Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, September 26, 2013
Hawaii County council keeps anti-GMO bill alive
By Selected News Articles @ 8:27 PM :: 5314 Views :: Hawaii County , GMOs

Hawaii County council keeps anti-GMO bill alive

by JoAnna Wendel | September 26, 2013 | Genetic Literacy Project

Scientists, academics and activists gathered at the Hawaii County Council on Monday to discuss the controversial GMO bills that would severely limit or outright ban the cultivation of GM crops on the Big Island.

The council heard from University of Hawaii scientists, including the Dennis Gonsalves, creator of the GM rainbow papaya, which many argue saved Hawaii’s papaya industry, and Michael Shintaku, a professor of plant pathology, who spoke about the relative safety of glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup herbicide.

In an embarrassing move, Councilwoman Brenda Ford, whose Bill 109 would ban all GM crops outright, had former yoga instructor and anti-GMO crusader Jeffrey Smith Skyped in to the meeting to give his testimony. Smith’s two self published books and prominently anti-GMO documentaries remain central to the anti-GMO movement despite having been repeatedly called into question by the scientific community. Among the other anti-GMO voices were a naturopathy practitioner and a gynecologist who referred to herself as a “mermaid against GMOs.”

Also in attendance was Kauai councilman Gary Hooser who has introduced Bill 2491, which if passed would place severe limitations on the use of GMOs and pesticides on Kauai.

After eight hours of discussion, the council adjourned until October 1st, keeping these bills alive at least another week.

Watch a segment of the discussion:

Additional Resources:

 
Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii