Maui GMO protest

[peteadams]

Funny, with all the huhu and suspicion about big corporations and GMO's, many seem quite willing to trust the promises of big corporations that there are no GMO's in their products. Especially all the mega-corporations taking over the "organic" market, whatever that means these days. After all, the GMO's are less costly to produce, so there's a buck to be made. The alleged organic foods have guaranteed higher prices which corporations like a lot and then there's the corporations that admit they label "GMO-free" like General Food's Cheerios purely for marketing purposes. In fact, one frequently even hears condemnation of the profit motive behind all this maneuvering, which used to be so very unAmerican.

[PaulW]

"Here's a thought... All who are pro GMO can return to wherever it was that they came from and enjoy all the GMO products they wish.
Don't force me to accept your preferences."

You're the one who wants to change existing laws and force your preferences on others so why don't you take that hike?
Also, what about the many many pro-GM people who were born here (e.g. the papaya farmers), where do you suggest they go to satisfy your irrational fears?

[rainyjim]

Plants and animals evolved naturally on this planet before mankind gained the cognizance to manipulate its environment. Hopefully we can all agree up to this point.

Next came agriculture which fostered community centers and permanent settlement.

Laws eventually developed to govern disputes.

New technologies arose and from those hybrid crops arose.

Eventually transgenics came about.

Farmers who practice time honored methods since quite literally the dawn of civilization (organic agriculture, just agriculture really - doesn't need a qualifier) are now required to submit to costly and time consuming methods to prove that these 'natural' means of production are mot contaminated ...by either transgenics, or pesticides used for so called 'conventional agriculture' (really post WWII chemical monocultures - actually deserves a qualifier - other than 'conventional' which is a misnomer.) while those using transgenic crops and pesticides are free to 'play in the sandbox' with their transgenic pollen and toxic pesticides blowing about in the wind with no care in the world. So farmers who have been farming with the time-proven techniques of their forefathers are now having their fields contaminated with cross pollinated transgenic crops and polluted with toxic pesticides.

Where should these people move to? A different planet? A bubble? All because somebody wanted to make an easy, cheap, quick buck? By spraying poison and planting mutated crops?

[Delta9r]

quote:

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Originally posted by PaulW

"Here's a thought... All who are pro GMO can return to wherever it was that they came from and enjoy all the GMO products they wish.
Don't force me to accept your preferences."

You're the one who wants to change existing laws and force your preferences on others so why don't you take that hike?
Also, what about the many many pro-GM people who were born here (e.g. the papaya farmers), where do you suggest they go to satisfy your irrational fears?

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Kindly illustrate where I have promoted the change of existing laws?
My gripe is with the use of my home island for experimental crops intended to further enrich a few wealthy shareholders at the expense of our environment.

Forcing my views on others is not the same as preserving ancient farming techniques. Hyperbole much? We've had non-GMO farming here for centuries, and now it's the newcomers who are trying to force their newfangled ways upon an unwilling people.

Papaya farmers? Last I knew the vast majority of papaya farmers were 1st & 2nd generation Filipino.
My family has been here longer than that.
If someone wants to grow experimental crops they should do so in biocontainment and not in the open air.

Take my own hike? I was born & raised on this island, and here is where I'll stay.

You speak of irrational fears, yet conveniently ignore the big hakaka over GMO kalo.
Remember that?

quote:

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http://hawaiiseed.org/local-issues/taro/

Why A Moratorium on GMO Taro?

GMO taro:

Undermines the genetic integrity of taro, sacred to the Hawaiian people;
Threatens the taro market and livelihood of taro farmers. Taro production yields over 6 million pounds annually valued at $3.3 million.
Threatens the biodiversity of the taro plant;
Could cause new, unexpected problems in taro cultivation;
Could contaminate traditional varieties of taro and take away taro farmers’ ability to choose what they grow in their lo’i; and
Overlooks the wealth of traditional knowledge about growing taro that has been passed down through generations and generations.

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Which of the above listed issues is "irrational?"

"Life is labor, and all that is good in life comes from that labor..."

[rainyjim]

"Could"

[OpenD]

quote:

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Originally posted by Oneself

My bad. Its not NINE...

quote:

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No, it's THREE laws passed, just as I said, only ONE of which is actually on track to go into effect... Vermont, on July 1.

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Originally posted by Oneself Its TWENTY NINE.From an article about Vermonts recent win -

"Twenty-nine other states have PROPOSED bills recently to require GMO labeling, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. "

You were saying something ?

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I was saying that what makes this debate so frustrating is that anti-GMO activists like yourself simply refuse to deal with reality, to tell the truth, or to respect facts. Your evasive response merely proves my point. Proposed bills are not laws.

And laws that violate the US Constitution get overruled, as I have no doubt this one will be.

[Midnight Rambler]

quote:

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Originally posted by rainyjim

If labeling was required Kellogs must store each type of crop separately. This means more granaries and more sorting and more effort.

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Only if they want to non-GMO label. More likely, since the great majority of commercial corn and soy in the US is now GMO, all processed food makers will simply slap on a label that says "may contain GMO ingredients" on everything they make and leave it at that, because it's very difficult to trace through the whole supply chain. Which of course will also render the idea of labelling largely pointless.

[Delta9r]

quote:

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Originally posted by OpenD

I was saying that what makes this debate so frustrating is that anti-GMO activists like yourself simply refuse to deal with reality, to tell the truth, or to respect facts. Your evasive response merely proves my point. Proposed bills are not laws.

...


... because there is no such thing as GMO black beans...

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Look who's making things up as part of their argument...

http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/database/....bean.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_turtle_bean

Apparently there actually are such things as GMO black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), and they've been tested here in the US as well as in other nations.

Funny how some will try to marginalize any who dare oppose their personally held beliefs, while simultaneously espousing "the aloha spirit" and other forms of superiority.

"Life is labor, and all that is good in life comes from that labor..."

[Derrick Barnicoat]

As far as I am concerned, there is undeniable evidence that non GMO food just plain tastes fresher and better. It just fuels the soul. I know it is not scientific, but it is true.

[Guest]

I still do not understand why people who make NO PROFIT (unless you DO ?) from GMO companies, defend these unethical companies ? Whats your motive man ?

People want to know what they are eating, let them ! What the fudge is the big deal ?

Live and let live.