It’s a controversial issue Maui County voters will see on the Nov. 4 ballot. They’re being asked whether to approve an initiative that would make it against the law to grow, reproduce, or test genetically modified crops until an environmental public health study is completed. On Sunday, supporters of the measure marched and rallied in Wailuku. The people we spoke to say the use of GMOs isn’t safe and that it impacts their families and future generations. “Because we grow our food and we’re worried of cross-contamination. We’re worried of eating things that are poisoned and have been manipulated,” one person said. Other supporters say it’s not just about the food “If the crops are one way and I live on the other side and the wind’s blowing my way when they put pesticides on the land, who’s going to breathe that? My family is. My baby is,” said another person. Opponents of the GMO ban were also busy this weekend. More than a hundred volunteers went door-to-door on Maui and Molokai, sharing their message with voters. They say farmers and ranchers depend on GMO use. “It’s an advanced part of breeding. And for us in agriculture, we want the tools available for all of our farmers and ranches to utilize that have been proven to be safe,” said Warren Watanabe, Maui County Farm Bureau executive director. “The American Medical Association suggests it’s safe. The National Academy of Science suggests it’s safe. And I feel that it’s grown in a safe way because it’s regulated by the correct agencies. The USDA, the FDA and the EPA,” said Darren Strand, Maui County Farm Bureau president. If the initiative is approved, violators could face fines and/or jail time. “Should the proposed initiative prohibiting the cultivation or reproduction of genetically engineered organisms within the County of Maui, which may be amended or repeated as to a specific person or entity when required environmental and public health impact studies, public hearings, a two thirds vote and a determination by the County Council that such operation or practice meets certain standards, and which establishes civil and criminal penalties, be adopted for Maui County?”
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 06:10:06 +0000
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