Malu 'Aina

– See more at: http://m.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/perfect-timing-daily-show-films-gmo-segment-kona#sthash.lcdlLqmL.X9Va5XNE.dpuf

Hawaii County Council brouhaha! –citizens free speech and civil rights testimony

Note to Erin Miller –West Hawaii Today/Hawaii Tribune-Herald (Stephens media Hawaii) writer
David Bock, Hawaii Tribune Herald editor and publisher (Stephens Media Hawaii)

Aloha Erin and David,
Corrections to today’s Trib (2/20/14).  In my oral testimony yesterday at the council, I only mentioned Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, not Yoshimoto and some state legislators as claimed in the article. My written testimony named others but I didn’t include others in my oral testimony.  Furthermore I had a phone call today from Council Vice chair, Karen Eoff, apologizing for improperly cutting me off yesterday testifying at the county council.  She said I was right about free speech and civil rights to criticize council people in testimony.  She said she felt bad in cutting me off.   She is asking Corp council – Lincoln Ashida, to draft a memo to all the council members on this.  Eoff said It was Ashida who advised her at the break that citizens have a right to criticize and the council should be careful of free speech and civil rights violations.
I told Councilwoman Eoff I have no hard feelings and I’m glad it will be clarified but it’s a sad fact that a citizen’s right to criticize council members has to be clarified.  We are suppose to be living in a democracy.  I have never heard a council member object when they are named and praised in council testimony, so why should they object when they are named and criticized?   The main thing is we try to be civil to one another.  We all live on this island together. —
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org This communication may be unlawfully collected and stored by the National Security Agency (NSA) in secret. The parties to this email do not consent to the retrieving or storing of this communication and any related metadata, as well as printing, copying, re-transmitting, disseminating, or otherwise using it. If you believe you have received this communication in error, please delete it immediately.

My oral Testimony in support of Resolution 272 on Home Rule
Counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
9:30 AM Hearing Feb. 19, 2014

Aloha Council members:

I speak as a farmer of 34 years in Kurtistown, where our Malu -Aina farm 
has grown a wide variety of organic fruits and vegetables.  Our organization, 
Malu 'Aina, is in strong support of Home Rule 
Resolution 272.  We need to stand up to the agro-chemical corporate 
profiteers and to those in County and State government who are in the 
pockets of these GMO criminal enterprises that want to cut away our 
county voice to protect our own health and safety.  I suppose I should 
not be surprised at how low some people will go to line their own 
pockets at the expense of future generations.  The world is in terrible 
shape with unprecedented toxic pollution, climate change, etc. because
profit and greed have dominated decision making. The precautionary principle 
has not been followed. The precautionary principle states that when you do not
know the full consequences of an action, error on the side of caution.

Madamn chairperson, for the GMO supporters and promoters I have a proposal:  
Put your mouth where your money is.  Step forward. Demonstrate your 
corporate loyalty with patriotic vigor.  Volunteer yourself and your 
family members to Monsanto to be genetically engineered.  Why just 
support GMO Monsanto round up ready crops, GMO ringspot resistant 
papaya, etc.

(Interrupted.

) Volunteer to have these and other 
genetically modified organisms --round up resistant genes fired directly 
into your own DNA.  
And put a new label on yourself. Instead of "Fresh" Onishi, change your 
name to "Round up Ready" Onishi and go down to the county yard at least 
once a week and get sprayed with round up so we the citizens can do a 
health study of you, not us.   But if you really want to show your 
commitment as a Genetically Modified Organism, take the experiment to 
the next level. Brush your teeth with Round Up, wash you clothes with 
it. Shower in it, put it on your breakfast cereal and rice.  Show the 
voters what you are really made of.  For the first pro-GMO politician to 
step forward to become round up ready genetically engineered, I will 
present you with an "M&M --Monsanto & me" T-shirt with your photo 
proudly displayed."

(Cut off)

Madamn Chair, I would like to nominate Dennis "Round Up Ready" Onishi as 
the honorary chair of the GMO promoters and present him with this shirt of
Monsanto & Me to wear proudly.  But I do want to say that I believe in redemption,
even for Mr. Onishi.  I believe that people can repent and change their ways, hard
as it may be. But GMO's once released can't be recalled, even when there is 
personal repentance. This is all the more reason for following the precautionary
principle. Support Home Rule.  Ban GMOs.  Mahalo.

