General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMayor Vetos Anti-GMO Bill and Kaua'i Council Overides It!
http://muchneededvacations.com/category/hawaiian-islands/kauai
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LIHUE Bill 2491 is headed for the Kauai County law books.
The controversial bills five-month legislative saga closed a major chapter Saturday, when the Kauai Council voted 5 to 2 to override the mayors veto.
We passed the bill! a joyous and emotional crowd screamed repeatedly in front of the Historic County Building after the vote came in around 12:30 p.m.
The law, which will go into effect in nine months, will require the islands four biotech seed companies to disclose their use of pesticides and genetically modified crops. Kauai Coffee, the countrys largest coffee grower, will also be affected.
In the end, 2491s fate fell on the shoulders of the councils newest member, Mason Chock, who was sworn in Friday as the replacement for former Council Vice Chair Nadine Nakamura.
While some had urged Chock to recuse himself from the vote because he was so new to the debate, he said that was not an option for him that he had been called to act.
If Ive been given the opportunity to make a difference in the health of a childs life, Im going to take it, he said, causing those inside the council chambers to gasp and cry in approval. So lets take the step. Im all for overriding the veto on Bill 2491.
Much More~
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/overrode/article_0d7f22fc-4f52-11e3-9b90-001a4bcf887a.html
Drama on the High Seas but we did it!
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)I've been there before and I loved it!
Thanks for the thread, Cha.
Cha
(297,289 posts)Kaua'i is a sweet place and it doesn't need to be ruined environmentally by Pesticides Unlimted! grr!
sheshe2
(83,787 posts)Damn that is excellent news!
Love love love..Mason Chock~
"While some had urged Chock to recuse himself from the vote because he was so new to the debate, he said that was not an option for him that he had been called to act.
If Ive been given the opportunity to make a difference in the health of a childs life, Im going to take it, he said, causing those inside the council chambers to gasp and cry in approval. So lets take the step. Im all for overriding the veto on Bill 2491.
Mahalo, Mason Chock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great news for Hawaii, Cha!
Cha
(297,289 posts)However, lets call this overcompensation for what could be, and err on the side of safety here, to continue to do more than less, he said.
Chock also discussed the divisiveness of the bill and how it has fractured our community.
My hope is that my action today will be a catalyst for healing to begin, he said. I believe healing will not begin in this issue and will not go away until we unfold the truth, and validate the concerns being questioned.
News on the ground says people are getting sick with all the spraying on the West Side of Kaua'i and something needed to be done.
That's two great things for Hawai'i this month, she!
sheshe2
(83,787 posts)Damn the country is beginning to rock.
We are on a roll and it is only going to get better. Just look at Virginia too, Clean Sweep!
2014 may well be one amazing year~
chillfactor
(7,576 posts)but it would not come in...I was wondering what happened with the vote......thank you for the link...so very happy for you, the people, and the children
Cha
(297,289 posts)So you knew all about the saga of Bill 2491?
the only live feed I could not hook into was Saturday...I followed the whole thing from beginning to end...
polichick
(37,152 posts)KauaiK
(544 posts)This has been a long arduous task to get this bills passed.
The GMO companies have armies of attorneys on island. It is anticpated that the first lawsuits will be filed next week. So long as the suits can be kept in State Court, we will prevail. GMO companies have "preemption" in federal court.
Cha
(297,289 posts)afraid of?
Mahalo for the news about the "first lawsuits".. keeping my fingers crossed
The bills is very reasonable. All it says is that they (the GMO companies) have disclose what they are growing; what they are spraying (via aerial spraying); and that they cannot spray within 100 feet of homes, businesses, schools (basically people). It doesn't say they cannot grow.
The GMO companies are used to getting exactly what they want; have been given Federal preemption; and do not want to be deterred in any way. I read that they are now looking at the Philippines as a place to test and grow. They have been kicked out of Mexico and banned in Europe and India for years.
Cha
(297,289 posts)problems.
Mahalo for the reminder about GMO being kicked out of Mexico and banned in Europe and India!
I'm thinking maybe the gmo guys are afraid if we get an inch we'll keep on going and they'd right. Be awesome to ban them on Kaua'i!
KauaiK
(544 posts)Reefs fronting Waimea are dying from the runoff; turtles in Poipu have horrible growths on them. Once one drives past Hanapepe towards Waimea everything - and I mean EVERYTHING including the guinea grass and monkey pods - is dead. It shocks me every time.
The other shocking revelation is that GMO companies pay $50 per acre per year. AND they have a lock on that price for 50 years! Why doesn't Gay & Robinson & Grove Farm lease to organic farmers for that price? Just think of what we could do!
Cha
(297,289 posts)That's so depressing that they're only paying that much for lands to destroy.. It really makes me mad at all those land owners who did that.
