I've gotta hand it to Scott Enright and
Dr. Virginia Pressler — directors of the state departments of
Agriculture and Health, respectively — for schlepping all the way
out to Waimea this past week to hear the same litany of complaints
about the seed fields from the same small, but loud, cast of
characters.
Those two busy administrators have far
more patience than I with the garbled gibberish, faux science and
Utopian agricultural dreams of the activists, as demonstrated by this
Facebook thread:
Felicia Alongi Cowden MY SUGGESTION:
Organize a hair sampling for pesticides of citizens of all age ranges
where we are guided by an administrative medical doctor for a
scientific snapshot with stabilizing criteria. Twenty or more people
each from a number of communities possibly including Kekaha, Waimea,
Kalaheo, Lihue, Kapaa, Anahola, Kilauea, Hanalei and so forth. This
should reveal a trend. It will be telling if there is chemical
contamination in concentrated amounts on one side or another. My
sugar plantation house had regular use of Chlordane, Paraquat and
other horrible chemicals. We could identify if these chemicals are
still volatilizing years later. These outcomes could ease the worries
of those living near the fields, exonerate the companies, or prove an
outcome that supports the concerns of the people. I am willing to pay
for my familyʻs tests. My guess is there will be enough people
willing to do the same. We need to answer our own inquiry. Perhaps,
there is an available discount in a group order. If we wait for the
state or someone else to take the action, we may wait forever.
Yeah, nothing like stirring up a load
of shit before you have any documentation whatsoever. Too bad you
couldn't have looked for some data three years ago, before the drama
of Bill 2491. But I guess the activists have learned the Joint Fact
Finding Group on pesticides failed to find a “smoking gun” to
validate the outrageous claims, so now they're desperately seeking
relevance.
Mike Leibbrandt I have only come
back to Hawaii since Oct 2015. Since my return from San Diego i have
lived in Kekaha and have noticed at times of dry burning eyes. Since
i have not lived here for that long, maybe my hair sample would be
good proof of whats in the air because i came from a beach town in
San Diego and not a farming community. If my hair sample are positive
from only 5 months here........oh my goodness. What about the years
of you all being here?
Because we all know there's no chemical
pollution in San Diego beach towns.... Doncha know Cali is pristine? Only Hawaii is a toxic, poisoned paradise.
Felicia Alongi Cowden I do not
understand why the state funded Joint Fact Finding Study did not do
this. There were no fresh data samples included. Hair samples show us
what is in our bodies. We need to look near and far from the fields.
Well, Felicia, if you'd do the tiniest
bit of homework before spouting off, you'd know the JFFG was directed
to survey existing data only, and had neither the mandate nor the
funding to conduct new studies.
Jeri Di Pietro Perhaps the
preference is to keep delaying while the keep on spraying. The JFF
was the brainchild of the Mayor who did not support, derailed and
vetoed the citizens desires. Next tactic is delay. It has a been a
year since we passed a law and still they spray.
Come on, Jeri. Even a master
propagandist like you can't pretend that Bill 2491, as written, would have stopped spraying — even if it hadn't been thrown out of court.
Dustin Barca We are all connected
more than we will ever know . Money is the problem . Buying
politicians , buying respect . Buying time. "TESTING FACILITY"
in predominantly KANAKA communities . No Kanaka at the meeting . Sad.
I drove from Kealia after
working on my Farm for 8 hours.
We should find funders for blood and hair samples from any resident
concerned with being surrounded by War chemical corporations
. They have patents for Biological weapons in food. And the cure. Are
they testing that? We are next to a testing Military base.....
Plenty GOOD people work for these companies who do NOT understand
the AGENDA of Mostly European based corporations who care about
ONE thing, hitting the numbers. This is a proven conspiracy . Not
conspiracy theory.
Just some humble thoughts of a "
uneducated Haole" from the North shore.
At least Dustin has stopped
pretending to be a kanaka....Though he'd be a great poster child for any
“stay in school and don't let people punch you in the head”
campaign.
Speaking of Dustin, it seems he's
gained a speck of insight into the challenges farmers face:
It's Humbling to put everything into
something and work your ass off for a year 1/2 and not make a dollar.
To see 8 acres off Trees and buffalo grass turn into this is a pretty
empowering pay off. Within the next year I'll have around 100 pigs
and 50 sheep and a lot of Organic vegetables to make Money. No matter
what it is in Life, it's gonna take sacrifice, Hard Word, Dedication,
perseverance, pride, humility and Love to reach a successful Goal.
