Update on GMO Free Taro on Maui
From Alana:
A bill to prohibit genetically engineered taro is still being debated on Maui. Counselors are unable to decide whether to let the bill pass or not and say they want more information. The bill would prohibit “any person to test, propagate, cultivate, raise, plant, grow, introduce, transport or release genetically engineered or recombinant DNA kalo, or taro.” Citing it as “biological pollution”, Council Member Bill Medeiros also says:
I think we need to be brave. This is not something popular to do. This is something right to do.
The bill was met with some opposition, though, by the Department of Environmental Management Director Cheryl Okuma, who basically says that it’s too much effort to enforce the ban.
Laziness from the Dept. of Environmental Management should not deter kalo from having a secure future in Hawai’i.
