, Steven Chun, Samantha Shurline and James Long. Ling said, “It’s your job to stop poisoning Hawai`i” and asked, “Is it appropriate to use taxpayers’ money to buy poison?” Shurline said that the bill, which would be effective in July 2016, “needs to start now, not a year from now.” Long-time gardener James Long said he has never used any glyphosate-based products and that he has shown neighbors how to grow plants without them.
An archived video of the meeting is available at hawaiicounty.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
“There’s a worldwide trend to protect people in reduced exposure of chemicals, particularly glyphosate. Please show leadership and courage, and make the simple choice to side with protecting people instead of protecting chemical companies.”
Ka`u residents who spoke in support Kohala Council member Margaret Wille’s Bill 71 included Olivia Ling, Paul Komara, Steven Chun, Samantha Shurline and James Long. Ling said, “It’s your job to stop poisoning Hawai`i” and asked, “Is it appropriate to use taxpayers’ money to buy poison?” Shurline said that the bill, which would be effective in July 2016, “needs to start now, not a year from now.” Long-time gardener James Long said he has never used any glyphosate-based products and that he has shown neighbors how to grow plants without them.
An archived video of the meeting is available at hawaiicounty.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Hilda's winds will be at tropical storm speed upon arrival in Ka`u. Graph from NOAA |
HURRICANE HILDA IS CARVING A PATH that brings it to South Point late Thursday, according to Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s most recent projections. Earlier today, its track showed landfall at Pahala, but CHPC move the forecast path further south. Also, it was earlier expected to be a tropical depression at landfall but has now been upgraded to have tropical storm-force winds.
Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency, local emergency management and civil defense agencies and federal and state partners continue coordination efforts with the National Weather Service for Hurricane Hilda, which is currently 395 miles southeast of Hilo.
Expected impacts associated with Hilda include potentially heavy rains closer to the center of the system, thunderstorms and gusty winds. Hawai`i residents and visitors are asked to continue to follow local reports for the latest information on Hilda and be aware of flood safety recommendations. Tips can be found at floodsmart.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
Expected impacts associated with Hilda include potentially heavy rains closer to the center of the system, thunderstorms and gusty winds. Hawai`i residents and visitors are asked to continue to follow local reports for the latest information on Hilda and be aware of flood safety recommendations. Tips can be found at floodsmart.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
TODAY, U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ announced his support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that regulates Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Congress is currently considering the plan announced recently by Pres. Barack Obama.
“After multiple readings, numerous briefings with officials, discussions with experts outside of government, consultations with my constituents and my colleagues, I am satisfied that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best approach to deny Iran a nuclear weapon and place its nuclear program under strict international supervision …,” Schatz said.
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| Sen. Brian Schatz |
“Before Iran receives any sanctions relief, we will have extended its breakout time — the time required to produce one bomb’s worth of fissile material — from about two or three months today, to more than a year. Iran will reduce its stockpile of fissile material by 98 percent and its operating centrifuges by two-thirds. That means they will go from having enough nuclear material for several bombs to not even having enough to make one. The core of the Arak Heavy Water reactor will be dismantled and the reactor redesigned so that Iran will not have a plutonium pathway to the bomb.
“While there are legitimate concerns about the agreement, we must remember this plain fact: there is no other alternative that achieves these results. We do not have the luxury of being able to pick this deal apart. The United States negotiated this deal with the other major world powers; and if we walk away now, the multilateral sanctions that the United States helped put in place to bring Iran to the negotiating table will certainly crumble. Our negotiating partners will see us as the intransigent one, lift their sanctions, and Iran will get economic relief without any restrictions on its nuclear program.
“At some point, the United States would be forced to seriously consider military action to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons aspirations, having foreclosed diplomacy. But even though all options always remain on the table, there is no military approach today that achieves what this agreement does: shrinking Iran’s stockpile of fissile material and operating centrifuges to a level that will deny Iran a nuclear bomb for at least 15 years, with strict supervision to let us know if they are developing a bomb after that time. …
“In general, if we believe that Iran is in significant non-compliance with the agreement at any time, we can unilaterally request that UN sanctions be re-imposed, and neither Russia, China nor Iran can veto that request. If Iran cheats, we will know and have the ability to respond.
“This agreement should not be overstated in terms of its impact on U.S. priorities in the region. It is not as though we will abruptly find common cause with Iran. Iran is still the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, and nothing in this agreement will deter us from working to contain Iran’s regional aspirations, including its support of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. But our efforts can now occur with a nuclear-armed Iran off the table.
“Iran must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, and that is why I support this agreement. This is the best possible way to deny Iran from acquiring the bomb. It is what is best for the United States, Israel and peace in the region.
“At some point, the United States would be forced to seriously consider military action to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons aspirations, having foreclosed diplomacy. But even though all options always remain on the table, there is no military approach today that achieves what this agreement does: shrinking Iran’s stockpile of fissile material and operating centrifuges to a level that will deny Iran a nuclear bomb for at least 15 years, with strict supervision to let us know if they are developing a bomb after that time. …
“In general, if we believe that Iran is in significant non-compliance with the agreement at any time, we can unilaterally request that UN sanctions be re-imposed, and neither Russia, China nor Iran can veto that request. If Iran cheats, we will know and have the ability to respond.
“This agreement should not be overstated in terms of its impact on U.S. priorities in the region. It is not as though we will abruptly find common cause with Iran. Iran is still the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, and nothing in this agreement will deter us from working to contain Iran’s regional aspirations, including its support of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. But our efforts can now occur with a nuclear-armed Iran off the table.
“Iran must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, and that is why I support this agreement. This is the best possible way to deny Iran from acquiring the bomb. It is what is best for the United States, Israel and peace in the region.
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| Caldera and Stars by Peter Anderson |
“This agreement should not be compared to an imaginary deal where Iran rolled over and eliminated all its centrifuges and all peaceful nuclear energy generation. That was never seriously on the table. It should be compared to its real world alternative — an unraveling of the international sanctions, Iran moving ever faster toward the bomb and our country left with few choices other than another war in the Middle East.”
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KENT OLSON PRESENTS THE NIGHT SKIES over Kilauea Volcano in a new perspective at After Dark in the Park tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Olson uses the current lava lake within Halema`uma`u Crater as a point of reference and takes participants on a journey from the depths of the quantum realm to the edge of the cosmos.
Olson uses the current lava lake within Halema`uma`u Crater as a point of reference and takes participants on a journey from the depths of the quantum realm to the edge of the cosmos.
Call 985-6911 for more information.
KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets tomorrow from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center to make preliminary decisions about revisions to the draft plan following review of community feedback about town infill and agricultural subdivision.
The public is invited to testify on agenda items at the meeting.
KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets tomorrow from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center to make preliminary decisions about revisions to the draft plan following review of community feedback about town infill and agricultural subdivision.
The public is invited to testify on agenda items at the meeting.
HOMELESSNESS IN HAWAI`I is the topic of a live-streamed session this afternoon at 3 p.m. Gov. David Ige and his Leadership Team on Homelessness discuss their progress following their weekly meeting. See gov.hawaii.gov.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
BUSINESS SPACE IS AVAILABLE for rent at the open location where Kama`aina Kuts and Styles by Elise are located in Na`alehu. Call Corrine at 937-1840 for more information.
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_August2015.pdf. |
