Sneaking in GMO Bananas

SUBHEAD: Attempt to allow the testing of GMO bananas in Hawaii on the agenda of a meeting of the Dept of Agriculture.

By Shannon Rudolph on 24 October 2015 in Island Breath -
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2015/10/sneaking-in-gmo-bananas.html)


Image above: GMO Banana Poster by Babes Against Biotech. Provided by Shannon Rudolph.

Attempt to allow the testing of Genetically Modified (GM) bananas in Hawaii on the agenda of a meeting of the Hawaii Dept of Agriculture (DOA) without proper public notice.

Are you ready to say goodbye to organic bananas? Submit opposing testimony via email to the Hawaii Board of the Department of Agriculture NOW AND insist they cancel this illegal meeting scheduled for October 27th and #STOPGMOBANANAS!

ACTION:
Testify to remove this agenda item from discussion at the October 27th meeting here:

It is best to send testimony to the Hawaii Board of Ag. TONIGHT!
HDOA.board.testimony@hawaii.go CC: Hawaii Attorney General, Doug Chin hawaiiag@hawaii.gov
BCC
: BABtestimony@gmail.com when you submit from here on out.
  •  Insist they cancel the illegal meeting scheduled for this Tues. (10/27)   
  • Testimony needs to be submitted ASAP and ideally at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
Testimony needs to be submitted ASAP and ideally at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

CONTACT:
By Shannon Rudolph at shannonkona@gmail.com



FROM SHAKA MOVEMENT
This request for your action is the most important thing you can do since casting your vote one year ago.

This month, our government has broken the law and is trying to sneak GMO Bananas into our state for testing without appropriately informing the public as prescribed by law so as not to give the public a chance to give their opinion on the matter.

THE TALKING POINTS:

FAILING TO PUBLICLY NOTICE AGENDA: (Notify the public)
  • This meeting was not publicly noticed on the website of the Hawaii Dept of Agriculture (HDOA) 6 days prior, and is in violation of the Sunshine Law.
  • This agenda includes an administrative rule change, which was not properly noticed 30 days prior on the Lt. Governor's website, as required by law.
  • This meeting is a clear violation of the Sunshine Laws and must be canceled, rescheduled and properly noticed as required by law.
We are asking ALL HAWAII RESIDENTS and the entire planet of banana lovers to flood the HDOA with testimony in opposition to the GMO banana permit request, and insist that this meeting be canceled, as it was not publicly noticed in accordance with the law and is therefore, illegal.

DOUBLE ACTION ALERT:

1. EMAIL: Submit opposing testimony via email to the Hawaii DOA NOW.
a) We insist they cancel this illegal meeting scheduled for October 27th
b) We oppose Agenda Item C.1., the GMO banana permit.
c) Politely but firmly insist the meeting be canceled because it violated public notice requirements.
Remember, your email will become public information so please keep it professional as to reflect well on each other.

2. SOCIAL: Use all your electronics to specifically recruit friends, family, farmers, scientists, nutritionists, chefs and inspire everyone good you know who loves bananas, to take action NOW!
Share this post or make your own ASAP using the hashtag #SaveBananas (and if you're like BAB -‪#‎ThisShitIsBananas)

OAHU RESIDENTS - 10/27 9AM Honolulu: Plan to be there to testify or show support if this sketchy meeting is not canceled (now that we busted it open, all the‪ #‎gmoheads will probably be there) Plant Quarantine Conference Room 1849 Auiki Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96819

Illegal Agenda Link: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/meetings-reports/
Request to:
(1) Allow the Importation of Genetically Modified Tissue-Cultured Banana Plants, (Musa spp.) (cv. Williams), by Permit, for Greenhouse and Field Research on Resistance to Banana Bunchy Top Virus, by the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

(2) Establish Permit Conditions for the Importation of Genetically Modified Tissue-Cultured Banana Plants, (Musa spp.) (cv. Williams), by Permit, for Greenhouse and Field Research on Resistance to Banana Bunchy Top Virus, by the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

HOW TO SUBMIT EMAIL TESTIMONY:

Sample Subject: Cancel 10/27 BOA Meeting & Oppose GE Banana Permit
Body: Use the above talking points and add some text to it.
We unfortunately don't trust the integrity of our government agencies to do the right thing any more, and want to document the public testimony submitted.

-NON-RESIDENTS: CC info@HawaiiTourismAuthority.org
Let the Hawaii Tourism Authority know whether or not you would like to spend money visiting a place where thousands of outdoor genetic engineering field tests like GMO bananas, and agrochemical experimentation is occurring at record levels worldwide.


CONCERNS ABOUT THE OPEN-FIELD TESTING OF GMO BANANAS IN HAWAII
by Hector Valenzuela, Oct. 22, 2015
Dept. of Plant & Environmental Protection Sciences, CTAHR, UH-Manoa

GMO BANANA FIELD TESTS IN HAWAII:
· Even though banana is propagated asexually, extensive contamination is likely to occur in the state though mechanical means (people sharing propagating materials-- called suckers or keikis-- with friends, or neighbors.)

· GMO Rainbow papaya shows that UH and GMO papaya farmers have been incapable to contain GMOs within the boundary of their farms resulting in the widespread contamination and genetic pollution of non-GMO areas thoughout the state.

· Research needs to be conducted to determine potential health, environmental, economic, and social impacts from the release of a GMO banana variety in Hawaii.

· According to previous statements made by the only Crop Disease Epidemiologist in the state, alternative management practices are available to manage most or all diseases affecting horticultural crops in Hawaii.

· Little research has been conducted by UH to find alternative ecologically-based, low input, practices to manage the bunchy top virus in Hawaii.

HAWAII GMO BANANA BACKGROUND:
* For about the past 25 years the University of Hawaii has been working on a research project to develop GMO bananas with resistance to the bunchy top virus. UH has received over $1.5 million in research funding from the state and federal government to develop a GMO banana variety.

* Recently UH has made a request to import into the state, GMO “Williams” bananas developed by tissue culture, for further “greenhouse and field research” evaluations. Even though bananas are propagated asexually, via off-shoots that are called suckers or keikis, extensive GMO contamination is likely to occur in both non-GMO farms and home-gardens, through the simple hand-to-hand exchange of planting materials.

* The experience with the GMO Rainbow Papaya has shown that the University of Hawaii and that the Papaya Industry have been incapable to contain the presence of the GMO genetic constructs within the boundaries of their farms, resulting in extensive genetic pollution throughout the state.

* According to previous statements made by the only Crop Disease Epidemiologist in the state, alternative management practices are available to manage most or all diseases affecting horticultural crops in Hawaii. However, very little or no research has been conducted to identify viable alternative management practices for the control of the bunchy top virus in Hawaii.

LET'S DO THIS!

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