GMO coffee, taro moratorium to be discussed

[canhle]

From Hawaii Tribune Herald.
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/arti...ocal04.txt


by Jim Quirk
Stephens Media


The Hawaii County Council's Environmental Management Committee is expected to vote on two resolutions today that call for the Legislature to impose moratoriums on growing genetically modified taro and coffee in Hawaii.

North Kona Councilman Angel Pilago, who submitted the resolutions, said Monday the bills at the state level are both important for cultural, social and agricultural reasons.

The Legislature approved the bills in initial readings during the 2007 session, but must do so again in 2008 in order for them to become law, Pilago said.

One bill calls for a 10-year moratorium "on developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, growing and raising genetically modified taro" in the state, while the other calls for temporarily prohibiting "the growing of genetically modified coffee for a period of five years and, at the same time, permit research in an environmentally secure facility."

"(The bills) are important to me because they protect the agricultural industry ... on our island," Pilago said. "In order to protect the genuineness of Kona coffee, we have to do this."

Coffee is "one of the unique agricultural industries we have," but it will be diminished if the state continues to allow growers to alter crops genetically, he said.

Taro is "culturally significant to the island's indigenous people," but allowing it to be altered through genetic tampering takes away from its "social, environmental and cultural values," Pilago said.

"We need to keep symbolic purity intact," he said.


canhle

[Guest]

Beginning tomorrow January 16th TODAY, there will be a three day protest at the Capitol regarding genetically modified organisms and in particular TARO.

It is being covered by the local media.

*Edit*

.....The group of taro farmers and Hawaiian cultural and political leaders plan to pressure House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Clift Tsuji to hear a bill calling for a 10-year ban on any genetic modification of the traditional food plant....
Tribune

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Coming home soon!

[gtill]

I sure hope they take a look at the plus side, if some raging disease or affliction that hits only taro or coffee comes here, do you spray till saturation forever or develop a GM variety that's resistant to the disease.

On the mainland the dutch elm tree was wiped out by a blight, but a replacment GM has replaced it. What Damage?

On the other scale, is a genetically modified plant to immunize it to roundup a good thing?

If a GM answer to the snail blight in taro, would that fly?

Taro is a Hawaiian derived crop, They should have the say on it for sure!

But even if banned, don't lock the door on the future. Microwaves were once called mini nuke plants. Were they wrong?

A ban would kill the seed corn industry here. A persistant disease requires seed corn to be grown off continent. It's one of the strongest diversified crops in Hawaii. Ban it?

Taro is a true staple necessary to the Hawaiian lifestyle. They should have the full say on their main food source! They should also remember the missionaries!

Enviromentalism is a religion!

[Guest]

The Legislature has a agreed to have a Hearing after all at the Capitol on
SB 958

Imposes a 10-year moratorium on developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, growing, and raising genetically engineered taro in the State

WHEN: Wednesday, March 19, 2008- 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: State Capitol - Auditorium

WHO: Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture - Rep. Clift Tsuji

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Today in History:
Mrs. Mary Castle, one of the few early missionaries to the "Sandwich Island Mission" who lived into the 20th century, dies at the age of 87. She arrived in Hawai'i in 1843. 1907

[Guest]

For those who do NOT plan to testify in-person, but would like to insert written comments into the official record only, email to: SB958WrittenOnlyTaro@Capitol.hawaii.gov