Support GMO-Free Taro legislation

HEARING FOR BILL TO PROTECT TARO MARCH 19

Hawai`i SEED/GMO-Free Maui
March 4, 2008

There will be a hearing for BILL SB958- the 10-year moratorium on genetic modification of taro! This is joyous & hopeful news! The hearing will be MARCH 19th, in the morning- Kalo needs much solid support! If can, try to take off work and bear witness at this historic hearing.

He keiki aloha na mea kanu. Beloved children are the plants. NOW is the time to express your concern and aloha for kalo in writing! If you ono for poi, make it official and demand protections for kalo and the taro industry- which will be permanently impacted by the disrespectful & irresponsible dangers of GMO kalo.

We still have the hard work of convincing the politicians to PASS the bill without inappropriate changes, so please...

SEND YOUR LETTER OF TESTIMONY NOW! (**SEE SAMPLE BELOW**)

Testimony letters are needed by Thursday, MARCH 6! To show your support & mana'o to key politicians before the hearing is scheduled.
EMAIL TESTIMONY TO NaKahuOHaloa@gmail.com. If you miss the March 6th deadline please submit testimony to us no later than March 15th. We will submit all testimony on time for the hearing at the Capitol on March 19th.

* Write your own testimony if can, personal testimony has much more importance when the politicians are reviewing all the letters. Or if way too busy, no worries, just use the sample letter provided BELOW. Be sure to include your name & contact information.
* Write testimony on professional/organization letterhead if can and attach to email as a PDF or doc.
* EMAIL TESTIMONY TO NaKahuOHaloa@gmail.com
* Forward this email on and encourage others to write testimony NOW!
You can also print out attached testimony form to pass out for people to write in their support. Completed forms can be mailed to:
KAHEA: The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance attn. KALO
PO Box 270112 Honolulu, HI 96827

When emailing your letter to NaKahuOHaloa@gmail.com please also CC as a letter to the editor of the newspapers that have not yet fairly nor accurately reported on this issue. Just copy these emails into the "CC" address line when you send us your letter:
letters@honoluluadvertiser.com
letters@starbulletin.com
letters@mauinews.com

To Organizations/Businesses/Non-Profits: Please submit your testimony with your letterhead. If you need further assistance or information for drafting or submitting testimony please contact us – we can help! Please be aware of your rights: Non-profits ARE legally allowed to endorse legislation. Non-profits are NOT allowed to endorse political candidates or spend more than a certain percentage of budget on lobbying efforts. Submitting testimony on this legislation will NOT compromise your 501-c-3 status. Contact KAHEA (kahea-alliance@hawaii.rr.com) for more information.

CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS – Tell them to support SB958 for ALL varieties of taro in Hawaii!
In case some politicians try to weaken the purpose of the bill, please make it clear that: This bill must protect ALL varieties of kalo in Hawaii. Not only the Hawaiian varieties of kalo. Genetic modification of any variety of the taro plant species is a danger to the entire species and a danger to the purity of our Hawaiian varieties.

House Representatives Districts/phones/emails:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/members/membersasp

Senators Districts/phones/emails:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/senate/members/members.asp

CONTACT NaKahuOHaloa@gmail.com for educational materials & speakers, to volunteer, or to make a tax deductible donation to this kaloroots movement.

Check www.KAHEA.org for more information- the Haloa page is continually updated, and soon will feature inspiring examples of testimony from all over Hawaii!

You can also easily submit your testimony online at KAHEA's Testimony Table:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2699/t/3040/campaignjsp?campaign_KEY=22208

Please review www.HawaiiSeed.org for more information on GMOs in Hawaii.

SAMPLE TESTIMONY

Name:
Organizations:
Neighborhood:
Town, Zip Code:
Phone/Email:

TESTIMONY- IN SUPPORT
SB958- 10 Year Moratorium on the Genetic Modification of Taro

Aloha Legislators,
We write to ask that you support the 10 year moratorium on all forms of genetic modification and patenting of the taro (kalo) plant species. For 1200 years farmers in Hawai'i have cared for and protected the most varieties of taro on the planet. In Hawai'i taro is the plant of the people- it is our living culture and ancient history, native nutrition and ecological tradition. Taro provides a beloved and unique hypoallergenic food, medicine, sustainable agriculture and industry for Hawaii. Genetically modifying any variety of taro is culturally disrespectful and also poses irreversible and irresponsible dangers to our food, health, environment and economy.