Granted, he does have more to show for his efforts than the Kilauea Food Forest's oft-photographed single bunch of banana. Still, I wonder what Dustin's conservation plan looks like. I'm
sure, as a self-proclaimed aloha aina warrior, that he's in full
compliance with all environmental rules and regs...
Speaking of which, Louisa Wooten took a
tip from the Gary Hooser playbook and used her position on the JFFG
to weight her comment to the EPA (emphasis added):
I have been involved for the past 10
months in a Joint Fact Finding Group on the Island of Kaua'i, Hawaii
that is tasked with studying the effects of pesticides on our island.
This process is funded by our State Dept. Of Agriculture and the
County of Kauai, specifically to look at the potential environmental
and health impacts of research and development of corn and other
crops by Dow Agrosciences, Dupont-Pioneer, BASF, and Syngenta. I am a
farmer and inspector for Certified Organic farms and processors
throughout the state. Sifting through voluminous data and studies on
drift, toxicology, potential health hazards, and environmental
impacts, there is nothing that I see that the EPA should do but BAN
CHLORPYRIFOS as many countries throughout the world did many years
ago.
This should have been done long ago and
allowing Dow Chemical to submit its own studies to refute EPA studies
is highly questionable. The labels for chlorpyrifos products state it
should not drift off-site from where it applies. So why have we found
it in our schools, waterways, etc. ?
UPHOLD A COMPLETE BAN ON CHLORPYRIFOS.
Potential environmental and health impacts of crop R&D? I don't see anything in the JFFG scope of work that addresses that sort of speculation:
Based on an examination of available
literature and data sources, the JFF group will, to the best of its
abilities, undertake a broad examination of where GM and other
production scale crops are grown on Kaua‘i, the historic and
current use of pesticides on Kaua‘i, the historic and current use
of pesticides on Kaua‘i, the prevalence of acute and chronic health
conditions occurring on Kaua‘i at levels that are above state- or
nation-wide rates, and any evidence of environmental contamination
that can reasonably and empirically be associated with the use of
pesticides.
Why do I have the nagging suspicion — validated by Roy Yamakawa's resignation from the panel and my own review of the first draft report — that the JFFG has drifted off-course?
it hasn't gone off course---it's on course with facts that you just don't agree with! And so how do you get all the info from the meeting at insignificant Waimea---like you know everything, why not quote the locals who were there with their stories and facts regarding their blood tests results and their children's nose bleeds (only when they stay in Kekaha), etc.
ReplyDeleteCome to Waimea when we have these meetings and hear it all, no scared----we are nice people, but will stand by "our facts"! By the way, does the ! come before the "?
Joan - Why do I have the nagging suspicion — validated by Roy Yamakawa's resignation from the panel and my own review of the first draft report — that the JFFG has drifted off-course?
ReplyDelete"Validated by my own review" but sadly your review lacks merit -- based upon my own review of your review. Yamakawa never said he resigned because JFFG had drifted off course.
8:56 -- If we're dealing with "facts," it's not question of agree or disagree. But speculation cannot be equated with facts, and that's where the disagreement arises.
ReplyDeleteHere's a handy guide to punctuation and quotation marks:
http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/quotation-marks.html#adjacentpunctuation
9:07 -- I haven't actually published my review of the draft report or the reasons behind Roy's resignation, so you have nothing to review.
Joan, Whatcha think about CHLORPYRIFOS? You like it? Wanna keep it? Wanna ban it?
ReplyDelete9:24 -- I don't know enough about that specific pesticide to weigh in whether the EPA should ban it or allow farmers to continue its current approved uses. However, as I've previously reported in this blog, the EPA's own studies have shown that it has virtually no potential to drift, and the levels found at Waimea school were barely detectable and well below federal threshold levels.
ReplyDeleteJoan writes, Yeah, "nothing like stirring up a load of shit before you have any documentation whatsoever." How is testing hair samples stirring up shit? Isnʻt that one way of creating documentation? If hair sampling isnʻt a way of documenting, what is it, then? And to the person concerned about position of exclamation points, most of us just want to understand what someone wants to say- and donʻt care much about speling or punktua!ion or even grammer
ReplyDeleteSeems like it is a good time for Joan to begin researching Chlorpyrifos. And Joan, what is it about the EPA that you trust the most? The revolving door between Monsanto, the FDA and the EPA? Please explain why the public should trust such agencies with such a blatant conflict of interest concerning their own employees who profit off of and have deep connections to companies like Monsanto who produce the chemicals they are responsible for testing.
