ALOHA,

THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU'S EXECUTIVE MATTERS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE BLOCKS GMO LABELING MOVEMENT PASSED BY KAUAI, MAUI, AND HAWAII COUNTIES

I have taken over three hours of testimony from the hearing Tuesday and condensed it into a ten minute youtube for your convenience . . . please watch this:

The Honolulu StarAdvertiser also published my letter to the editor to call on the public to get involved - read it below.

Even though not one testimony was presented that objected to labeling Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), and rather 100% testified in favor of labeling, the committee went ahead and voted 5-2 against my motion to reinstate GMO labeling in the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) 2013 Legislative Package (RESOLUTION 12-319). The rest of the state has come forward and taken a stand. They had their county councils pass unanimously- the right to know what is in your food- label GMO initiative.

This will be the second year running, that Honolulu had blocked GMO labeling efforts - to get the State Legislature to have a hearing . . . the State Legislature has refused to even conduct a hearing on GMO production, GMO product labeling, associated health and environmental effects ranging from studies that include bee hive colony collapse to human ailments per GMO infiltration. I was the only vote last year requesting GMO labeling in the HSAC package- with the vote being 8 to 1. On Tuesday, the vote was 5 to 2, with myself and Councilman Breene Harimoto wanting GMO labeling- some members were absent from the vote. (Note: Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi seconded my motion to amend Reso 12-319 to include GMO labeling- but she had to leave before the final vote was taken.)

BUT WAIT, there is hope. Resolution 12-319 can still be amended on December 5 when the measure comes up for adoption at the full city council hearing. If you support GMO labeling, please come and testify - Honolulu Hale, 10:00 a.m.

Contact schools, farmers, all you can think of to help come and testify in person. Your RIGHT TO KNOW can start right here in Hawaii - and possibly create a tide for the rest of the nation to follow our lead.

For more in depth coverage on the matter - please go to my website: www.councilmanberg.com

GENERAL ELECTION

The Honolulu Weekly covered the resolution we passed to investigate the election follies - read it by clicking here.