Friday, September 27, 2013

Newsletter: Hawaii County Council Summary for Bill #113

Aloha e kakou,
 
GMO prohibition Bill #113 was discussed Sept. 23, 2013, by Hawaii County Councilmembers who had an opportunity to ask questions of various experts representing different fields that relate to the bill. The Committee was recessed until Oct. 1 at 1:00 p.m. in Hilo, where Council discussion with experts may continue or amendments to the bill will be discussed, but no testimony will be allowed.  After deliberating the bill, the Council will vote on it.  All satellite offices will be open except Pahoa which is being moved.

An amended Bill 113 was presented by Councilmember Wille expanding the open air cultivation prohibition to include propagation, development or testing: 
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/796083/Page1.aspx

Councilmember Onishi offered several amendments to Bill 113 to remove the registration requirement for GMO papaya, exempt universities and government agencies, exempt all approved GMO crops:
  1. http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/796106/Page1.aspx
  2. http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/796107/Page1.aspx
  3. http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/0/doc/796108/Page1.aspx

GMO prohibition Bill 109 written by Brenda Ford was revived and Council voted to move it to the Environmental Management Committee of the Environmental Management Department where there is a 45-day waiting period for public comments which would influence the status of this bill.

To view today’s discussions with experts see video coverage provided by Occupy Hilo at our Facebook page.  Experts begin speaking in part one at about  1 hour and 4 minutes into the video:  https://www.facebook.com/GMOFreeHawaiiIsland

Jeffrey Smith addressing Hawaii County Council 9/23/13:
 

Mahalo for your continued support!
GMO Free Hawaii Island Team

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Governor's Announcement Raises Concern, Suspicion by Kaua'i Residents

Governor's Announcement Raises Concern, Suspicion by Kaua'i Residents "Voluntary Disclosure" of Pesticide Use Called "Weak," - "Not A Substitute" for Strong County Mandates of Bill 2491

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2013

LIHUE, HI -- Kaua'i r
esidents reacted strongly to Governor Neil Abercrombie's announcement of September 23, which requests agricultural entities to voluntarily disclose their "aggregated usage" of Restricted Use Pesticides until such time as rules and legislation are developed in the future. The Governor also stated that he would generally work with the State Legislature to seek funding for state agencies to address pesticide use compliance, without any further specific commitment.

This announcement comes days before the Kaua'i County Council is set to deliberate on Bill 2491, which provides for mandatory disclosure of Restricted Use Pesticides by Kaua'i's heaviest agricultural users, along with specific protections for Kaua'i children and families against the risks of pesticide exposure. These protections include buffer zones, a health and environmental study on the specific impacts of seed/agrochemical industry practices on Kaua'i, temporary moratoria on expansion, and other provisions.

Entities regulated under Bill 2491 are the agrochemical companies Dow Agrosciences, Syngenta, BASF and Pioneer (DuPont), along with one food-producing entity, Kaua'i Coffee.

"It seems that the Governor has started to realize the seriousness of the pesticide issues on Kauai," said Gary Hooser, Kaua'i County Council Member and co-sponsor of Kaua'i County Bill 2491. "But the measures announced by the Governor are woefully inadequate to properly protect the people of Kaua'i. The Governor's unspecific promises are certainly not a replacement for the strong set of mandates and protections that would be guaranteed under Bill 2491."

While the Governor's announcement states that his office collaborated with a "Kauai Legislative Delegation" and "farmers," to date, none of the many leaders active in promoting Bill 2491 were consulted or solicited for feedback on the Governor's proposed "steps to address the concerns of the community." Council Member Hooser expressed surprise and disappointment that neither he nor Bill 2491 co-sponsor, Council Member Tim Bynum were consulted by the Governor's office regarding the September 23 announcement.

"There was no transparency by the Governor here," said Fern Rosensteil of Ohana O Kauai. "There has been a continual lack of responsiveness from the state until now, when the people of Kaua'i are finally taking matters into their own hands. We can only conclude that the Governor's announcement is a purposeful attempt to undermine the momentum of our people."

"The people of Kaua'i cannot wait for the State's wheels to turn on weak, undefined promises," said Andrea Brower, an advocate and researcher on sustainability and food security issues on Kaua'i. "There have been serious health and environmental concerns in regards to the pesticide-seed industry for years. When the County is finally making progress on beginning to address the issue, the sudden move by the Governor for 'voluntary action' is weak at best, and a derailment at worst."