ReplyDeleteWell Dustin ..maybe there was no "Kanakas" there because they are sick and tired of this rhetoric. Maybe they are sick and tired of people telling them how to live and breathe in their own land....now we have a flew here promoting a big luxury hotel on ag lands in Kekaha.........How sick is that????Stay on your own side of the island with your B S ...now Maybe if you and people like you did NOT to to the meeting the Kanaka would show up and speak.....The way you all see it everything that goes wrong on the west side is because of the seed companies...The companies that they work for....Lay off go away stop being a know it all...which you and your friends are NOT....
ReplyDelete9:35 -- "Stirring up shit" was in reference to the campaign behind 2491, not hair samples. I'm not surprised you lack reading comprehension since you don't realize that punctuation, spelling and grammar are key to it. But how typical of the antis to celebrate ignorance!
ReplyDelete9:47 -- Your conspiracy theory is riddled with holes, not the least of which is that Chlorpyrifos was developed by Monsanto's competitor, DOW.
hair samples? let me see....shampoo, conditioner, gel, hairspray, hair coloring, swim in pool, swim in da ocean.....all kine chemicals people put in their hairs!!!!
ReplyDeletePoint well made
DeleteJoan if chlorpyrifos has no potential for drift how does it wind up in air samples at the school and in the water of Kekaha Ditch?
ReplyDeleteno, hair, blood samples with restricted use pesticides found---not shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, chlorine!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree. If there was less of these wanna be Erin Brockovoch haoles maybe some local braddaz and sistaz would consider attending the meeting.
ReplyDeleteSomeone sent me comments and one person on Instagram made one comment about not having funding....wasn't Jeri Petri from Hawaii SEED at this meeting? And where's The Center For Food Safety Ashleigh with her money? Or maybe Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action HAPA, what Gary Hooser rather spend his money flying around and having coffee dates with chicks than spend his money on testing for these locals? COME ON Kauai. What a bloody joke these non profits are so FAKE!
10:18 -- No one knows the source or pathway, only that barely detectable amounts were found.
ReplyDeleteHair samples are not accurate for a pesticide spraying test.
ReplyDeleteHair products which everyone uses has many chemicals in it.
Why not do blood samples?
Oh because all the anti pesticides gangs all SMOKE WEED.
That's right we know ya damn druggies.
You believe in health no drink and smoke you can start by being good examples first. M bunch of assholes.
Joan says " 9:47- Your conspiracy theory is riddled with holes, not the least of which is that Chlorpyrifos was developed by Monsanto's competitor, DOW." I am 9:47. You have completely misrepresented what I said and put words into my mouth. Auwe. I never claimed Chlorpyrifos was developed by Monsanto....if I did, please show everyone where I said that. And you use the word "conspiracy theory"- what conspiracy theory? I also never said anything at all about conspiracy theories. I stated a fact- that there is a revolving door policy between big chemical companies like Monsanto and the EPA and FDA- fact, Joan, not conspiracy. Your words are a good way of avoiding the question I asked which you never answered, so I will ask it again- "what is it about the EPA that you trust the most? The revolving door between Monsanto, the FDA and the EPA? Please explain why the public should trust such agencies with such a blatant conflict of interest concerning their own employees who profit off of and have deep connections to companies like Monsanto who produce the chemicals they are responsible for testing." My question is about "trust". Many people do not trust the EPA- why do you?
ReplyDeleteVote for Bernie- he wants to remove corporate control and influence which is rampant in government and agencies such as the EPA and FDA. Power to the people!
ReplyDeleteBecause I do not believe, like you and the other conspiracy theorists, that every government scientist has been bought off by the chemical companies.
ReplyDeleteJoan, Changing my closing words in 11:01 from "why do you?" to "do you?" Sorry for making assumptions! Mahalo.
