U.S. Court Overturns Law Limiting Biotech Crops on Hawaiian island
Source: Reuters/Scientific American
A group of global biotech crop companies won a court victory on Monday that blocks enactment of a law passed last year limiting the planting of biotech crops and use of pesticides on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren of the U.S. District Court in Hawaii ruled that the law passed in November by local leaders on the island was invalid because it was pre-empted by Hawaii state law.
The Kauai law required large agricultural companies to disclose pesticide use and genetically modified (GMO) crop plantings while establishing buffer zones around schools, homes and hospitals to protect people from exposure to pesticides used on the crops.
The measure had broad support on the island and the U.S. mainland from organizations and individuals who say heavy pesticide use by the agrochemical companies is poisoning people and the environment.
Read more: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-court-overturns-law-limiting-biotech-crops-on-hawaiian-island/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Everybody knows that, ever since the Bush administration FDA said so, in 1992.
that had traveled there as seeds and could not be allowed to multiply on Hawaiian land. This ruling sounds absolutely terrible!
rocktivity
REMINDER: ALL the law said was (1) they have to disclose WHAT they are spraying; (2) give notice WHEN they spray; and (3) cannot spray near people, residences, businesses, schools, etc.
They are using Kauai as ground zero. That they do NOT want to disclose what they are spraying is damning. They are destroying the land, the coral and poisoning the people.
tragic! I wonder if there's anyway we can get that ruling overturned? 
"REMINDER: ALL the law said was (1) they have to disclose WHAT they are spraying; (2) give notice WHEN they spray; and (3) cannot spray near people, residences, businesses, schools, etc."
I wonder if this will have any effect on the Kauai Mayoral race?
... Democracy anymore. We're a Corporatocracy. Get it? If they are fucking up Hawaii with their poisonous products, they would do it in heaven. I hope there's something that can be done, an appeal, or another suit...I don't know. Something! 
the first time I've heard that our law that was passed by our People has been overturned by an Judge for the GMO co.
KauaiK "REMINDER: ALL the law said was (1) they have to disclose WHAT they are spraying; (2) give notice WHEN they spray; and (3) cannot spray near people, residences, businesses, schools, etc."
"This issue is far from over," said Gary Hooser, a Kauai council member who co-introduced the bill. "One opinion from one federal magistrate does not settle the issue."
Mr. Hooser said he supported appealing the ruling, although the full Kauai county council must make such a decision. The bill passed in November after council members overrode a veto by the island's mayor.
"By denying Kauai's law, the judge undermined efforts to create more transparency and more protections for farmers, workers and families from hazardous pesticides," said Paul Towers, spokesman for the Pesticide Action Network, which supported Kauai County in the case. Mr. Towers said the group still was reviewing the order and would "explore all available options" to defend Kauai. 