From 2010-2012, Dow, Syngenta, BASF and Pioneer have collectively applied over 98% of the total RUP's used in the agricultural sector. Since the launch of Bill 2491, doctors and medical professionals have testified about elevated incidents of birth defects, respiratory and endocrine abnormalities and elevated rates of cancer, particularly in areas of heaviest RUP use in west Kaua'i. Citizen testing of waters near west Kaua'i agricultural fields have revealed levels of Atrazine in excess of regulatory limits.

The time for state gesturing and political maneuvering is over," said activist Dustin Barca, a leader in the efforts to educate communities on pesticide use on Kaua'i, "Real, firm mandates on pesticide disclosure are close at hand. We will press on for County Council approval for Bill 2491 because our children and the aina (land) cannot and will not wait."

###

ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED BY THIS ATTEMPTED DERAILMENT OF BILL 2491 BY THE GOVERNOR?

THEN TAKE ACTION TODAY -- CONTACT KAUA'I COUNCIL MEMBERS

Tell them that "WE ARE NOT DOING BUSINESS AS USUAL!" and that "THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO PASS BILL 2491!"

1. Write AGAIN to Council Members Mel Rapozo, Ross Kagawa, Nadine Nakamura, JoAnn Yukimura and Jay Furfaro at CouncilTestimony@Kauai.gov.
Urge them to press on with Bill 2491 and show us what they are made of -- Urge Council Members not to bow their heads, wipe their hands of direct responsibility, or collaborate with weak attempts by the Governor to derail the biggest, most effective people's movement in Kaua'i's recent history.

Tell Council Members that the Governor's announcement for "voluntary disclosure" is NOT A REPLACEMENT for the real provisions of Bill 2491.

Tell Council Members not to shortchange our keiki and the future of our island with weak excuses for inaction.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

GMO Hearings for Bills 109 & 113

Aloha e kakou,

Hawaii County Council discussion began on both GMO prohibition bills today(Sept 6), with Bill #109 being voted down and discussion proceeded on Bill #113. There will be another opportunity for Bill #109 when it is on the agenda at a full Council meeting. The next Council meeting scheduled to continue the discussion of Margaret Wille’s Bill #113 will be on Monday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. in Hilo.

The Council will be calling upon expert witnesses to answer their remaining questions, and any witnesses appearing in Kona will speak via video conferencing. If you are able to help put expert witnesses on these issues in touch with respective councilmembers, please kokua.
  1. At the start of the meeting, Councilmember Onishi attempted to table both bills, but the motion failed as being out of order. He also offered an amendment to take papaya completely out of the bill (no exemption) and have them covered only under the bill’s main prohibition, but after discussion it was not accepted because it would have limited what current papaya growers could do in the future. 
  2. Councilmember Yoshimoto’s position is that there should be no GMOs allowed that are resistant to poisons, such as Round Up Ready crops, however, he is uncertain that crops like papaya that are virus resistant are as dangerous, and would like to hear from experts on this matter
  3. Councilmember Eoff does not want Hawaii Island to turn into Kauai, wants a bill that would protect air, land and water, but is unsure of the wording and would like more expert testimony on some issues. 
  4. Councilmember Kern wants to keep out predatory farming and open air cultivation, and would like clarification on pollination between crops/species by experts. He also wants to hear from experts if GMO virus resistant crops are as risky as poison resistant crops
  5. Councilmember Kanuha does not want open air testing/crops, but doesn’t believe all GMO is bad and the bill may hurt small farmers so he wants to understand how this bill would affect local food security
  6. Councilmember Ilagan would like to know what other current GMO crops are in the ground that could cross pollinate
  7. Corporation Council, Lincoln Ashida commented that bills need enforcement provisions or they would be hollow, and recommends Environmental Management Department as being equipped to address violations. 

Mahalo for your continued support.

GMO-Free Hawaii Island: gmofreehawaiiisland.org
Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GMOFreeHawaiiIsland
Email: gmofreehawaiiisland@gmail.com

Monday, September 2, 2013

GMO Bills 109 & 113 Comparison


Two GMO prohibition bills will be introduced on September 4, 2013, 1:30 pm, in the Public Safety & Mass Transit Committee in Hilo: 
  • Bill  113 by Margaret Wille which replaces Bill 79, and 
  • Bill 109 by Brenda Ford.   
  • In addition, Margaret Wille has submitted Communication #394 Discussion and Formation of an Ad Hoc Committee Relating to Genetically Engineered Crops and Plants. 
You can read both bills, and the Ad Hoc resolution by downloading the files at the bottom of this page.