I support sustainable farming & precautionary scientific research that does not expose the taro species to the disrespect and risks of genetic engineering. I ask that the legislators actively support farmers/scientists in publicly accepted and safely advanced methods of protecting taro from land & water issues and invasive pests & diseases.

Taro is an incomparably sacred and valuable part of our island community. We join mahi'ai (farmers) of Hawai'i in calling on you and your fellow legislators to protect all of us and Hawaii's unique culture and resources by passing a law to provide a 10 year moratorium on the genetic modification and patenting of all varieties of the taro plant species.

Malama Haloa! Malama Pono,
Hawai`i SEED/GMO-Free Maui ~ 572-1865

HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
 
1.  HB3425 on apple snail controls research passed the House Finance Committee but without putting necessary changes back in that would ensure the funding was used for its intended purpose.  No dollar amount was attached and the effective date has been pushed back.  That is often a tactic to keep the bill going so we just need to be vigilant as it crosses over.
 
We are being challenged by the invasive species agencies because they are afraid we will take their money - even though they have not picked up the ball in control efforts.  DLNR has also testified in writing at the hearings that any new field use of untested snail control compounds would be considered an illegal use of an unpermitted and unlabeled pesticide.  If we don't get the funding for lab testing, we won't be allowed to do field trials for anyone.  This will affect every taro farmer with snails in the state.
 
2.  SB2518 the companion bill to HB3425 was NOT heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee and still needs to be scheduled.  We need this bill as a backup.
 
3.  SB2915 on the Taro Security and Purity Task Force passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee with funding intact but without the simple amendments that would have allowed us to use the funding more proactively towards Task Force priorities.  We will need to add those back in when it crosses over to the House.
 
4.  The Hawaiian Caucus will put SB958 on the negotiating table with Calvin Say this coming week.  It could come up really soon for hearing if there is agreement.  Representatives of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association (HCIA aka the biotech industry) were out in force, going door to door in the legislature lobbying against the bill.
 
5.  Maui County Council PWF-69 - the Public Works and Facilities Committee heard a request for a letter of support from the County for SB958 to the legislature.  With only 3 minutes to testify, it was hard for folks to have the powerful impact they usually do when they speak but we managed.  We showed two videos - one documenting the Haloa protests  from Uncle Walter Ritte, and the second, Na Ono O Ka Aina, featuring the many ancient taro varieties and Uncle Jerry Konanui talking about the real reasons why taro isn't doing so good these days (by Na Maka o Ka Aina).  We are working on getting that on Akaku soon.  HCIA Molokai paid the way of several employees to come to Maui and testify against the request and the bill.  Expect more of that.  Mahalo to Kathy Winkler and her students who stood up and spoke out!  The decision was deferred.  The discussion and decision-making will continue on March 7th (we are working on squeezing it on to the agenda for the 7th, today) and hopefully will go to full Council on March 12th.
 
Ask your friends and neighbors to write a letter, sign a petition, go to the legislature or council and give testimony.  Each one of you is so important - numbers DO count and are more critical than ever now!  Be proud to tell your family you stood and were counted; your letter and signature are in the record of the testimony; you stood up for Haloa, and for the joy of poi, not just on opening day but when our voices were needed and counted in the hearings at the Capitol and at the County! Don't hesitate. With all of us, we can.
 
WHAT WE NEED THIS WEEK:
 
1.  MAUI folks:
The Public Works and Facilities Committee will try to finish discussion and decision-making on PWF-69 in support of SB958 on MARCH 7th.  We are recommending SEND IN TESTIMONY BY EMAIL OR LETTER.  This link makes it easy:  pwf.committee@mauicounty.us  Be sure to put "PWF-69" in the subject line.
 
Here is an example - cut and paste if you like:
 
TO:  Council Member Bill Medeiros, Chair, Public Works and Facilities Committee
FROM:  [your name and address]
DATE:
 
Aloha Honorable Council Members;
I strongly support PWF-69 in support of SB958 and urge the County Council to pass this resolution. Protecting all taro, is important to me because....
 [sign your name - type it in if its by email]
 
Call or email your Council members and urge them to set the date for decision-making asap and to support the resolution (PWF-69) in favor of SB958.
 
