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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.290 2012-2014 F COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF RAWAI'2 RECEIVED Time By Date--1-7n Testimony for Bill 79 Aloha and good morning. My name is Hilary Flaming and I am a small farmer here on Hawaii Island. I am happy to be here today. We are living in an exciting time where we get to choose what is important to us. We get to decide if we want to follow Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai and allow GMOs on our island or if we want to learn from their experiences and choose something different. I love the juxtaposition of how Kauai is creating Bills to regulate and begin to phase out GMOs on their island and that we are at the initial stage of deciding if we should allow them, how much or not at all. How fortunate we are to have Kauai as an example... to see what works, learn from what hasn't, and choose for ourselves what we want. Because we live on an isolated island, we have the unique ability to be fairly uncontaminated with GMOs. What an amazing thing! Not just for the health and vitality of our land and people, but what an economic opportunity we have! People across the country and world are waking up to the mounting evidence and research against GMOs and markets are being created for the growing population that are demanding non GMO produce and products. Why not take advantage of our physical location and claim this economic potential? Let's get on board this wave of change. Let's stay a step ahead and not allow GMOs on Hawaii Island. There are many alternatives to conventional ways of farming with GMOs. Let's explore those more. Let's plant the non GMO corn that we already has been bred to grow well here. Let's find other means to control weeds. Let's be proactive and become leaders in creating more long lasting and viable ways of farming on Hawaii Island. I support Bill 79 as it is a stepping stone in limiting the amount of GMOs that are allowed on the island, however, I also see that it could be a stronger bill that doesn't allow the inclusion of GMOs already in production. Comm. ►�(p. �0-71.2g0 Ref. To: r j TWI Ref. Date JUL 0 2 2013 , When I look at the research that has been collected for the use of GMO crops and their effects and read over the recommendations signed by over eight hundred scientists and researchers world wide it is astounding to me that we could conceive of continuing their use. So, I am looking forward to the next amendment or bill to follow this one that includes a plan to help the farmers here on Hawaii Island who need support in transitioning from conventional methods that use GMOs to more alternative ways that support the vitality of the soil, water, ourselves, and our communities.