Public Testimony on the bills and the Ad Hoc Committee proposal will be heard at the beginning of the meeting, however, testimony is limited to 2 minutes whether speaking on one or all of the agenda items. You can testify at the satellite office locations in Kau, Kona, and Wiamea. The Pahoa satellite office is currently closed, so people in that area will need to go to Hilo.

Keeping the focus of testimony on the points of the bill will assist the Council in discussing what the community deems to be important.

Take Action:

Contact your Council member before Sept. 4 to let them know what kind of bill you support.  Taking this action will provide them with input prior to the committee’s discussion.  A Council contact list is attached.

If oral testimony is given, it is recommended that more detailed written testimony also be submitted via email due to the 2-minute time restriction.

  1. Bill 109 - Introduced by Brenda Ford
    http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/794683/Page1.aspx
  2. Bill 113 - Introduced by Margaret Wille
    http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/794699/Page1.aspx
  3. COM 394 Ad Hoc Committee
    http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/794737/Page1.aspx
  4. COM 404 Hawaii Island GMO Summit
    http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/794893/Page1.aspx
  5. UPDATED AGENDA - The PAHOA office will be CLOSED; no testimony in Pahoa, you have to come to Hilo
    http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/DocView.aspx?id=795049
COMPARISON OF GMO BILLS

Bill 113 Margaret Wille

“Protect Hawaii Island’s Agricultural Heritage and Its Ecosystems from Harm from Genetically Engineered Organisms.”

Prohibition:  No open air cultivation, propagation or development of genetically engineered crops or plants.

Exemptions: crops or plants being cultivated, propagated or developed prior to the effective date of this article are exempted provided locations or facilities are registered within 90 days.  

GMO papaya in current and future locations is exempt provided commercial locations or facilities are registered.

Administration:  Department of Research & Development, Agriculture Division.

Registration:  $100 annual registration fee beginning within 90 days of the effective date of article.

Penalties:  Violators fined $1000 per day, per location and responsible for costs of investigation, court and legal costs, and for damage to non-GE crops, plants, neighboring properties or water sources.
Bill 109 Brenda Ford

“Genetically Modified or Engineered Organisms Prohibited.”

Prohibition:  Unlawful to cultivate, develop or use any GMOs or to genetically modify any specific or non-specific parts of an organism’s genome.

Exemptions:  state/federal licensed medical or agricultural research institutions are exempt if contained in a biosafety level 3 facility.

Sunset Date:  cultivation, development or use of GMOs may continue for a period not to exceed 30 months.

Administration:  Department of Environmental Management.

Registration:  $100 annual registration fee beginning within 60 days of the effective date of this article.

Enforcement:
Administrative Enforcement:  Violators fined $1000, and $1000 per day of violation.

Penal Enforcement
Violators who fail to comply are arrested for petty misdemeanor, fined $1000 or 30 days in jail.  Responsible for costs of testing, removal, destruction of GMOs, and remediation of property.


Ad Hoc Committee Com #394 
 We recommend that if an Ad Hoc Committee is utilized that is form after a Bill is passed so that it does not hinder legislation, and that the focus of the bill emphasizes transitioning away from GMOs.
  1. It is important to stress to the Council that the Ad Hoc Committee is not about co-existence, but about transitioning away from GMOs.   
  2. That the committee be formed after a bill is passed and focus its work on supporting farmers to transition to non-GMO crops rather than the topics outlined in the Ad Hoc Committee proposal: co-existence, pesticides, pros/cons of indigenous/ecologically friendly farming.
 Report: "Exploring Coexistence of Diverse Farming Practices Alternative Report" 

Join our Facebook Event Page for September 4, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/lh5b6az


Hawai`i Island County Council Representatives
The Hawai‘i County Council is comprised of nine members, each elected from one of Hawai‘i County’s nine council districts, and serving two-year terms. The Council’s powers and functions are governed by Article 3, Section 3-1, Hawai‘i County Charter, which states that the legislative powers of the county shall be vested in the County Council. Its primary function shall be legislation and public policy formulation. The Council is responsible for passing the laws that govern this county, as enacted by ordinance, and written in the Hawai‘i County Code.

