• Monsanto cares • Let positive discussion bring change, respect Monsanto cares I consider myself a reasonable and respectful local girl, a former resident with children currently living on Kaua‘i, who willfully chooses to work in the agricultural industry, specifically
• Monsanto cares • Let positive discussion bring change, respect
Monsanto cares
I consider myself a reasonable and respectful local girl, a former resident with children currently living on Kaua‘i, who willfully chooses to work in the agricultural industry, specifically for Monsanto. I’m saturated in agriculture every day, and am not trying to sound presumptuous. I am here only to provide some information I have knowledge of. I’d like to respond to the June 15 letter about Monsanto’s donation of seeds to Haiti.
Monsanto’s gift of vegetable seeds was a humanitarian response to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. With the approval of the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture, Monsanto donated a variety of hybrid seeds appropriate for Haiti’s climate. It should be noted that contrary to false statements online, the seeds were accepted and planted by Haitian farmers. These seeds were conventionally bred and not derived from biotechnology. The Haitian farmers have no contractual obligation to Monsanto, and Monsanto is making no revenue on its gift. Some of the seeds were given a fungicidal treatment, a common practice worldwide and used in Haitian agriculture, because it inhibits diseases that can hinder a plant’s germination and growth.
The USAID-funded WINNER project and The Earth Institute are managing seed distribution in Haiti and providing educational support. While the seeds were donated by Monsanto free of charge, they are being distributed by farmer associations that are selling the seeds to growers at significantly reduced prices, with revenue to be reinvested in local agriculture. The WINNER program estimates that Monsanto’s seed donation could help 10,000 farmers in Haiti.
The Haitian farmers, the intended recipients of these seeds, have not refused them (to the contrary, they have planted them). It is disingenuous for those watching from the outside to encourage them to “burn Monsanto seeds,” when it is the Haitian farmers who will stand to lose the most.
You can learn more about the donation at www.monsanto.com/features/helping_haitian_farmers.asp
I encourage anyone with a genuine interest to come and talk to us about who Monsanto is and what we do.
Through my grandfather’s guidance and ingrained in me growing up here in Hawai‘i, I know that by working together we can accomplish far more, through respectful diversity and a commitment to seeking accurate knowledge.
Dawn Bicoy Kaunakakai, Moloka‘i
(Formerly of Kalaheo)
Let positive discussion bring change, respect
In response to the “Just go home” letter on June 26, let’s please talk about the real issues.
Statements made in this letter include suppositions (“the vast majority of dog owners on Kaua‘i are responsible pet owners), broad clichés (“the people that complain loudest about barking dogs seem to be folks that have moved from big city Mainland lifestyles”), thinly veiled arguments that promote ignorance (e.g. a poor analogy about being fool enough to buy property next to an airport having a relationship to noise from pre-existing barking dogs), and simple falsehoods that promote a self-righteous perspective (“some dogs bark”) and ignore the root of the problem — an extraordinary lack of responsibility by many pet owners to properly care for, train and treat their animals (namely dogs) and neighbors with the most basic level of respect.
There are at least a half-dozen examples in our residentially zoned, subdivision development where neighbors have had or acquired dogs and put them on a chain/in a cage for years on end with absolutely no socialization or training; they bark all the time at anything and the owners do absolutely nothing. This is an epidemic in many Kaua‘i neighborhoods and there is absolutely nothing one can do but plead for respect and decency from their neighbors. Such requests are often simply ignored or treated with extraordinary disrespect.
Herein lays the weakness and short-sightedness of the writer’s letter; it is an opinion and not based on any facts. General statements made like “Kaua‘i is mostly rural and people in rural areas like dogs” completely ignore the fact that; 1) Kaua‘i’s major population densities are comprised of families living in core-residential, developed, neighborhood-like communities with people living within a stone’s throw of each other (this is hardly “country” living), 2) no matter what reason people choose to have an animal (“beloved pets,” watchdog or hunting) they do not have the right to ignore the right of their neighbors to the quiet enjoyment of their homes, 3) people all over the world like and own dogs (not just in rural areas) and the density of dog ownership in “big city Mainland” areas far exceeds that found on Kaua‘i (which is purely a matter of statistics). So, no matter what position is taken to defend the lack of responsibility by many Kaua‘i dog owners with excessively barking dogs, there is absolutely no excuse for ignoring the fact under common law that persons in possession of real property are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their lands (do some basic legal research).
More than one owner not caring for their dog(s) and creating a nuisance does not justify the behavior; two wrongs do not make a right. Training for any domesticated animal is a key premise to a happy and healthy relationship with your animal(s) and your neighbor(s). Animal owners who are not responsible owners are not likely to just wake up one day and decide to act differently. True respect and responsibility are simple ideas which are unfortunately not often understood or embodied in many people’s daily lives.
Kaua‘i better figure this one out and quick, as the human response to avert a crisis is much more valuable than dealing with the aftermath of one. A little empathy will go a long way towards helping address this issue. Talk to your neighbors, talk to your council members, talk to the mayor and don’t accept tired arguments as an excuse for inaction. Let the conversation and discussion of remedies create positive change!
George Spelvin, Kapa‘a
