Your Views for June 29

Good job, mayor

Mayor Billy Kenoi, thank you for passing our county’s Bill 113 regarding growing genetically modified organisms on the Big Island — unlike the shaming comment made by Elaine Munro in her June 25 letter to the editor.

Ms. Munro stated Mayor Kenoi is a lawyer. It’s doubtful, being a lawyer and a mayor, one could be pressured by non-scientific voices.

Let’s wait to see what future reputable independent studies come forth to prove what each individual GMO plant contributes to our human/humane race (if studies are allowed by Monsanto and other chemical companies now holding patents on food seeds). What published studies are out there? Also, let’s watch what future plant diseases could occur with our own genetically modified Rainbow papaya. Then what?

These “chemical” companies are forcing genes of one species into another and changing the DNA of plants that Mother Nature took millions of years to build herself. We don’t know what these chemical companies are doing in the lab or in our fields because it is all behind locked doors and gates. These companies are allowed to do whatever they want, as GMO foods do not have to be labeled and make big corporate money that influences government decisions. The man running food safety at the FDA, Mike Taylor, has a long history of working within the walls of Monsanto.

Most of our country’s small farmers were forced out of business, why? Hilo’s Lyman Museum has old photos of the most healthy huge cows pasturing on the Big Island’s lands. These cows didn’t need heavily sprayed GMO corn, soy or beets, and they didn’t need synthetic chemical hormones to produce abnormally huge amounts of milk. Help subsidize the small farmer, again; American farmers can produce, if not pushed around by corporate greed.

Educate yourselves about GMOs, then eat as much DNA-changed food as you please. But we do have a responsibility to our children, our children’s children and further future generations.

Helene Love

Keaau

Goodbye, trees

What happened to the Aloha State?

I was shocked and saddened when I drove past the Department of Water Supply on Kekuanaoa Street in Hilo last week and saw the felling of those most lovely rainbow eucalyptus trees.

Several years ago, the stand was thinned out. It was alarming then. Now, they are completely gone. They were majestic and magical. Trees of their stature and beauty should be preserved in our city.

I wonder how this decision was made and if it was truly necessary.

JoAnn Frances Garrigan

Hilo