Detail Information about each elected council member can be located on the County's website at:
http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/council/
 

How to Testify for a County Bill

Get involved in the process to create legislation and public policy that is appropriate for your County by participating in the public hearings for proposed Bills and amendments. The County Council meets in the Hilo & Kona Chambers alternately, and has satellite centers around the island for your convenience.
  1. Locate and Read the Bill 
  2. Visit with the County Council Representative(s)
  3. Testify for the Bill (and in some cases Rally - Sign Waving or Marching)
You can visit the County Council Bulletin Board to see the meeting agenda's or sign up to have the agenda's sent to you via email. Once an agenda item has been recorded you can review or download an electronic copy from the County Laserfiche Website at:
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/Welcome.aspx. 

You can testify in person, on the day of the public hearing or by submitting a written or video testimony by noon on the workday prior to the public hearing. 

Important information to include with your testimony

  1. DATE of the hearing which is 9/4/13
  2. Communication (COM) or Bill number
  3. Committee's name i.e. "Public Safety and Mass Transit" (PSMT)
  4. Your name and where you live
  5. Your position -- whether you SUPPORT or oppose
 Testimony Formats
See Complete Instructions
  1. Testify in Person (Oral and/or Written)
  2. Written Testimony
  3. Video Testimony
TESTIFY IN PERSON
You can testify in a group, meaning before you read your testimony say that you are also representing the following people, and then list their names. The time you spend reading the names will NOT be counted against your time. Make sure you say your name, where you live, and who you are (i.e. mother, organic farmer, business owner, etc) Bring 15 copies of your testimony with you that day and give 14 to the clerk; keep one for yourself to read from, then give it to a press person.


WRITTEN TESTIMONY You can send in your written testimony via regular mail, email mail or fax machine. You can include research studies, factual data, books, or videos along with your personal written statement. Items that can not be duplicated should be sent in multiples of 14 so that they can be distributed to all of the County Council representatives. 

  VIDEO TESTIMONY
Those submitting video testimony may email a complete web address (url) to videotestimony@hawaiicounty.gov before 12:00 noon, on the workday prior to the public hearing.

The email should include the following:
  1. Date
  2. the Committee, 
  3. agenda item, 
  4. and number of testifiers on the video submittal. 
  5. Send SEPARATE VIDEOS for each agenda item. 
  6. Video submittals may contain up to three (3) individual testifiers and shall each be up to three (3) minutes in length. 
  7. Video testimony will not be played during the meeting; however, it will be distributed to Council Members prior to the meeting. If submitted after the deadline, Council Members will receive the video testimony after the meeting. The Office of the County Clerk reserves the right to refuse testimony containing inappropriate content or that is not in compliance with Council Rule 13 (Public Statements and Testimony) .
Allowable video formats are to be internet-based, downloadable, and accessible to this office and the general public; e.g. YouTube being the most commonly known but any, of similar functionality and format we can access and review, is acceptable.

MISSED THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY
 If you miss the deadline for written public testimony, the Office of the County Clerk will accept your written public testimony at the Committee meeting. When submitting written public testimony at a Committee meeting, please see a Committee Services staff person stationed at the front entrance of the Council room and provide them with your written public testimony. The Office of the County Clerk advises that you bring fourteen (14) copies of the written public testimony to expedite distribution to the Council members during the meeting.

Hawai`i Island County Council Representatives
The Hawai‘i County Council is comprised of nine members, each elected from one of Hawai‘i County’s nine council districts, and serving two-year terms. The Council’s powers and functions are governed by Article 3, Section 3-1, Hawai‘i County Charter, which states that the legislative powers of the county shall be vested in the County Council. Its primary function shall be legislation and public policy formulation. The Council is responsible for passing the laws that govern this county, as enacted by ordinance, and written in the Hawai‘i County Code.

Detail Information about each elected council member can be located on the County's website at:
http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/council/


Public Testimony for Bills 109 & 113

★ ★ ★ ★ Rally to Protect Hawaii Island ★ ★ ★ ★
Wednesday September 4th at the County Building in Hilo from 10 am to 1 pm. Come stand with us to protect Hawaii Island from #GMO. Bring a sign or borrow one of ours. Bring a friend, bring a drum, bells, bring your keiki...this is a family friendly event.

Then come inside and testify for your favorite GMO prohibition bill at 1:30. We need LOTS of testifiers to show up on Wednesday and possibly Friday the 6th.

