HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0544.002 2010-2012 PleouNa.L
testimony supporting Res. 217-12 re. labeling genetically engineered (GE) crops
for Hawai'i County Council 9 AM Wednesday, February 15, 2012, Hilo
by Cory Harden, Sierra Club, Moku Loa Group, PO Box 1137, Hilo, Hawaii 96721
mh(a?interpac.net 808-968-8965
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Thanks to Pete Hoffmann, who introduced this resolution, and to Council members who voted for it
time—Bias, Ford, Pilago, Smart, and Yagong. ' -R
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GE companies say their food is so unique it must be patented, and unauthorized use must be prosecrd.
But when asked to label it, companies say that's unnecessary because GE food is not really that different. c")
Personal note: I have severe, multiple food allergies, and no labeling means I, and thousands of others
allergic people, are taking our chances whenever we eat. We can pay through the nose for organic, bu p
now there are efforts to call GE foods organic.
On Senate Bill 713, we again urge that it include labeling for GE timber, milk, aquaculture products, and
cattle.
Labeling is advancing on the Federal level and in California.
The Federal news is that an average of over 3,000 comments per day were submitted in support of a
labeling petition. It was filed on behalf of over 400 organizations and businesses with the Food and Drug
Administration late last year. Congresspeople are being asked to sign a bicameral letter of support for the
petition, sent out by Senator Boxer and Representative DeFazio.
The California news is that the Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act was submitted to the
State Attorney General by a coalition of consumer, public health, and environmental organizations three
months ago. It may be on the California ballot in the next election.
in other GE news, last month a German chemical group said it would stop selling GE products in Europe
because of tremendous opposition. That leaves only one GE crop still being grown in Europe—Monsanto
corn. In China, four months ago, the government suspended commercialization of GE rice. Rice, of
course, is a staple food for 1.3 billion Chinese.
Back in the U.S., last year almost half of farmers inspected had violated rules meant to keep insects from
becoming resistant to GE corn. Maybe that's why in Iowa, some western corn rootworms became
resistant to GE corn that was supposed to repel them.
There are at least 10 weeds, affecting over 7 million acres of farmland, that are resistant to
glycophosphate. In Oregon, a large area is contaminated with GE bentgrass which is resistant to
herbicides, and therefore impossible to eradicate.
Let's at least get GE food labelled.
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