Big Island News: GMO bill still has hurdles in order to become law, Mayor Kim may veto the County Council's vote.
Aloha Everyone,
I am writing this evening to share with everyone who supported Bill 361, and helped to pass it through three hearings, the news that transpired today.
Today a group of 7 supporters of Bill 361, representing coffee and taro farmers and citizens met with Mayor Kim and 2 of his staff. He gave us his mana'o, speaking about how special Hawai'i Island is to him, and of course we all agree. He also shared how and where he grew up, what he values, and some of his history.
But he did not talk openly about GMO's. In fact he said a few times he did not understand the complexities of the debate. He said at the opening he was there just to listen, but that did not transpire. In order to speak you had to almost talk over him. So needless to say, not a great deal of information was communicated. At the end of the 75 minutes, he did ask us a question about the GMO taro.
However, Jim Cain, Kihei Nahale-a, and Melanie Bondera delivered heartfelt and knowledgeable messages, clear and to the point. The Farmers are saying no. There are also economic, health, and cultural and environmental concerns. We love the 'aina also,and want to protect the food crops that are the life of the land andthe people,and also the economic life of both East and West Hawai'i.
But, Harry believes that before science" gets it right", there will be some unavoidable errors and cited various technologies where this had occurred. He firmly believes as many do, that research into understanding the secrets of life, plant pathway knowledge, metabolic knowledge, etc. should proceed.. ....and that science in lab should proceed unimpeded.
It was not our place to be argumentative with our Mayor, who looked frail, referred to himself as "old man," and had unsteady hands. We all felt deeply for him, having to deal with such deep questions, that in his eyes are "divisive" and pulling the community apart. He is against war and says he is a man of peace. So this "new kind" of disagreement and divisiveness across his island and across the island chain is not ok with him. It is not "aloha." He wants the dissent to stop.
He has told all his "staff and agency heads" they may not take a stand on this issue and they may not be "divisive" themselves. Seems as if they are all following their Mayor so far.
But I have recently realized that what is really "divisive" is the technology itself. When the DNA, the ancestor's knowledge is cut, and new genetic sequences from other species are inserted and then replicated in every cell and then cloned, the plant's inherent knowledge is cut and changed, patented and owned . Where ever that genetic material moves it belongs to the patent holder. The farmer is prevented from saving and improving seed, and dependent upon a handful of corporations for the seed for our food supply. Now THAT is "divisive!" No wonder there is such strong disagreement on the issue of "contamination."
It was unclear whether Harry is intent on forming a "council," to debate I guess, the merits of the technology and find a way we can all "coexist," which was not his word but intent. Jim Cain expressed the group's interest in such a council. But we didn't sense any real interest in this idea from Mayor Kim. We could be wrong.
He will be thinking this over for a few more days before he signs, vetoes or does nothing. He said that he will decide after he meets with more people, and let everyone know the reasons for his decision.
He seems unconcerned about "contamination." Now that is concerning. I felt that we had not taken proper time with him to discuss these basic problems. We had done so 5 years earlier, many times, and thought he understood.
He gave us every indication that he was going to veto the Bill, but he did not directly say that. I think it takes 6 votes to override the veto. Perhaps the community can persuade him to support the Bill.
If you have not yet called to thank your Council Member for their support of Bill #361, it would be an excellent time to do so. Please call tomorrow or the next day, and give your mahalos and appreciation for listening to the voice of the people and especially holding the farmers needs in such high esteem. For daring to think of all the possibilities that could happen. For being ethical. For being excellent listeners for 8 hours. For keeping their sense of humor, for asking intelligent questions, and for thinking deeply and wanting to know who folks worked for, and where the conflict of interest lay. Please ask them to continue to support Bill 361.
Please also take time to call Mayor Kim's office and leave your message to support Bill 361. His number is 961-8211. If Harry vetoes the bill, it will come before the Council one more time, hopefully before the next Council takes their seats. There will be another round of testimony.
Bill 361 is not finished yet, please hold the highest outcome for the taro and coffee families and all their ohana. Please send this communication on to everyone who supported this bill.
Aloha,
Nancy Redfeather
Colehour Bondera
Melanie Bondera
Kona Coffee Farmers Association
http://www.konacoffeefarmers.org
