Aloha Aina March and more

SUBHEAD: Maui and Oahu County are waking up to GMOs. In 2014 Monsanto has an option on 10 year lease of 1,033 acres of Kamehameha School land.

By Brad Parsons on 7 December 2013 in Island Breath -

http://www.islandbreath.org/2013Year/12/131208marchbig.jpg
Image above: Detail of poster for Aloha Aina March. Click for whole image.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=609398825762983&set=gm.363201400491609&type=1&theater)

WHAT:
Aloha Aina March
Demonstration against unrestricted GMO seed experiments and restrictred use pesticides.

WHEN:
Sunday, 15 December 2013 at 12:00pm noon.

WHERE:
Gathering at Haleiwa 7-11 store at noon
Event at Haleiwa Park on Oahu, Hawaii

SPONSOR:
Dustin Barca and Hawaii GMO Justice Coalition
(https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiGMOJustice)

Yesterday Dustin Barca won the 2013 Surfer Poll ~ Agent of Change Award ~ at that ceremony Dustin and Walter Ritte confirmed an Aloha 'Aina March to take place Dec. 15th at 12 noon starting at the Haleiwa Beach Park, see video, link and flier below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCXXAflJw9Y
https://www.facebook.com/events/363201243824958/

We have had a surge the past couple days of a few hundred new signers on the petition, MAHALO to whoever is making that happen. Know there are thousands more potential supporters out there for this: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/gmo-labeling-in-hawaii



Maui is Next!

SOURCE: Brad Parsons (mauibrad@hotmail.com)
SUBHEAD: Maui County may become Hawaii's next battlefield over GMOs seed experiments and restricted use pesticides.

By Sylvia Cocke on 5 December 2013 for Civil Beat -
(http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/12/05/20590-maui-may-become-hawaiis-next-battlefield-over-gmos-and-pesticides/)


Image above: experimental GMO fields on Molokai. From original article.


The fight over genetically engineered crops and pesticides is shifting to Maui.

Councilwoman Elle Cochran plans to submit a bill to the Maui County Council on Friday requiring agricultural companies to disclose details about their pesticide use to the county, while farmers would have to report any genetically altered organisms they are growing.

The bill mirrors legislation that recently passed on Kauai over the protests of biotech companies that have vowed to sue the county.

It also comes on the heels of Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi signing Bill 113 into law on Thursday. It bans biotech companies from growing genetically altered seeds and farmers from harvesting any new GMO crops.

The spate of legislation reflects a growing frustration at the county level toward what some council members say is lax state oversight of pesticides and GMO crops. And it marks a widening offensive by the increasingly organized anti-GMO movement in Hawaii.

Maui County has twice tried and failed in recent years to pass GMO labeling laws and the county already bans GMO taro for Native Hawaiian cultural reasons.

Cochran said that her bill does not specifically target biotech companies. But they will likely be most affected, if the legislation passes in its current form.

The bill requires commercial agricultural companies that use more than 5 pounds or 15 gallons of restricted use pesticides to disclose what chemicals they spray, where and in what quantities. Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences, as well as Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co., will likely be affected.

The bill would apply to all of Maui County — including the island of Molokai where both Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences operate and collectively employ nearly 200 people. Monsanto also operates in Kihei on Maui and HC&S has sugarcane fields in central Maui and on the north shore.

Adolph Helm, project manager at Dow AgroSciences on Molokai, said that it was premature to comment on the specifics of the bill.

While the fight over GMOs and pesticides on the Big Island and Kauai have often been heated, Helm said he hoped that discussions in Maui County will remain civil.

“I just hope that it will be a discussion that is done in a way that is respectful and done in a collaborative effort with the county council and the mayor’s cabinet and in a way that we can always look at both sides of the issue,” said Helm.

The debate on Molokai over biotech could grow particularly contentious. The biotech industry supports about one-tenth of the island's population, but is also home to Walter Ritte, one of the state's most visible anti-GMO activists.

In a move that might potentially preempt the county legislation, Monsanto forged an agreement with Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa that promises to disclose details about its pesticide use and increase community outreach.

Cochran says that the memorandum of understanding between the mayor and Monsanto doesn't go far enough. “Not even close,” she said.

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Kenoi signs Big Island GMO Bill 12/5/13
Ea O Ka Aina: The Uprising on Molokai 11/30/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Kauai GMO Bill 2491 veto overidden 11/16/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Mason Chock chosen for Council 11/15/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Hooser pulls rabbit from hat 11/15/13

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