ReplyDelete10:45--were you at the meeting? didn't you see all the local people in attendance? And for your info, i am not a haole, but the haoles are the ones who are cleaning up our beaches, picking up the trash left by the locals and stepping up---maybe because they read, educate and love the aina as much as some locals do----we all know who trashing our land by leaving their unwanted vehicles, appliances and garbage along the roadside, in the bushes---too freaking lazy to take their junk to the rubbish dump! We in Waimea, are getting tired of attending meetings cuz nothing gets done---we gotta sue the State to get action? Maybe so!!!! We have suffered long enough---and if you don't believe me, just look at the law suit against Pioneer, that is enough to tell the whole world we have and still are suffering from their so called agricultural practices.
ReplyDeleteJoan (11:14), I am 11:01. I state a fact about the revolving door policy between chemical companies and the EPA and FDA. Then you continue to call me a conspiracy theorist. Please provide my directly quoted words which you consider to be a "conspiracy theory". And again you have avoided my question- do you trust the EPA? I am only interested in facts and in discovering the truth. The revolving door policy is a fact, it is the truth- not a theory. Why do you continue to twist my words and avoid my question? Please try to show more respect for those of us who take the time to read and respond to your blogs. Thank you.
ReplyDelete10:45- Bam! Mahalo!
ReplyDeleteI did answer your question @ 11:14. As for my respect, I show it those who have earned it.
ReplyDeleteJoan has never shown a drop of compassion for all of you on the westside who have suffered so much over the years. I especially think of all those who live or have lived directly across the Waimea River, because I know and have spoken with some of them. Her words have only created more division in our communities. She never speaks in a way which helps bring us all together, and really seems to love disparaging anyone who she thinks disagrees with her. I will be very surprised and congratulate her if she can overcome her ego and post this comment. Joan, please do not take this personally. I know deep down in your heart, someday you will find a better way of speaking to and about others in our community. At least you are honest about sharing your feelings, which I cannot say for many others. I have learned a lot from you. Mahalo nui!
ReplyDelete"I state a fact about the revolving door policy between chemical companies and the EPA and FDA." Obviously your opinion. So where are tour facts to support this conspiracy theory? DUH!
ReplyDeleteI've actually expressed a lot of compassion for westsiders who have been worked and played by the activists, politicians and attorneys who have used them for their own craven ends and caused untold suffering and anguish with their fear-mongering. As for my words creating division, I'm glad to hear I've been effective as I am actively seeking to divide those scammers from the community they prey upon.
ReplyDelete12:15- Do your own research, I have. Donʻt be lazy and depend upon me to supply you with facts. It is not an opinion, by the way, which you would know if you had done your research. If your research proves there is no revolving door policy, then please provide the facts and I will be happy to reconsider my so called "opinion". You have a good day!
ReplyDelete12:17- But no compassion for the westsiders who next to the Waimea River who have suffered so much pain due to their "good neighbors" agricultural practices? I have never ever heard you speak of how those residents have suffered for untold numbers of years. Or about the total lack of compassion shown them by their "good neighbors". Your compassion seems to be limited to only certain people. True compassion is not limited- it extends to all life. Maybe you might benefit from expanding your concept of compassion?
ReplyDelete11:37 you're so fake it's pitiful. A lot of the damn homeless and transplants are not locals! Some are like Donville, but we know that a lot of these homeless pigs that occupy our beach parks like Lucy Wright and russian fort are hippies who forgot to go home. Don't talk like you're from Waimea and speak for the locals. The vocal valley families aren't the majority, they are vocal minority. Most local's want proof before blaming. Yeah there's dust, but, as a local westsider, born and raised, there's always been dust, way more, when sugar surrounded us. All you transplants shut the hell up in speaking for us.
ReplyDelete12:34 -- lol! I knew you were lying when you said you'd congratulate me if I posted your first comment!
ReplyDeleteAnd since you're lecturing us on how compassion knows no bounds, you might try expressing some for those "good neighbors" you malign.
12:34- What the hell are you talking about? What people have been suffering through pain for untold number of years across Waimea river? Do you mean because their houses got dusty? Is that the pain and suffering you talk about?
ReplyDelete12:34- Why not talk to them personally. You can start with Klayton Kubo. Have a walk around the neighborhood and get to know them. Much better than getting second hand info from me!
ReplyDelete1:12pm....Klayton Kubo? Wow...very credible guy....I just saw a facebook selfie photo of him with his respirator mask around his neck....yes, he is a painter by trade, spraying/applying chemicals....lol...what a hypocrite...