★ You can testify in a group, meaning before you read your testimony say that you are also representing the following people, and then list their names. The time you spend reading the names will NOT be counted against your 2 minutes. Make sure you say your name, where you live, and who you are (i.e. mother, organic farmer, business owner, etc) Bring 15 copies of your testimony with you that day and give 14 to the clerk; keep one for yourself to read from, then give it to a press person.

Council Committee meets in HILO but you can testify there or at satellite locations in Ocean View, Kona, or Waimea. Pahoa office is CLOSED until further notice. Each testifier will be allowed TWO MINUTES TOTAL for testimony, no matter how many items they testify on. There are 4 items on the agenda; Ms. Ford's Bill 109, Ms. Wille's Bill 113, forming a GMO ad hoc committee task force, and a report on the 8/19 Big Island GMO Summit.

★ TESTIFY & RALLY! Please WEAR GREEN in solidarity.


★ DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION of written or video public testimony is before 12:00 noon TUESDAY 9/3.

EMAIL written testimony to: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
BY MAIL:to the Office of the County Clerk at 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI 96720,
FAX to (808) 961-8912
Video testimony can be sent to videotestimony@hawaiicounty.gov See below for complete instructions

Please submit SEPARATE WRITTEN OR VIDEO TESTIMONY FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM. Each email should have the following:
  1. DATE of the hearing which is 9/4/13
  2. Communication (COM) or Bill number for the item you are testifying on (listed below with stars)
  3. the Committee's name which is "Public Safety and Mass Transit" (PSMT)
  4. your name and where you live
  5. whether you SUPPORT or oppose
Please try and keep your comments positive and constructive.

 ★Bill 109 - Introduced by Brenda Ford
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/794683/Page1.aspx

★Bill 113 - Introduced by Margaret Wille http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/794699/Page1.aspx

★COM 394 Ad Hoc Committee http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/794737/Page1.aspx

★ COM 404 Hawaii Island GMO Summit http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/WebLink8/0/doc/794893/Page1.aspx

UPDATED AGENDA - The PAHOA office will be CLOSED; no testimony in Pahoa, you have to come to Hilo
http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/DocView.aspx?id=795049

For bill comparisons visit:
http://gmofreehawaiiisland.org/


★ Video Public Testimony: Those submitting video testimony may email a complete web address (url) to videotestimony@hawaiicounty.gov before 12:00 noon TUESDAY 9/3. The email should include the following: Date: 9/4/13, the name of the Committee is "Public Safety and Mass Transit," agenda item (the communications and bill numbers are listed above), and number of testifiers on the video submittal. Send SEPARATE VIDEOS for each agenda item. Video submittals may contain up to three (3) individual testifiers and shall each be up to three (3) minutes in length. Video testimony will not be played during the meeting; however, it will be distributed to Council Members prior to the meeting. If submitted after the deadline, Council Members will receive the video testimony after the meeting. The Office of the County Clerk reserves the right to refuse testimony containing inappropriate content or that is not in compliance with Council Rule 13 (Public Statements and Testimony) .

Allowable video formats are to be internet-based, downloadable, and accessible to this office and the general public; e.g. YouTube being the most commonly known but any, of similar functionality and format we can access and review, is acceptable.

★ Written Public Testimony Submitted Past Deadline: If you miss the deadline for written public testimony, the Office of the County Clerk will accept your written public testimony at the Committee meeting. When submitting written public testimony at a Committee meeting, please see a Committee Services staff person stationed at the front entrance of the Council room and provide them with your written public testimony. The Office of the County Clerk advises that you bring fourteen (14) copies of the written public testimony to expedite distribution to the Council members during the meeting.

Rally to Ban GMOs on Hawaii Island - Sept 4, 2013

Rallies and Marches are an important way to share your message
with people in our community that might not already know about
GMOs. A large number of people help to convey the importance.
You care about our island, right? Your care about our ocean & surf breaks, right? So come show your support and help stop the thousand of pounds of chemical fertilizers that get dumped onto the ʻāina finding its way into our water tables and into our precious ocean.

We need everyone to come join us & Rally to Protect Hawaii Island. Let's make this one big party! Come stand with us to protect Hawaii Island from #GMO. Bring a sign or borrow one of ours. Bring a friend, bring a drum, bells, bullhorn, bring your keiki... this is a family friendly event, even bring your boss along.

Organizers:
www.facebook.com/OccupyHilo
www.facebook.com/GMOFreeHawaiiIsland &