Big Island News: HB 1226: A Bill for An Act That Sounds A Lot Like Tyranny
In the Upcoming week you have one chance to speak up against one of the most thought provoking laws to be presented in Hawaii's recent history: HB1226. On April 8th there was a hearing on a resolution for the County Council to oppose this bill, and due to a procedural error the resolution must go through another hearing. This will be held April 22nd at 10:00 am in Kona at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay. Citizens can testify via video link from Hilo or Waimea from 10 am - 2 pm. If you would like to testify, in Kona/Waimea/or Hilo please let Paul Normann- Hawai'i SEED's island Coordinator (www.hawaiiseed.org) know. Just email paulwnormann@yahoo.com That way he can keep track of what is needed. This is our one shot to speak out against the bill. Over the last few years residents across the state, from all walks of life, have been working very hard to bring about laws that would prevent Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) from being used in any form in the islands. From scientists to farmers, from politicians to Hawaiian cultural practitioners, residents have been pushing this movement forward. But the underlying issue in HB1226 is way beyond GMOs. HB1226 would remove authority to regulate GMOs from not only county governments in the islands, but from the State Government itself. It would give all authority to the Federal Government. Now this is the perplexing part of the Bill. Why would the State Government want to give up its authority to regulate what goes on in the islands? Is it because there is a threat to a billion dollar industry, that has not been proven to be environmentally safe, or safe for human consumption by the test of time? Just last year there was a senate bill(958) on the floor that would have banned all GMOs in Hawaii for ten years. When this bill fell apart, the Big Island County Council took up the call to action. There was been great opposition from special interest groups, and even from former Mayor Kim. After passing through three County Council Hearings with over a hundred different testimonies, and over 1200 written letters of support from residents, a County ordinance(08-154) to ban GMO Taro and Coffee on the Big Island was passed unanimously on October 9th 2008. Among the supporters of the Bill were Taro Farmers, most Kona Coffee Farmers, and some Scientists from UH Hilo. Although this Bill passed unanimously, Mayor Harry Kim saw fit to go against public and council opinion and vetoed the Bill on October 30th, 2008. On November 13th the County Council overrode Kim's veto with a vote of 7 for the bill and 2 votes against it. This bill will protect Taro and Coffee from being genetically engineered, with fines up to $1000 dollars for anyone involved in doing so. Now there is a possibility that any future actions along these lines would be fruitless. Across the nation there has never been a bill of this nature. There have been 15 states that have removed the authority of county governments to regulate GMOs, and put in the hands of the State Government, but never has there been a bill that would take the authority out of the States own hands. This is not democracy. This is a billion dollar industry taking away our rights! For the full text of HB1226 click here To view the full text of the resolution opposing the Bill that is on the table at the county council, click here |