I use to live on the West Side in the '90s and then when I came back in 2010 I moved there again. But, then when I started finding out about all the GMOs and spraying roundup on the Levee in Hanapepe by the Swinging Bridge I finally had to move to Kapaa. I'm really sensitive to all that poison. It was like a nightmare. Our beloved Kaua'i.
Mahalo for all your information. Bless Organic Farmers!
KauaiK
(544 posts)This is the website that published the info of the leases to the GMO companies. If only we could get enough political pressure for these companies to lease to Kauai Organic Farmers at the same rates. Gay & Robinson is the biggest land owner on Kauai; Grove Farm is the 2nd largest owner.
One of the biggest challenge is the cross pollination with native Hawaiian species and with the crops of Organic Farmers. It's why most of the Organic Farmers are on the north shore. The sheet flow of rain water past Kekaha and near Polihale has also been altered. All of the canals are dried up. The west side could be barren if and when they leave. They do NOT care what they do to the aina.
DOW just built a huge Campus between Waimea and Hanapepe. They landscaped the entrance with a monument sign. Everything else is dead. Come visit old neighbors and see for yourself just how dead everything is. Maybe we should take photos and publish them here!
Aloha.....
Cha
(297,289 posts)I believe you how dead it is over there.. I had to get out. That and I don't have a car anymore so I wanted to be closer to the organic farms and health food stores on the East Side.
That is sad.. "DOW just built a huge Campus between Waimea and Hanapepe. They landscaped the entrance with a monument sign. Everything else is dead." But, good to know..again, thank you, KK.
Photos of such devastation would be a good thing. Knowledge of what they're doing Is Power.
Aloha, K~ To fighting back the poison and putting a halt to the killing of our Aina.
sheshe2
(83,787 posts)They probably figure they can bully in and take what the want , while the country is still reeling from the disaster and death that surrounds them. What vultures.
Sad that they only do it for $$$$$$$, Cha.
Cha
(297,289 posts)vultures, she.
Rape our Planet Earth for Profit under the guise of more Food(too bad it's Franken) and the hell with the people's health!
sheshe2
(83,787 posts)Cha
(297,289 posts)sheshe2
(83,787 posts)Kicking again, because when we stand together we are united and strong.
As one we will move this country forward. From the darkness that so many wish to drag us into, to the light where we will shine.
Cha
(297,289 posts)"Newspapers", Etc.
To the Light, she Out of the Oppression of our Land being poisoned and Hating on those who need our support!
Cha
(297,289 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Cha
(297,289 posts)lawsuits we got a weakened Bill passed and then the Mayor Vetoed it!
It's a tiny miracle that we got it overridden.. it was meant to be!
"Stay green, Hawaii!" We're trying but it ain't easy with big brother gmo seed companies licking their chops and seeing some of their grip slip away.
Our Earth Our Seeds~
BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)I'm really glad to see we agree where it matters (GMO)!
K & R for sanity!
Cha
(297,289 posts)Mahalo, BMC
Berlum
(7,044 posts)Republicons going to hate this, because they so love totalitarian corporatocracy, and so hate democracy. But, tuff noogies.
Cha
(297,289 posts)The Environmentalists and Visionaries for the Future Won this battle.
The GMO Seeds will have us in court soon trying to strike it down.. here's to hoping Democracy prevails.
bananas
(27,509 posts)Cha
(297,289 posts)Cha
(297,289 posts)sheshe2
(83,787 posts)Cha
(297,289 posts)thank you!
http://www.healthyhutkauai.com/farmers-markets-schedule/
A Big Mahalo to all those who helped get this news out about an environmental win on Kaua'i~
sheshe2
(83,787 posts)Alexa appears to be the head of our quality control department
Kaua'i wins, we all win, Cha!
Cha
(297,289 posts)eater after my own heart! Alexa~
sheshe2
(83,787 posts)Cha
(297,289 posts)Omaha Steve
(99,658 posts)I only drink/brew Hawaiian coffee.
These are the two brands I buy.
http://perrykonacoffee.com/
This one is owned by a Democrat and advertises on Ed's radio show: http://www.usacoffeecompany.com/
Cha
(297,289 posts)We are pleased that people like our coffee, but we are especially honored that it is now served at the home of Americas First Family the Obama White House.
http://organiccoffeehawaii.com/
Incitatus
(5,317 posts)Now kick your mayor's ass to the curb.
Cha
(297,289 posts)backtracking or Environmentalists on our tiny Island will be out in droves to vote for someone who wouldn't Veto an anti-GMO bill!
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)(very fine, indeed)
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)That peak is perhaps the wettest spot on Earth, with over 400 (!!) inches of rain annually. But now there's some upstart jungle in Colombia that claims to be wetter.
Cha
(297,289 posts)attached. Mahalo for the reminder about Wai'ale' ale being the "wettest sopt on Earth", KamaAina! Or pretty darn close.. whatEver the case may be.