Blog

Yesterday, in the face of a historic outpouring of support for the genetic integrity of taro, the majority of Agriculture Committee members chose corporate biotech interests over those of Hawai’is’s traditional farmers.

Last month, well over 6,000 people from all corners of our community submitted testimony in support of a 10-year moratorium on the genetic modification of Hawaii’s most traditional and sacred food source, taro. Together, local taro farmers, scientists, professors, doctors, teachers, keiki, produce distributors, and Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners expressed concern about the potential environmental impacts of cross-contamination, unknown health consequences of genetic modification, and the cultural impacts of patenting. In the thousands, they expressed their opposition to the fundamental and irreversible modification of the genes of taro.

YET, in a 9-to-3 vote, the committee amended the bill to prohibit any future moratoriums on any GMO products, even at the county level. At the same time, they reduced the moratorium to 5 years and limited the protected taro plants to the Hawaiian varieties only. Under this amended bill, Haloa will not be protected. Now, other varieties of taro, like bun long, can still be genetically altered and cross-pollinate with the Hawaiian varieties, spreading the genetic alterations. More startling, this bill now also robs local communities of their ability to address GMO concerns in their own neighborhoods.

But we are not giving up.

“They should kill this bill and face the consequences and the wrath of the people. “It’s ridiculous. They don’t want to listen. But this is not the end. This is just the beginning.” – Jerry Konanui, Big Island Taro Farmer

The kuleana to protect elder brother, Haloa, is too important to turn our backs on! We stand with the taro farmers and the thousands of people who voiced uncompromised support for protecting Haloa. There are still four weeks left in the Legislative Session. And anything can happen. Learn more at the website and on the KAHEA blog.

In the meantime, every member of the Agriculture Committee is up for re-election this year. Prepare to plant your vote– Register to vote!

The momentum of this movement is stronger than ever. People all over the islands are now stepping up at the local level, starting campaigns of homegrown resolutions, speaking about this issue to every neighborhood board, at schools, registering voters, and continuing to take action, and to share.

This year could be revolutionary. Deepest mahalos to all who have shown their support and love, and who have taken action. This latest action is simply fuel for our imu! And we hungry!

Learn more:

http://www.hawaiiseed.org/

http://www.kahea.org/gmo

http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/geneticall7.cfm

By now, most of everyone has heard the news of the surprise announcement of the Molokai Ranch shut down. On the last days events, a few words to share from from Kahualaulani on Molokai:

We are still sorting it all out over here. And while it is a shock, it is not really a surprise…Molokai Ranch’s true colors have finally been shown. They have played the “employee card”: they couldn’t shove their unwanted development down the throat of this community, so now they will take it out on their own workers, while blaming the development opposition for the “need” to do this.

Indeed, the Ranch states in their press release: “Unacceptable delays caused by continued opposition to every aspect of the Master Plan means we are unable to fund continued normal company operations.” But this is so not true. The community did not object to “every aspect” of the Plan; the community objected to the La‘au development aspect of the Plan. We have been consistent from the start in saying the there are many good parts of the Plan (and the community put a lot of work into creating those parts), but that developing La‘au is unacceptable to the large majority of this community.

We have also been consistent in saying to Molokai Ranch and Plan supporters, lets all come back to the table and find solutions to this issue: let’s find real alternatives to this development, and other types of economic engines besides development. They chose not to listen, and to to try to ram-rod their project through. Wrong idea. And now they are bringing their oft promised/threatened “doomsday scenario” down on this community – by laying off their workers and starting to sell-off their lands. What a mean-spirited and cruel reaction to not getting their way (‘I’m taking my ball and going home!”) They have already sold half of Na’iwa (the ancient makahiki grounds) and Ka’ana (the birthplace of hula) looks to be next…

But let’s be clear here: all the “delays” were caused by Molokai Ranch’s own decisions: by making this whole thing into an “all or nothing” “take it or leave it” thing (either take/accept the Plan with La‘au development, or no Plan); by choosing not to listen to this community saying ‘”A’ole La‘au” (No to la‘au!); and by voluntarily withdrawing their shoddy EIS after massive community and LUC opposition to it, (and thus having to return to a draft EIS stage). They were also seriously “delayed”/affected by two recent Supreme Court Decisions – one that took away their allocation of potable water, and the other that neutralized their preferred method of transporting it. (But I don’t hear them blaming the Supreme Court!)

The sentiment in the community is that we feel deeply for the workers who have lost their jobs, and we will support them in whatever ways we can: by trying to find them new jobs, or by creating new jobs with better economic engines, and by helping to provide food during this time. Molokai takes care of her own.

But also, we see this as a great opportunity to bring stewardship of this island back to the people of Molokai. We were already working on various solutions before this happened: from investors with more appropriate endeavors, to the UPC windfarm, to conservation buyers, to buying the Ranch, to a combination of all of the above. Now we are going to push to bring those kinds of things to pass if we can.

It was a historic day yesterday, but now, with your help and continued support, we might truly be able to make history. This island has a chance to have economic, energy, and food independence – a truly sustainable and self-sufficient community. A hub of sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, Hawaiian culture and aloha. We can Ho’i i ka Pono! We can truly Keep Moloka’i, Moloka’i!

(first photo from rmayda on flickr, second from Paula Kawal.)

Links to articles:

Molokai Ranch Shutting Down (MPL Press Release)
http://www.themolokaidispatch.com/node/1837

“Doomsday” Has Arrived (Molokai Dispatch)
http://www.themolokaidispatch.com/node/1851

Mayor Tavares And Molokai Council Member Mateo Respond To Ranch Closure (Molokai Dispatch)
http://www.themolokaidispatch.com/node/1841

Lingle Focuses On Molokai Ranch Employees, Island’s Economy (Molokai Dispatch)
http://www.themolokaidispatch.com/node/1840

Molokai Ranch Shuts Down (Molokai Times Article and community and reader’s comments)
http://www.molokaitimes.com/articles/8324115936.asp

Molokai Ranch to quit island (Honolulu Star Bulletin Article)
Stung by rejection of its planned luxury project, the owner will lay off 120 staffers and seal off the land…”
http://starbulletin.com/2008/03/25/news/story01.html

Molokai Ranch to close, lay off 120 (Honolulu Advertiser Article)
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080325/NEWS01/803250367