ReplyDelete12:24 - Here are your original words, just so we're clear "And Joan, what is it about the EPA that you trust the most? The revolving door between Monsanto, the FDA and the EPA? Please explain why the public should trust such agencies with such a blatant conflict of interest concerning their own employees who profit off of and have deep connections to companies like Monsanto who produce the chemicals they are responsible for testing." I think some could argue that the the intent of your statement is to imply that government officials cannot be objective in their analyses if they have any professional history for the groups they are responsible for regulating. In other words, they aren't to be trusted. Your begging of the question (government scientists are beholden to their previous corporate overlords so we should dismiss their findings) is itself conspiracy laden. Does that help explain why Joan could feel compelled to call you out for the conspiracy theory?
ReplyDeleteI have known and worked with many people who have spent time in both the private and public sector, all good people who worked hard for the American people when they were working for a federal agency. You sweeping complaint (read soundbite) about a "revolving door" smears thousands of people. I would agree 100% with Joan, you're peddling in conspiracy theories in an attempt to win an argument where the facts (read science) don't support your beliefs.
@ 12:24 PM - That's the exact answers people give when they have absolutely NO FACTS to cite. You exposed you're own fabrications. And it is so obvious to anyone with half a brain. You brought it up...so support. But then, YOU CAN'T. Don't try a kindergarten trick of getting me to prove a negative. Twit!
ReplyDeleteSounds like some information from the report is being leaked out already.
ReplyDeleteOk!
Look, the phrase "revolving door" inherently implies a conspiracy. In this case, that one company makes an organized effort to garner influence using former employees. As usual, it's a case of innuendo; not factual evidence. It also implies that the person posting this cleans houses for a living and knows little about professional career progression within an industry. In a profession career, you change venues every few years to stay fresh and promote your worth. It's all about diversity, challenge, and opportunity. Horizontal or upward movement at the executive level, such as Boeing to the FAA or Defense Department, involves people who already work together, wish to add a valuable perspective to their resume, and expect to leave in 3-4 years. In a word, it's....."routine;" but, not in the way innuendo creators view it! Despite being routine, the more common reaction when someone moves from the private sector to a regulator is concern; not celebration!
ReplyDeletePete- former employees? what about the ones who return to their jobs when they leave their government positions?
ReplyDelete2:15- please tell us whatever you know that shows there is no "revolving door" policy with the EPA or the FDA. You dispute, then back up your refutations. Donʻt depend on others to refute your refutations without providing facts. I just spent some time on the internet reading some articles about "revolving doors and EPA and FDA. Surely you can also spend some time doing the same. Let us know what you find.
ReplyDeleteAnyone with a financial interest in a chemical pesticide company should not be working for a government regulatory agency whose purpose is to regulate pesticides and chemicals. The public cannot trust such employees to be objective and outside of the influence of invested monetary interests. No conspiracies here. Applies across the board to all government agencies. Those with vested interests in oil should not work for agencies who regulate oil. Same for the pharmaceutical industry. Have a vested interest- no work for FDA. Common sense. Need more stringent conflict of interest laws.
ReplyDeletePete Antonson, We are not speaking only about scientists, but also about lobbyists, lawyers and board members of corporations working for the goverment agencies which regulate those same corporations. I know nobody personally who supports this obvious conflict of interest.
ReplyDeleteI was going to respond to 3/4 2:41pm, 2:47pm, 2:55pm, and 3:06pm, but then I realized why bother. They've shot themselves in their feet with their own words and are blind to their hypocritical double standards. They will accomplish nothing, thankfully, because they are ineffective, incompetent and lack self-awareness.
ReplyDeleteI did NOT see Dustin Barca at the meeting. If he was, he was hidden and didn't say a word. Now that's not like him.
ReplyDeleteFelicia may be correct. Maybe the old time chemicals did do damage to her. To her brain. Totally fried. If she or any one else wants chemical hair analysis tests, just cut your hair and send it out.
ReplyDeleteAll results would be total BS anyway. There could be a litany of diverse chemicals and other nefarious substance from the past lurking in those follicles.
Dust is part of any Ag environment. Dust, smoke and ashes are all part of the past. To buy a house on the Westside and not expect dust is like going into a house in the not so distant past and not finding a Bull-Durham bag on the kitchen faucet.
