Maui GMO Labeling Bill

SUBHEAD: Oral and written testimony is needed from Maui residents on GMO food labeling bill.  

By Mandala Ethnic on 12 September 2011 thru Email -  
(MandalaEthnicArts@maui.net)
   
Image above: GMO Food. What it looks like isn't what it is. From (http://sourgrapeblog.com/2011/07/14/why-you-should-avoid-genetically-modified-food).

Below you will find helpful information regarding written and oral testimony. Thank you for participating in this empowering opportunity. ORAL TESTIMONY Please be present and offer 3 min. of oral testimony Wed. Sept. 14, arrive at 8:30am to sign up for 9am policy committee hearing AND/OR email testimony submitted by 9am, Tues. Sept.13. Full details below! Wednesday, Sept 14th, 8:30am - 10am 8th floor of the Kalana O Maui Building 200 S High St # 703, Wailuku, Maui

PLEASE NOTE WRITTEN TESTIMONY IS DUE 24 HOURS BEFORE POLICY COMMITTEE HEARING.

I have found it most effective if one sends in written testimony AND comes to testify in person when time allows. This gives you ample time to express yourself in written testimony including any research references and then focusing on key points during the 3 minutes allotted for oral.

RESOLUTION SECTION 1. Chapter 328, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: B328- Genetically engineered material; labeling requirement. Ramoda Anand and his assistant, Tiffany helped introduce a GMO labeling bill and it needs your support!!!

TO VIEW A COPY OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION visit this link: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/147568151924562/doc/?id=270313732983336)

ORAL TESTIMONY The Council shall receive oral testimony first from persons whose testimony forms are submitted prior to the convening of the meeting. Initially, three (3) minutes will be granted on each item, and at the discretion of the Council Chair, an additional minute may be granted to conclude the testimony; or an additional three (3) minutes on each item will be granted to those who are unable to conclude their testimony, after all others desiring to speak have been heard. Thereafter, persons whose testimony forms are submitted after the meeting convenes, but before the testimony portion ends, will be allowed to present oral testimony for three minutes on each item. The Chair may grant an additional minute to conclude the testimony.

WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN PERSON
If written testimony is submitted at the meeting, 15 copies are requested. If written testimony is e-mailed or faxed (808-270-7171), please submit at least 24 hours before the meeting so that copies can be provided to Council Members in a timely manner.

BY SNAIL MAIL
Written testimony must be received 24 HOURS BEFORE MEETING.

Please mail to: Policy Committee Kalana O Maui Building 200 S High St # 703, Wailuku, Maui BY EMAIL Please email to: pol.committee@mauicounty.us Here is a format you may follow (copy and paste):

Aug. 15, 2011 Dear Policy Chair, G. Riki Hokama and Members of the Policy Committee. My name is .

I am a resident of Maui County. Please approve the following Resolution: POL-3(3) HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES (HSAC) (2012 HSAC LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE) 3. A proposed resolution entitled "APPROVING FOR INCLUSION IN THE 2012 HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE A STATE BILL REQUIRING THE LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD PRODUCTS". The purpose of the proposed resolution is to approve for inclusion in the HSAC Legislative Package a State bill to require the labeling of genetically engineered food products sold in the State. (Then express why you feel it is important to label GMO and why you support this Resolution.) Thank you~ (your name) (your address)

"The Bill, regarding GMO labeling, is a proposed Bill from the Maui County Council to the Hawaii State Association of Counties, for inclusion in their StatePackage.

If this Bill makes it through review by each respective County (Maui, Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii), it will then be supported by all 4 Counties throughout the State, and adopted as part of the HSAC STATE PACKAGE, for this upcoming Legislative Session. This action now puts the list of Bills before the State Legislature for consideration and possible adoption."

Message from Courtney~ I am very happy to be working with Ramoda. Please know that we all are making a difference! Every phone call made, testimony, conversation, intention, video viewed and/or posted is spreading awareness about this GMO's and our RIGHT TO KNOW.

Labeling is ESSENTIAL as well as not buying products that contain GMO's. Here are 2 VIDEOS to SPREAD WIDELY~  

This is Jeffrey Smith talking about some facts about G.M.O. food and why Monsanto is hiding the truth from the American people using our F.D.A. to do it. You are probably eating G.M.O.s or animals that have consumed G.M.O. grain and over time this can be doing cumulative damage to you and your children's health.  


Video above: Austin Robyn O'Brien on food at TED Conference. From (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rixyrCNVVGA)

Robyn shares her personal story and how it inspired her current path as a "Real Food" evangelist. Grounded in a successful Wall Street career that was more interested in food as good business than good-for-you, this mother of four was shaken awake by the dangerous allergic reaction of one of her children to a "typical" breakfast. Her mission to unearth the cause revealed more about the food industry than she could stomach, and impelled her to share her findings with others. Informative and inspiring.

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