Hoosier asks for GMO Bill support

SOURCE: Brad Parsons (mauibrad@hotmail.com)

SUBHEAD: Submit testimony for Bill 2491 relating to Pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms.

By Gary Hooser on 23 June 2013 in Island Breath-
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2013/06/hoosier-asks-for-gmo-bill-support.html)


Image above: Scene from Maui rally during May's statewide (and worldwide) demonstrations against GMOs. From (http://mauinow.com/2013/03/23/photos-maui-rally-against-gmo-draws-strong-turnout/).

Letter from Gary Hooser:

Aloha Friends,

I need your help on this one. 

The attached proposed ordinance Bill 2491 Relating to Pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms is self explanatory and The Garden Island article linked below also explains the proposal clearly. 

Our community deserves the right to know what impacts the GMO industry and the related intensive pesticide use is having on our community. The ordinance does not ban GMO's and it does not impact small farmers at all. Bill 2491 is a reasonable attempt at informing and protecting our communities health and natural environment. 

I don't often send out mass emails asking for help but I am today because this is important and to be successful the broader community is going to need to actively engage the issue - at the minimum by sending in supportive testimony. 

Every email and every testimony is very important. 

Please help pass the word to friends and family and ask those that share our values to submit email testimony ASAP prior to the Wednesday June 26 Council meeting.
Attached in case you would like to see the detail, is a copy of the proposed ordinance Bill 2491.

Written testimony supporting Bill 2491 should be sent as soon as possible to counciltestimony@kauai.gov

If anyone would like to become familiar with the basics of the Bill, a copy of The Garden Island newspaper article is here http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/hooser-introduces-gmo-bill/article_b86ae096-da42-11e2-a764-0019bb2963f4.html
Whether testimony is given in person on Wednesday or not, sending in email testimony early is important. 

As you are fully aware, the opposing forces are formidable and though this Bill represents a reasonable approach to the issue, the large agribusiness operations will automatically fight its passage. 

Thank you so, so much for your ongoing help with this. We are going to need to push very hard to make this happen. 

All the best. gh

Gary Hooser
Phone: 808-652-4279

Gary Hooser's Blog http://garyhooser.wordpress.com/

Read "It's Not About Eating The Corn"
My take on GMO labeling and regulation
http://garyhooser.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/its-not-about-eating-the-corn/

For testimony sent to Council:
CouncilTestimony@kauai.gov

For non-testimony email messages to council members:
Jay Furfaro, Council Chair (JFurfaro@kauai.gov)
Nadine K. Nakamura, Council Vice Chair (nnakamura@kauai.gov)
Tim Bynum, Councilmember (tbynum@kauai.gov)
Gary L. Hooser, Councilmember (ghooser@kauai.gov)
Ross Kagawa, Councilmember (rkagawa@kauai.gov)
Mel Rapozo, Councilmember (mfrapozo@kauai.gov)
JoAnn A. Yukimura, Councilmember (jyukimura@kauai.gov)

For non-testimony email messages sent to all Council members:
Councilmembers@kauai.gov

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Re-election Contingent on GMO Vote 6/24/13
Ea O Ka Aina: My testimony on GMO Bill 2491 6/24/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Pass Pesticide Bill - Testify today! 6/23/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Hooser's GMO Bill 6/22/13.