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Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:00:25 -0800
From: "GMWatch " <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: GMW: Victory! GM ban passed / New GM-free zone in Canada
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1.Victory! GM ban passed on Big Island, Hawaii, USA
2.Genetically Engineered Taro Banned on Big Island
3.Unanimous Decision - Canada's 3rd GM Free Zone=20

EXTRACT: "This unanimous decision helps our campaign move forward as we will=
 now look to bring other local governments on board." (item 3)
---
---
Subject: Victory
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:23:59 -1000
From: Paul Normann <[log in to unmask]>

*Victory!*

Today, Thursday November 13th, the Hawaii County Council successfully overro=
de Mayor Harry Kim's veto of bill# 361.

Bill# 361, introduced by Council Member Angel Pilago, will now become an ord=
inance, protecting the Big Island's Taro or Coffee from Genetic Engineering.

This victory was won through the overwhelming strength of people power.
We won because of you, and your willingness to show up and be counted.

*Mahalo,* to the 100+ individuals who showed up at the county council office=
s today.

*Mahalo,* to the thousands of your who have given testimony to the county co=
uncil in support of bill# 361.

*Mahalo,* to the community organizers and activist who helped us keep the pr=
essure on our Co. Council Members.

*Mahalo,* to the Hawaiian Kapuna, with whom we have been honored to work.

*Mahalo to all of you!*  You made this victory possible!

The fight for safe sustainable food is not over, but today we can celebrate.

Please call and thank the 7 County Council members who voted to override
Mayor Kim's Veto:

*961-8225*
*Brenda Ford*: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>_
*Pete Hoffmann*: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>,
*Bob Jacobson*: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>,
*Emily Naeole*: [log in to unmask] =20
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>,
*Angel Pilago*: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>,
*Dominic Yagong*: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>,
*J. Yoshimoto*: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

Paul Normann
808-557-4806
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
---
---
2.Genetically Engineered Taro Banned on Big Island =20
KGMB9 News, November 13 2008 =20
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/11447/40/
   =20
The Hawaii County Council has voted to uphold a ban on genetically modified=20=
taro and coffee.=20

Mayor Harry Kim initially vetoed the ban.=20

Thursday the council voted seven to zero to override that veto.=20

The decision makes it illegal to grow genetically engineered taro and coffee=
 crops.=20

Anyone caught could face a $1,000 fine.=20

Those supporting the ban say they want to preserve the brand-name value of t=
heir crops.=20

"We have a unique crop that needed to be protected and certainly Kona coffee=
 farmers deserved that protection as well as well as other farmers in Hamaku=
a, Kona, in Puna, in North Kohala, they all deserve that protection," said H=
awaii County Councilman Dominic Yagong.=20

Councilman Yagong says he polled about 89 coffee farmers and most were in fa=
vor of the ban.
---
---
3.Unanimous Decision
Nelson, B.C. Becomes Canada's 3rd
Genetically Engineered (GE) Free Zone
News Release
For Immediate Release

NELSON, British Columbia - On November 3, 2008, the City of Nelson, British=20=
Columbia took leadership on a controversial food issue. All six of the City=
=92s council members and the mayor voted in favor of a resolution to make th=
e City of Nelson a genetically engineered free zone.

Sometimes referred to as GMOs (genetically-modified organisms), GE foods hav=
e steadily increased their presence in North America's food supply since the=
y were introduced in the mid-90s. Nevertheless, the move by local government=
s to address the issue signals that concerns with GE foods are perhaps incre=
asing.=20

"This unanimous decision helps our campaign move forward as we will now look=
 to bring other local governments on board," says GE Free Kootenays campaign=
 spokesperson Kim Charlesworth. The campaign has its eyes set on encouraging=
 other local governments in the Kootenay region of the province to follow Ne=
lson's lead.=20

The GE Free resolution was presented to the council by Charlesworth and Jon=20=
Steinman, both members of the Kootenay Food Strategy Society. The council ch=
ambers were filled with community members who supported the campaign, includ=
ing one resident who held up a sign that read, "Say No to GMO=94.

GE Free Kootenays is only one of a number of initiatives across western Cana=
da that are also looking to create GE free regions. The Society for a GE Fre=
e B.C. and GE Free Yukon are both working hard to achieve what happened in N=
elson on November 3.=20

The Regional District of Powell River, B.C., became the first GE-Free zone i=
n the country in 2004, followed by Saltspring Island, B.C. in 2005. Nelson i=
s the third GE Free zone in Canada.=20

The wording of the adopted resolution reads, "The City of Nelson does not su=
pport the cultivation of genetically engineered plants and trees in the Muni=
cipality of Nelson and further that council will not purchase for its own op=
erations GE plants or trees. The City of Nelson agrees to revisit this as pe=
rtinent new information becomes available that affects this resolution and f=
urther that the City of Nelson shall forward copies of the resolution to the=
 Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Union of BC Municipalities, the=20=
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, CropLife Canada, Agriculture=
 and Agri-Food Canada, local MLA and MP offices and any interested and relat=
ed groups for comment."=20

A more detailed outline of the resolution presented to the council is posted=
 on the web site of Deconstructing Dinner =96 an internationally syndicated=20=
radio show and Podcast that has been documenting the campaign since the grou=
p first met in November 2007. Many audio recordings of the campaign are foun=
d there including the campaign=92s official launch with Saskatchewan farmer=20=
Percy Schmeiser. www.deconstructingdinner.ca

Contacts:
Jon Steinman, GE Free Kootenays / Kootenay Food Strategy Society:=20
250-352-6597
[log in to unmask]
=20
Erin Nichols, Coordinator for the Society for a GE Free BC:=20
[log in to unmask]
604-742-0545


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