Thread: Events Could Adversely Affect Hawaii's Food Supply

How Far Away Events Could Adversely Affect Hawaii's Food Supply
Special from ZeroShibai.com
By Dave Wethington, 1/7/2008 12:57:23 PM
Now that NAFTA has been modified to allow Mexican trucks to travel unrestricted throughout the continental United States the following scenario is not only frightening to contemplate but a very real possibility as well.

Somewhere in Mexico, three semi-trailer trucks are loaded with goods bound for the United States. the latest government figures show that at most 10 percent of US bound Mexican trucks are inspected at the border. Of those that are inspected, they are given a cursory inspection at best. For this particular example let's say that all three trucks pass through the border without a problem, which is a very real possibility.

One truck heads for Long Beach, one for San Francisco and the third for Seattle. Within three days all three trucks have reached their destination – the loading docks at the waterfront. Nothing unusual about this, it happens every day. Except this time, things are different. Coordinating their actions by cellphone, the drivers in all three cities position their trucks in the busiest areas next the loading docks. Instead of unloading goods bound for overseas shipment, the tail gate opens and a single 55 gallon drum is pushed out and crashes to the ground. The truck then continues on its way and quickly disappears amongst hundreds of similar looking vehicles. The drivers and their crews abandon the truck and are never found.

It is soon discovered to the horror of everyone, that the 55 gallon drums that were spilled contained anthrax. Within an hour the FBI, CDC and Homeland Security have descended upon the scenes and the docks are closed. In addition, the local leaders of the dockworkers unions have declared an immediate walk out until further notice. Overseas shipping comes to a sudden and complete stop – similar to the vacant skies after the 9/11 attacks, except this lasts much longer.

Container ships in port bound for Hawaii are prevented from leaving for fear of importing anthrax into Hawaii. Other ships off the coast waiting to dock are barred from entering the harbors. Fear breeds more fear and false rumors. Days stretch into a week, then two.

In the meantime, on the day of the attacks, Hawaii residents learn of the docks being closed. They know what this means and they rush to the local supermarkets and 'big box' stores to stock up. Within a few short hours everything edible is gone from the stores. Latecomers are in a panic and it doesn't take long until violence breaks out – food riots, haves vs have nots, armed groups roving the streets looking for food.

Commerce comes to a grinding halt. Those who are smart and have food stay hidden. Those who do not have food are out looking for it – nothing else matters – money, fancy cars, clothes, they can't be eaten.

The local and state governments are of little help. They call out the entire police force and National Guard in an attempt to quell the riots and restore order. For the most part they are unsuccessful. Chaos and fear are in control – fueled by hunger.

Why all this chaos over a dock closing 2,500 miles away? Because Hawaii has at best a 6 day supply of food in the wholesaler's warehouses – if there is no panic. Hawaii's governments at both county and state levels, have for decades stood by and watched local agriculture whither and die. Too many government officials, like many residents, have become addicted to the lifeline from the mainland. Now that the lifeline is cut, panic ensues and people die.

This does not need to happen. There is enough open land on Oahu, Molokai and Lanai that if turned to agricultural use, in time could supply the people of Hawaii with all the food they need. However, growing food takes time. Starting something the day of the West Coast dock closings is obviously far too late.

This author has said for decades that Hawaii is making several grave mistakes in our food management:

The shackling of local agriculture, the conversion of huge tracts of ag land to residential, the ever growing dependence upon container ships to bring food to Hawaii and the lack of any plan whatsoever of what to do in an emergency. We have no vast storehouses of food, just a few very vulnerable warehouses that will be exhausted in hours.

In combination, these actions have put Hawaii residents in danger. Only a very few understand this danger, the rest will find out only when their stomaches growl.

The scenario just described is just one of several that could happen. A bigger terrorist attack involving a multitude of mainland cities or a major earthquake along one of California's many fault lines are just two that quickly come to mind.

The time to act is now, before a crisis occurs. Write your elected officials, send them a copy of this article. Urge them to start today to encourage and grow Hawaii agriculture. We simply must have the ability to feed ourselves.

Hawaii resident Dave Wethington can be reached at mailto:hawaii-dave@hawaii.rr.com This article is reprinted from http://www.zeroshibai.com Copyright 2008

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.asp ... d12af9bba0

The results of NAFTA are that Mexican cargo can be delivered in the United States in Mexican trucks. They can not carry cargo which is originating within the United States. Before NAFTA a Mexican trailer would be unhitched at the border then hitched to an American truck. Under NAFTA Mexican trailer can now be driven all the way to its destination. Although Mexican drivers earn less there are still times when it costs less to use an American truck to pull a trailer because an American truck can backhaul.