Support for lawsuit ADVERTISING Support for lawsuit It is not surprising that a local farmer has filed suit against the GMO registration requirement (Tribune-Herald, March 5). Perhaps the politicians just want this issue to go away, but it will not
Support for lawsuit
It is not surprising that a local farmer has filed suit against the GMO registration requirement (Tribune-Herald, March 5). Perhaps the politicians just want this issue to go away, but it will not so long as this latest form of government intrusion into legitimate private business continues.
Farmers are understandably fearful that registration creates an unreasonable risk of information disclosure that could then result in malicious destruction of property or other mischief. GMO opponents say they oppose criminal acts against GMO farmers but seem unwilling to support anything that would help prevent them.
Registration or labeling requirements for GMO crops are not justified, but, as some testified during the hearings on Bill 113, they cast unreasonable suspicions on agricultural products that are both legal to grow and wholesome when consumed. Ironically, if you search on the Internet for causes of food-borne illness, you can find many cases involving the consumption of organic food products (prominent example is last year in Colorado, where 30 people were stricken with hepatitis A after consuming organic berries), yet organic farmers are not required to register with the county as are the GMO farmers.
I wish this lawsuit to succeed, and implore Judge Greg Nakamura to relieve us from this arrogant case of unequal treatment under the law.
Curtis Beck
Hilo
Good reporting
Reporter John Burnett should be commended for his accurate and unbiased court reporting (“Shooting still causes pain,” Tribune-Herald, March 4). I was a spectator at the trial, interested in seeing how a jury trial is conducted. As I read Mr. Burnett’s accounting, I was impressed how accurately and clearly he reported the details of the case, even the minor ones. He accurately reported just the facts and recounted exactly what was said during the court proceedings.
In all, I observed how the judicial system operates, and I was pleased to see that the Hawaii Tribune Herald reporter got his story right and reported the court proceedings exactly how they occurred.
Richard Dinges
Hilo