The real damage is the re-ignition of the Local/Haole tensions. The real fiasco Da Hoos and his Fistees did was to bring out the old stereo-types of Loud Mouthed Know-it-All haoles telling the Locals how for live.
The Dept of Health apparatchiks would be better off if they looked at the Septic/Cesspool situations at Hanalei.
The only thing that will get Ag out of Kauai will be a corporate decision that there ain't no profit in Seed corn.
Tourism is the leading economic driver and Da Hoos has always been anti-tourist (even tho' his past business empire included selling expensive properties to tourists and publishing tourist/realator specific magazines) and his flock of screaming, disrespectful Fistees may inspire more punchouts.
Punchouts, definitely cause a tourist decline....so Da Hoos can hit two birds with one stone, no Ag and No tourist.
Mason, JoAnn and Da Hoos and unintended consequences. Both Ag and tourism are at the core of local jobs, but big deal so what. Them locals, may not fit into the cute bike path and coffee shoppe world that these three envision for Kauai.
Speaking of real estate, is it true that Da Hoos and Baby Hoos are getting their hypocritical asses into being Realators? Baby Hoos passed his real estate course (proof that intellect is not a precursor to getting a land-pimp license) Inquiring minds want to know.
Da Hoos and Baby Hoos create the Fistee Life Real Estate Company, locals need not apply.
Did Dustin Barca speak at the meeting? I didn't hear or see him inside the conference room, there were seats, very few left and hard to get to. I did see him outside after the meeting.
ReplyDeleteIf the lot of you Anons could only see your oh so obvious lack of perspective when applying preposterous purity criteria to people with professional careers. You have no idea what a real conflict of interest looks like or how it manifests.
ReplyDeleteI had three professional careers. I worked for the Feds, the State, the County, small private firms, large private firms, an International Company based in Japan, in my own private practice and in a business I had on the side. I've managed as many as 250 people at one time, been a union employee on strike, in nonunion employment, and in two high tech startups in Silicon Valley.
On Kauai, I worked for the State, a private concern, and my own private practice at the same time because I offered services nobody else could in an evidence based medical profession based on graduate degrees.
30 years ago I was hiring aerospace specialists for special contracts with Boeing for both their military and civilian branches.
Now, what was that you say? You googled some articles about professional ethics?
Man, you talk about "false equivalency!"{
Pete the humble man of God. Your greatness is beyond that of a regular human. You speak so eloquently when you degrade people and yet your only concern is that people know what you've accomplished.
DeleteOh grasshopper in your advanced years you still have not found the meaning of life.
I don't understand why a "Joint Fact Finding" Group is made up of laypersons instead of experts in the field of facts they were tasked to find.
ReplyDeleteI hope we don't end up with a Joint Fiction Finding Report.
3/5 @ 12:51 AM, I share the same concern. Initially the JFFG had people with graduate degrees in biology (various disciplines) comprising much of the group, it seems that having people with vested anti-ag/anti-biotech interests essentially whining their way in and using some of the same tactics they've displayed over the last few years has watered down the integrity of this group. I will not be surprised if this report is falsely interpreted to support the HAPA/CFS/BAB/HawaiiSEED/SHAKA/PANNA agenda (just as they've brought in scientific laughingstocks like Seneff et. al. to sway non-educated public opinion). Fortunately, though, I think much of the local populace has gotten wise to them; it's the mainland dollars and influence muscling it's way in that will continue to be erosive to aloha.
ReplyDeleteSounds like some of you have seen the report and are not happy with its results which you seem to indicate will favor community health concerns over industry claims. So now you going spin it as biased. Straight out of the industry playbook. Watch Merchants of Doubt - same response as tobacco, climate change, agent orange and on and on.
ReplyDeleteI hope that when they release the results of their hair samples it includes all of the illicit drugs that they've taken.
ReplyDeleteThese people are all crazy. Intellectual light weights. Community college polysi majors pretending to be chemists.
ReplyDelete10:51, You left out that they've found the meaning of life by being anticorporate and all natural; except they've used 12 corporate products even before their 9:00 am appointment in Kilauea to sip $5 coffee with a $4 natural muffin while wearing trending apres yoga gear in the most natural way.
