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THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING SUPPORT FOR FURTHER SCIENTIFIC AND ECONOMIC
    EVALUATION BEFORE CONTINUING THE EXPANSION OF GENETIC
    ENGINEERING IN HAWAII.


 1        WHEREAS, genetic engineering is a new science without any
 2   long term evaluation of the effects on the health of human
 3   bodies, other living creatures, and the environment; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, Japan, the European Union, and a majority of
 6   other nations in the world are limiting, if not barring, the
 7   imports of genetically engineered foods into their respective
 8   countries, and questioning the safety of genetic engineering
 9   technology upon our health and environment; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, the generic drift of pollen from genetically
12   engineered planted crops has been scientifically documented to
13   extend two or more miles away from genetically engineered
14   plantings, and genetically engineered seeds are being
15   distributed in Hawaii; and
16   
17        WHEREAS, the organic farm industry, other non-genetically
18   engineered farms, and industrial and home plantings will be
19   contaminated with genetically engineered plantings; and
20   
21        WHEREAS, the bio-diversity of our small and extremely
22   sensitive islands will be changed, if not harmed forever, with
23   genetic engineering; and
24   
25        WHEREAS, the exports from Hawaii could be contaminated
26   with genetic engineering technology, thus damaging the
27   reputation of Hawaii's agricultural products, and thereby
28   limiting our economic livelihood; and
29   
30        WHEREAS, the health and purity of Hawaii's ecosystem
31   should be assured top priority before the State ventures down
32   the road of untested bio-technology, which is currently being
33   rejected by the world market; now, therefore,
34   
35        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
36   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, that the

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              
                                                        
                                                        


 1   University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
 2   Resources and its Extension Service, with assistance from the
 3   Department of Agriculture, the Department of Business, Economic
 4   Development, and Tourism, and with some consultation with an
 5   independent research team, preferably experienced with the
 6   California Certified Organic Farms Program concerning the
 7   genetic engineering issue in California, is requested to
 8   develop a coordinated plan to provide evaluation and cost
 9   benefit analysis of the ramifications of pursuing an economic
10   and farming future with genetic engineering technology in
11   Hawaii; and
12   
13        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii
14   College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is
15   requested to submit a report to the legislature on its progress
16   no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
17   Session of 2001; and
18   
19        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
20   Resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of
21   Hawaii, Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
22   Resources, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Director of
23   Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Department of
24   Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the
25   individual city and county governments, including the
26   chairperson of each of the Neighborhood Boards of Honolulu.
27 
28 
29 
30                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________