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