ReplyDelete3/5 @ 7:34 AM, I haven't seen the report. I am waiting to read it same as you (I assume). If it shows that the JFFG considered properly designed, conducted, peer-reviewed science that is reproducible and was published in reputable journals, then I will be satisfied. Here's the issue that I and many others have: We're quite familiar with the studies that meet these criteria. What we observe is an increasing amount of shoddy "studies" that do NOT meet these criteria, that instead are flawed but apparently designed to satisfy an agenda. I'm talking about the work by Seralini, Seneff, Carman, and so on.
ReplyDeleteI will echo what many others have said before: If I see one good scientific study (i.e. meets the criteria above) that shows legitimate concerns with transgenic technology, or legally applied pesticides, then I will take that scientific evidence into consideration. Also, such a study would likely result in well-deserved Nobel Prize for the author(s).
9:39 AM, your sarcasm and twisting his words only shows me how insecure and uneducated you are. Project much?
Congratulation Joan. You are right on target and obviously hit a nerve with the crazies.... they have organized and gotten all their crazy friends to flood your blog with their ludicrous comments, like it will in someway deter you. And of course, they are so gutless that the vast ilk of them will only do so anonymously. Its a sure sign that your word is getting out there. Thank you for all you do. The State's farmer's and Rancher's... the folks that grow the food.... aren't all that good at spending time getting the word out, so we appreciate that you do.
ReplyDeletePublic tax dollars funded the work of the JFF group. The group was supposed to determine if there are human or environmental health impacts on Kauai that are associated with pesticides from the seed companies.
ReplyDeleteHas Peter Adler kept the group on track and focused on its purpose, or has he allowed members to stray from their mandate to review evidence-based studies and data? Has the group included conjecture, anecdotes, student projects, or discussions of "studies" that were either never completed or have not been peer reviewed or published?
Will the group's recommendations be based upon facts and evidence and warranted?
If not, we will have spent an awful lot of money and effort to continue the community-destroying past few years of unfounded hysteria and tragic distraction from our true problems on Kauai.
Who gave you a copy of the draft report and why? The report is not scheduled for release to the public until next week. Has someone on the Joint Fact Finding Group violated the confidentiality agreement?
ReplyDeleteI assume they gave it because they thought I should have it. And it wasn't from any current or former member of the JFFG.
ReplyDeleteAloha Joan,
ReplyDeleteYour blog brings out the best and worst in some people. It is also so very interesting that we are set in out ways. Some will accept what you write and others will not. Human Beings are the one animal that can change the environment. Everyone grab a sickle or cane knife and get rid of all the weeds for the farmers. Let us help this people so they do not have to use pesticides. A good sickle costs $25 to $30 and a good cane knife is about the same. Save your harsh words and let's do it. You people think you can handle once a week, we start at Mana or Kilauea. I don't think so. Everyone has something to do on a weekend. Let the Farmers farm. If you do not want to eat his produce, you don't have to. I love my farming friends. They bust their asses working the farm, while we grumble away. Kauai is changing to Kauai, the "GRUMBLE" Island.
It can be done 3:33 pm. The special education teacher at Kilauea School volunteers to weed whack on Sundays to stop the spraying of roundup at the school.
ReplyDeleteTo 3:33 PM:
ReplyDeleteSo true, what you wrote.
And the same goes for Maui, unfortunately....the whiner island.
That's good, 3:33- Maui, the Most Hawhiner Island. Kauai, Monku-lanipo. For transplants see "monkutare".
ReplyDeleteKudos to the Kilauea School special education teacher for weed whacking on Sundays. What happened to the Custodians? Probably no weed whacker funded for the school. Lets get a fund raiser going for a weed whacker and supplies. $325 ought to do it. $250 for the weed whacker, $15 for the stringy thing, $15 for the fuel container, $5 for the mix, $15 for the gas. $25 for tax.
ReplyDeleteIt never fails to amaze me. Seed/chemical companies on the westside grow absolutely nothing for us to eat and yet they are are called ag. But my neighbors bust their ass growing real food we can actually eat. Then when one of those real farmers writes a comment here questioning those companiesʻ policies, anonymously and without identifying themselves as farmers, they are accused of being anti-ag. Calling those who actually grow food we eat here in Hawaiʻi anti-ag is the ultimate hypocrisy and shows complete ignorance of what real ag is all about. These whiners are the ones creating division in our community, not those who support farmers growing food for our markets, stores, families and neighbors. Using the term "anti-ag" to divide and promote fear, just like the word "communist" was used in America against patriotic Americans back in the 50ʻs. So much ignorance, such a shame.