Council Chair G. Riki Hokama    270-7768    riki.hokama@mauicounty.us
Council Vice-Chair Danny A. Mateo     270-7678    danny.mateo@mauicounty.us
Councilmember Michelle Anderson     270-7108    michelle.anderson@mauicounty.us
Councilmember Gladys Coelho Baisa     270-7939    gladys.baisa@mauicounty.us
Councilmember Jo Anne Johnson     270-5504    jo_anne.johnson@mauicounty.us
Councilmember Bill Kauakea Medeiros     270-7246    bill.medeiros@mauicounty.us
Councilmember Michael J. Molina     270-5507    michael.molina@mauicounty.us
Councilmember Joseph Pontanilla     270-5501    joseph.pontanilla@mauicounty.us
Councilmember Michael P. Victorino     270-7760    michael.victorino@mauicounty.us

2. STATE - Write testimony NOW for HB3425/SB2518 (apple snails), SB2915 (task force) and SB958 in preparation for the next hearing dates.  If you've already sent in testimony, you can use the same text and just change the committee and date.  We will let you know as soon as the dates are set.  We are being challenged by the invasive species coalition because they are afraid their budgets will be cut if we receive attention for snail controls.
 
If you are a taro farmer and apple snails are killing your crop and/or you want a voice in and decision-making power over the kinds of research and assistance that are provided for taro farming, the legislature IS listening.  It is an election year, we won't get another chance like this for a long time.  Send your testimony in support of both HB3425/SB2815 and SB2915.
 
For SB958 - you can email your testimony right now to  NaKahuOHaloa@gmail.com. It will be submitted for you when the hearing is scheduled.
 
3.  Call the Senate Ways and Means Committee members (see below for the list)  to hear SB2518 especially if you are a constituent of any of the members of the committee. Give them a call and tell them:

Your name

That you are from their district (and you grow taro, if you do)

That SB2518 should be heard in WAM and is very important to supporting non-gmo alternatives and improving protection for taro, farmers need a realistic and environmentally safe solutions to the apple snail problem now

So little money has been allocated to taro by the legislature and the agencies in the last five decades that we stand to lose this precious resource to neglect

Taro crosses many issues - from economic development and agriculture, to health, food security and tourism - and that funding sources should reflect this rather than drawing from a single agency's budget.  This will have less impact on everyone

This bill will help taro farmers statewide

To pass the bill

If you are in Senator Rosalynn Baker's or Shan Tsutsui's district - call them and tell them you are from their district (or from Maui) and to hear and support SB2518.  As the chair and vice-chair they will have a lot of influence.

WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
• Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair    586-6070, From Maui, toll free 984-2400 + 66070
• Senator Shan S. Tsutsui, Vice-chair    586-7344, From Maui, toll free 984-2400 + 67344
• Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland     586-6130
• Senator J. Kalani English, Vice-Chair    587-7225, From Maui, toll free 984-2400 + 77225, From Molokai and Lanai, toll free 1-800-468-4644 + 77225
• Senator Carol Fukunaga     586-6890
• Senator Gary L. Hooser     586-6030, From Kauai, toll free 274-3141 + 66030
• Senator Lorraine R. Inouye     586-7335, From the Big Island, toll free 974-4000 + 67335
• Senator Donna Mercado Kim     587-7200
• Senator Ron Menor     586-6740
• Senator Jill N. Tokuda      587-7215
• Senator Fred Hemmings     587-8388  (a hard sell - we need plenty of Waimanalo voices here!)
• Senator Paul Whalen     586-9385, From the Big Island, toll free 974-4000 + 69385
 
WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS:

The bill goes to the floor for FIRST READING and assignment to committee = PASSED

It goes to the subject committee in the House and Senate (in this case Ag Committees) = PASSED

It goes to the floor of each side for SECOND READING where it gets decided to keep it going or not.   = PASSED

It gets put on the calendar for WAM and HF (may be as early as next monday February 18th)  = PASSED

It goes through THIRD READING (final reading after last committee before it crosses) = IN PROGRESS

The bills must be heard and decided on in these committees NO LATER THAN MARCH 6 (cross-over bill time). 

Then, it goes over to the opposite side for FIRST READING = IN PROGRESS

To the issue committees on both sides (ie. an SB bill goes to the House, an HB bill goes to the Senate)

Back onto both floors for SECOND READING.

Over to the budget committees again.

To the floor for THIRD READING

To the floor of the whole legislative (House and Senate together) where they hash it out.

If it makes it through ALL that, it goes to the Governor for signature.