Jim Albertini

Testimony in support of Resolution 272 on Home Rule
Counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
9:30 AM Hearing Feb. 19, 2014

Aloha Council members:

Our organization, Malu ‘Aina is in strong support of Home Rule Resolution 272.  We need to stand up to the agro-chemical corporate profiteers and to those in County and State government who are in the pockets of these GMO criminal enterprises that want to cut away our county voice to protect our own health and safety.  I suppose I should not be surprised at how low some people will go to line their own pockets at the expense of future generations.  The world is in terrible shape with unprecedented toxic pollution, climate change, etc. because the precautionary principle has not been followed. The precautionary principle states that when you do not know the full consequences of an action, error on the side of caution.

For the GMO supporters and promoters I have a proposal:  Put your mouth where your money is. Rep. Richard Onishi, Rep Clifton Tsuji, Richard Ha, Eric Weinnert, Senator Malama Solomon, Councilman Dennis Fresh Onishi, Greggor Illigan, J. Yoshimoto, etc. step forward. Demonstrate your corporate loyalty with patriotic vigor.  Volunteer yourself and your family members to Monsanto to be genetically engineered.  Why just support GMO Monsanto round up ready crops, GMO ringspot resistant papaya, etc.  Volunteer to have these and other genetically modified organisms –round up resistant genes fired directly into your own DNA.  And put a new label on yourself. Instead of “Fresh” Onishi, change your name to “Round up Ready” Onishi and go down to the county yard at least once a week and get sprayed with round up  so we the citizens can do a health study of you, not us.   But if you really want to show your commitment as a Genetically Modified Organism, take the experiment to the next level. Brush your teeth with Round Up, wash you clothes with it. Shower in it, put it on your breakfast cereal and rice.  Show the voters what you are really made of.  For the first pro-GMO politician to step forward to become round up ready genetically engineered, I will present you with an “M&M –Monsanto & me” T-shirt with your photo proudly displayed.”

Mahalo.
Jim Albertini

—
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org

One GMO State pre-emption bill of county GMO ban voted down narrowly in comittee.  More to come.  Stay tuned.

Mahalo for your testimony.  Solidarity,

Jim Albertini

Action needed in support of County Home Rule against the GMO corporations

Aloha peace, justice, and ‘aina ohana,
Below is important information from Councilwoman Margaret Wille.  Please circulate it widely and support her efforts.
Mahalo and solidarity,
Jim

Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org

MW’s Reso 272 – RE: COUNTY HOME RULE (see attached Reso 272)

Tuesday Feb 4 at 10:45 am – Governmental Relations Committee

This Resolution urges State Legislators to make clear that the State’s Right to Farm Act was meant to prevent the encroachment of urbanization into agricultural operations (and clearly was not intended to insulate the agro-chemical corporations from legitimate public or private nuisance claims).This Resolution is especially important as the countermeasure to the pending State Legislation to amend the Right to Farm Act in a way that will eliminate any County Home Rule regarding any farming (agro-chemical) practices. The state bills are HB2506 and SB3058. Given there is no regulation of GMO patented seed farming on the state or federal levels, the practical effect of eliminating local county regulation will be to insulate the agro-chemical corporations from any government oversight.
Reso 285 – RE: PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COUNCIL RULES TO INCREASE THE POWER OF THE COUNCIL CHAIR (see attached Reso 285)

Council Chair J Yoshimoto is requesting a rule change to significantly increase his power as Council Chair. If this rule amendment passes, the Council Chair will be able to deny other Council Member’s communications from being referred to and heard by the Council and Council Committees. Under the Council’s current rules the Chair is obliged to refer all fellow Council Member’s communications to the appropriate Council committee. Our County has always been able to brag about the fair and democratic process of our Council, given that all Council Members have the right to have all of their Communications heard – regardless of whether in the form of a bill, a resolution, or a Communication for discussion purposes. I think this power grab is an abuse of power and will be used to block Communications that the Chair does not support.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THESE AGENDA ITEMS: PLEASE TESTIFY

Submitting Testimony: In Person – the Hilo Council Chambers – 25 Aupuni Street

Via Videoconference – At the Waimea Council Office; the North Kohala Video Conferencing Site in the old Bank of Hawai’i Building in Kapa’au; the Kona Council Chambers – West Hawai‘i Civic Center; the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility and the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Community Center.

By email:  Counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us or by mail:  County Clerk’s Office at 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720.
 

Other Items of Interest:

February 7    Kokua Waimea March On GMO and HOME RULE– Begins at 10:30 am

To help spread awareness of the negative effects of growing and consuming GMO products, and to oppose state legislators’ efforts to nullify the recently passed County level law regulating GMO crop operations. Meet at 10:15 am @ Waimea Intermediate School Mala’ai Organic Garden (or in front of the Bank of Hawaii at 10:30) March Ends at Church Row; Speakers include: Margaret Wille, Dr. Ron Ah Loy, Aunty Pua Case

For more information contact Tehani Sekona 333-2076