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Hawaii anti-GM measure vetoed (update 1)
Posted: Friday, October 31, 2008 3:08 pm
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Hawaii is a state of the USA, and its largest island is a county with the same name. Harry Kim, mayor of the county of Hawaii, has vetoed an unanimous vote of county council members to criminalize the research or production of GM coffee or taro. The unanimous votes mean his veto can be canceled, but regardless, it seems like a ban of some sort on GM in Hawaii is inevitable.

Rod Thompson of the Star Bulletin reports that the bill, which would impose a fine of US$1,000 to research or grow genetically engineered coffee or taro, posed problems for the mayor. "There is global demand for new, improved, safe and dependable plant genetics, and Hawaii is a special place for research because of its location and its year-round growing environment", Kim said.

The police had a problem, as well.

"How would the Police Department make a determination on which taro or coffee has been genetically engineered?" Chief Lawrence Mahuna wrote to Kim. The department has no equipment or personnel who know how to test for GMOs, and no money to upgrade its capabilities, Mahuna said.

Regardless of the enforceability of the proposed ban, passage of an anti-GM measure is likely -- whether or not Kim is mayor.

Kim has been mayor of Hawaii since December 2000. Since he's declined to run for office in the next election, the race is between Billy Kenoi and Angel Pilago.

Pilago is the author of the current anti-GM proposal. According to the Star Bulletin, "Kenoi would ban only modified taro because of the plant's "cultural significance" but adds he wants no field testing of other modified crops."

A 2004 report found that biotech research could affect half of Hawaii's farm economy. According to that report, Hawaii had hosted field trials of GM papaya, pineapple, sugar cane, coffee, dendrobium, and anthurium. Together, these crops accounted for half of all Hawaiian farm revenues. And, at the time, half of all field trials involved crop protection against fungal, viral, and bacterial diseases.

As GM virus-resistant papaya saved Hawaii's papaya industry, blocking field trials in Hawaii could have severe consequences for the future of agriculture there, and wherever else these crops might be threatened by disease.

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GMO (noun) 1. An acronym for the term, 'Genetically Modified Organism'. 2. A plant, animal or microbe with a genetic code which has been intentionally altered, such as through forced evolution (see selective breeding); through random mutations induced with radiation or chemicals (see mutagenesis); or through the selective transfer, promoting or silencing of specific genes (see genetic engineering). 3. Most generally, any descendant of a primordial urbiote. (See evolution.)

obelus (noun) A dagger-shaped typographical symbol [ † ] which directs a reader's attention to important matters. From the Greek, obelus, literally, a roasting skewer.

GMObelus (noun, proper) A publication directing the attention of readers to the latest news and commentary regarding the development and use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture and related fields.

peer (noun) 1. One of two or more computers sending data to each other over the same network. 2. One of two or more persons sharing information with each other over such a network. (See also, 'remote peer'.)

peer review (noun phrase)  A process by which peers review information shared over a network, rather than each other. (Compare, argumentum ad hominem.)

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