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Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - canhle - 02-02-2007
From Hilo Tribune 2/2/07:
HONOLULU -- A coffee farmer from the Big Island's west side and a taro farmer from the east side got their way Thursday when a House committee agreed with a moratorium on genetically altered versions of their crops.
The House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection unanimously approved HB 704, which would impose a 10-year moratorium on all production of genetically modified taro, and HB 1577, which would impose a five-year moratorium on open-field production of genetically modified coffee.
The bills now go to the Committee on Agriculture. Chairman Clift Tsuji, D-South Hilo, Puna, Keaau, has not indicated whether he'll consider them.
Committee members heard more than three hours of testimony on the bills, which were sponsored by Rep. Melee Carroll, D-East Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and co-sponsored by, among others, Rep. Faye Hanohano, D-Puna, Pahoa, Hawaiian Acres.
Coffee and taro growers supported the bills, which were opposed primarily by the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, a nonprofit started by the sugar industry, and scientists from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
"Taro and coffee both face serious disease threats from outside Hawaii that would likely destroy the industry if these diseases become established in Hawaii," said scientist Stephen Ferreira. "I realize that some people have concerns about the use of biotechnology. These are largely based, in my opinion, on limited knowledge and understanding of the technology."
Fifth-generation taro farmer Jerry Konanui of Puna gave the committee an earful, disputing scientists' claims that genetic modifications are needed because taro yields are down.
Noting that Hawaiians see taro, which they call "kalo," as sacred and a member of their family, Konanui called the modified taro "culturally offensive."
"Take your contaminated kalo, and don't give it to me," Konanui said. "The local people knew how to do this. ... For three generations, as I look back, there was never a time that we did without taro. ... I don't know why you guys are, like, save me from my taro -- leave my taro alone. We doing fine.
It's not the first time the moratorium bills have been heard by the Legislature, which has fielded similar bills for four years.
A bill calling for a stricter moratorium on coffee made it all the way to the Senate floor last year, where it was narrowly defeated 11-13, with Big Island Sens. Russell Kokubun, D-South Hilo, Puna, Ka'u, and Paul Whalen, R-Kohala, Kona, Ka'u, voting against it.
"We feel we're being really, really reasonable this year by making it a five-year moratorium and allowing research in labs," organic coffee grower Una Greenaway of Captain Cook said after the meeting. "We're trying to come up with a compromise."
The taro moratorium is likely to fare better. The Senate version of the bill, SB 958, passed the Senate Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, chaired by Kokubun, earlier this week.
"At this point in time, I really want to concentrate on taro, which has a cultural significance," Kokubun told the Tribune-Herald on Thursday. "I'm not convinced that coffee needs to be addressed at this point."
In her testimony, Greenaway implied that big agribusiness is lobbying heavily against the coffee moratorium, although lawmakers won't admit it.
"I may be the only one to say this, and I'm going out on a limb, but there's this giant elephant in the room, and the elephant in the room is the seed-corn industry," Greenaway said. "And I personally, and everyone I know in the coffee industry, is tired of being held hostage by the seed-corn industry."
canhle
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - Momi - 02-02-2007
It's a good thing Jerry Konanui and Una Greenway are on this issue. If anyone wants to join in on protecting our food from more gmo's I saw Jerry this past weekend at the Maku`u Open Market with the petitions for people to sign.
Did you know that the UH is taking more specimens from our oceans and land in Hawaii to be sold to gmo companies and studied and then patented. Now that is really scary.
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - punagirl - 02-03-2007
Do you know if Jerry & Una have a web site for electronic signatures? GMOs are really scary. One thing I really like about Whole Foods is knowing that every product in the store is insured not to be GMO. This is one more reason the have a small garden and use heirloom seeds to keep natural varieties alive.
Atlanta/Pahoa
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - Momi - 02-03-2007
Hi Punagirl,
I don't know if they have an online petition but here is the website for more information on the issue.
http://www.higean.org/
Jerry has been at the Makuu Open Market on Sunday mornings with his petition I don't know if he is finished getting signatures though. I have Una's email address if you want me to email it to you. Mahalo for your concern. It is an important issue.
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - Momi - 02-12-2007
Aloha,
Just thought some of you might be interested in writing testimony to protect our Hawaiian taro from being patented.
Aloha,
Dear farmers, supporters, friends and family,
Now, more than ever, we need everyone to send in testimony and or be there
to testify on Tuesday, Feb 13 at 10 am in Room 325. These are new committees hearing the "no gmo taro" bill. If you have sent in testimony before, you can send the same one in, just be sure to change the names and committees and the Bill and Bill #.
Please, if you know of any supporters, have them also send in testimony.
This is imperative! Every one of our testimonies needs to be counted and heard.