ReplyDelete9:35 -- What's really ignorant is claiming the seed companies "grow absolutely nothing for us to eat." They are producing the seed that will grow the crops that you and others eat around the world. Cultivated food has to start somewhere, and that's where seeds come in. With those sorts of ludicrous statements, you're actually fostering the same divisiveness and fear you accuse others of.
ReplyDelete9:57- Seeds to ship off to America? Mass mono-crop those seeds with heavy doses of fertilizers and poisons. Feed the corn to cows, whose stomachs are not created for digesting corn. Use the rest of the corn to produce high fructose corn syrup which is found in all the junk food that is not healthy for anyone. Then use planes and ships and oil to send that junk food back to Kauaʻi (or spread it all over the world.) Go to KCC and try to tell students that such practices are sustainable and good for health and the environment. Local food grown by local farmers for local consumption using as little poisons and chemical fertilizers as possible, now that is what KCC students will tell you comes closest to true sustainability. Those of us who study sustainability know what it means; not so sure about you . You may be right in calling out 9:57 for exaggerating, but I think their wording was not intended to be taken literally. So many of us are finished with processed junk food and incredibly wasteful practices of such companies. We are looking for truly sustainable and healthy options that that help us to become more self-sufficient and rely on ourselves rather than upon foreign mega-corporations and their highly questionable practices.. Joan, come on over to KCC and have a chat. Share your manaʻo concerning sustainability and find out more what we think and are learning. Thank you.
ReplyDelete9:35 AM, if someone who supposedly is growing food posts B.S. unsubstantiated allegations against the seed companies, then yes, they are anti-ag. Bet they never went and took a tour of the seed companies, but made up their mind by perusing anti-biotech activist websites. Oh by the way, the management and employees of the seed companies have historically made very large annual donations to the local food banks as well, also seed company employees have grown fresh produce (I believe that qualifies as FOOD) for the food banks, using land and water provided by......the seed companies!
ReplyDeleteNo one is stopping you from pursuing your vision of sustainability, eating a healthy diet or working toward self-sufficiency. There's plenty of land for all. I'm all for people growing food to eat locally. I don't see it as any conflict with what's happening with the seed companies. And whether you agree with how the seeds are used and consumed is irrelevant. It's still food that is valued and purchased by the majority of consumers.
ReplyDeletePS: If you're so worried about "planes and ships and oil to send that junk food back to Kauaʻi," seems you'd be preaching against the totally non-sustainable practice of tourism.
5:15 PM, it is your choice to grow and eat food as you wish, but spare us the B.S. judgemental rhetoric. Most organic food is grown by being fertilized with animal feces, which is usually the result of them having been fed GE. Organic uses plenty of poisons as well, which often are worse towards mammals and non-target insect species (like beneficials and pollinators). As one local farmer has pointed out, to be sustainable a farm has to produce a profit, yet how many of the organic farms are subsidized through free or underpaid labor, depend on "agrotourism", or some other separate revenue stream from what the farm actually produces? And the local organic growers don't depend on inputs that are flown or shipped in from the mainland???? By the way I know many KCC students (as well as students from other universities) who would tell you the same things.
ReplyDeleteSustainability??? We rely on tourism, real estate sales and construction. I'll bet that 99% of the "sustainability" advocates came here on a carbon spewing jet and are engaged in some business that relies on tourism. Gimme a break.
ReplyDeleteEchoing the last few posts.....And I am very familiar with the practices of "organic" farmers here on Maui. What an irony...these folks are constantly complaining about real farmers' alleged illegal/immoral practices....what about the totally illegal, unsafe, and unsanitary shacks that house these "sustainable" farmers' volunteer workers (WOOFERS)?
ReplyDeleteI call B.S.
Blogger Joan Conrow said...
ReplyDeleteI assume they gave it because they thought I should have it. And it wasn't from any current or former member of the JFFG.
March 6, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Please elucidate, who are "they"? Inquiring minds want to know.....
To 12:52:
ReplyDeleteWho cares?
Maybe so Joan could expose it for what it's probably going to be; a report that wouldn't pass muster with any credible expert in pesticide issues, drafted by a bunch of anti-conventional/anti-biotech activists directed by a facilitator who is more interested in sensationalizing than doing what he was supposed to do ---- find the FACTS.