Fax or email testimony at least 24 hours before - by 10:00 am Monday,
February 12, 2007.
Fax Testimony (if less than 5 pages) to HOUSE SGT AT ARMS 586-6501 (Oahu)
or 1-800-535-3859 (neighbor islands).
Please tell them to deliver 35 copies to the Committee on Agriculture & the
Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, Hearing on Tuesday,
February 13, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 325.
To Email send to: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
Please ask them to deliver 35 copies to the Committee on Agriculture & the
Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, Hearing on Tuesday,
February 13, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 325
Here is a form that you can follow:
To: Representative Clift Tsuji, Chair
Representative Tom Brower, Vice Chair
Committee on Agriculture
Representative Kyle T. Yamashita, Chair
Representative Glenn Wakai, Vice Chair
Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns
Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Conference Room 325
From:
Subject: Support of HB 704, which Provides a 10 year moratorium on
testing, propagating, cultivating, growing, and raising genetically
engineered taro.
*state your reasons for support.
*sign (if faxing) and put contact # or address.
MAHALO!
Bonnie
GMO-FREE MAUI
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - Keith - 02-12-2007
why would anyone want to Genetically modify Taro? Field corn is almost all GMO but its a 100 billion dollar industry.
Keith
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - Momi - 02-12-2007
Sorry for getting this post in after the date.
They genetically modified taro so it could withstand, certain diseases that are attacking the taro in Hawaii. The problem was, they wanted to patent the taro and control the sale of this particular variety in the future. Taro farmers and concerned citizens in both the Hawaiian community and the farming communities have band together to not allow ownership of the patents by UH on taro and now this bill HB 704, which Provides a 10 year moratorium on
testing, propagating, cultivating, growing, and raising genetically
engineered taro. It is my thought that taro is perfect for food, medicine, and ceremonial use just the way it is. Hawaiians feel it is an infringement of their ancestrial tie to the taro which is the main staple and believed to be a relative of the Hawaiian people.
Here is an article about the gmo taro. I hope this link works.
http://homepage.mac.com/juanwilson/islandbreath/%20Year%202006/16-farming/0616-02GMOandTaro.html
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - canhle - 02-12-2007
The reason to have GMO is to control the plant. Here is just one of many stories just to give us an idea of how big corporation try to control the food chain:
Excerpt from Macleans Magazine May 17, 1999. Article by Mark Nichols
"For 40 years, Percy Schmeiser has grown canola on his farm near Bruno, Sask., about 80 km east of Saskatoon, usually sowing each crop of the oil-rich plants with seeds saved from the previous harvest. And he has never, says Schmeiser, purchased seed from the St. Louis, Mo.-based agricultural and biotechnology giant Monsanto Co. Even so, he says that more than 320 hectares of his land is now "contaminated" by Monsanto's herbicide-resistant Roundup Ready canola, a man made variety produced by a controversial process known as genetic engineering. And, like hundreds of other North American farmer, Schmeiser has felt the sting of Monsanto's long legal arm: last August the company took the 68-year-old farmer to court, claiming he illegally planted the firm's canola without paying a $37-per-hectare fee for the privilege. Unlike scores of similarly accused North American farmers who have reached out-of-court settlements with Monsanto, Schmeiser fought back. He claims Monsanto investigators trespassed on his land -- and that company seed could easily have blown on to his soil from passing canola-laden trucks. "I never put those plants on my land," says Schmeiser. "The question is, where do Monsanto's rights end and mine begin?"
canhle
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - canhle - 02-12-2007
Keith,
You have hit the nail on the head. Field corn is almost all GMO. It is 100 billions dollar industry. But I think there is still a few billions to make with GMO Taro. Here is the thing: Once a corporation controls the seed, it controls the source of the food chain. It control life. The thing with GMO seeds is that they are very hardy and can be pollinated by nature such as the wind, the birds, the bees, etc... Because of the hardiness of GMO, It usually establishes itself quite easily. For example, if we were canola farmers, and the wind carry GMO seed from our neighbor and drop them on our field. Before we know it, most of our canola will be GMO. And before we know it, some corporation will knock at our door to serve a subpoena for growing their seed without paying the fee.
Here is the beauty of GMO according to these corporation: It is an ending supply of money. It is a perfect money making machine.
canhle
RE: Bans on modified taro, coffee advance - Keith - 02-13-2007
I am not a fan of GMO technology for the same reason that you are stating, plus the lack of adequate testing for safety and control. About 10% of the world's population uses taro or taro-like plants (Araceae) as a staple in the diet, and for 100 million people this is an important daily food. It seems that the Taro grown in Hawaii is not the market they are after it's the other 100 million people that require this plant to survive.
Keith