Flashback Friday! #MAMwaikiki Corruption Update

It's Flashback Friday! Remember that time, when we did a flashmob for March Against Monsanto​ Waikiki, to Rihanna's Pour it Up? "All I see is signs, all I see is dolla signs," seemed like perfect lyrics for these three politicians blindly supporting agrochemical genetic engineering companies exposing Hawaii kids and environment to dangerous pesticides. It was October 12th, 2013 and millions around the world were marching and protesting the pesticide giant tainting the food supply with untested, pesticide promoting GE crops and seeds. After so many marches and protests, we decided to switch it up and throw a sign waving and flashmob into the heart of tourism. It's not easy to tell the story of GMO Ground Zero politicians taking money from legendarily toxic pesticide companies to poison Hawaii kids, but GMO Free Oahu and BAB did!

Photo by Claudia Belefield Rice

Since we have been checking out the #waikikibboys lately and thinking about updating the concept for today, it seems like a good time to catch you up on where these three politicians are today.

Former Governor Neil Abercrombie was booted in the greatest incumbent governor upset in the history of US elections in 2014. Voters found him intolerable, but David Ige has not helped us and has made some pretty whack big business appointments (remember Carleton Ching?) He has kind of done the opposite of what he promised in a lot of ways. He needs to throw the towel in on TMT already. We'll get back to you on Ige's campaign fund shortly.

South and West Maui District 6 Senator Rosalyn "Roz" Baker won just barely over favorite newcomer Terez Amato​ by some 450 votes. But that doesn't take into accord that two post offices in that district were closed for Hurricane Iselle Friday, which didn't end up hitting Maui. Therefore, the mailed in ballots that would have arrived Saturday in time for the deadline, were delayed until Monday and not counted. Apparently, Civil Defense would have had to step in to rearrange deadlines such as in the districts that were hit by Iselle. This post office shutdown in specific districts may have affected other elections at some small or great level, but this was a particularly close race. At the time we determined it was approximately 1,000 votes that were uncounted in the final total. This subject requires further investigation.

At the moment, Rozzy is at $25,268.95 of agrochemical+GE funding, she has had a fundraiser thrown for her by an agrochemical lobbyist, and as Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Chair, she has repeatedly blocked GMO labeling, pesticide disclosure, regulation and restricted use pesticide buffer zones around schools, homes and hospitals. After the overthrow of Senate President Donna Kim and Kouchi's reorganization of the Senate, Baker now Chairs the Commerce, Consumer Protection & HEALTH committee! Thus assuring nothing meaningful will be done to protect our commerce, consumers or health from the agrochemical companies as long as this stands. She also has not seemed to take much action at all about the toxic cane burning on Maui, though she is well aware. Of course, HC&S which uses tons of pesticides as well, and Monsanto and their allies are all buddies too. They seem to have each other's backs when it comes to forcing environmental toxins onto communities. Both industries in Hawaii, could change their practices as to not release so many environmental toxins and contain hazardous material, keep the jobs, and stop poisoning the community.

Photo by Jsemal Browne

Oahu District 17 Senator Clarence Nishihara of Waipahu, Crestview, Manana, Pearl City, Pacific Palisades, was Senate Agriculture Chair for years. He blocked GMO labeling, pesticide disclosure, regulation and restricted use pesticide buffer zones around schools, homes and hospitals. He won against largely unknown newcomer Roger Clemente and after a year out of the Ag Chair, is now the Vice Chair of Water, Land & Agriculture. At this point, he as received $20,860.72 from the agrochemical+GE industry. But to understand how we got here, as session will begin again come January, let's look at these committee positions and their shocking arrival.

In a bizarre switcheroo in the Senate just before the end of this year's session, a politically hostile takeover ousted Donna Kim as President less than a year after her failed bid for congress. Sole Kauai Senator Ron Kouchi took the reins and committees were dramatically altered, seemingly allied to punish Senators Josh Green and Russell Ruderman of Hawaii island for standing up for pesticide disclosure, buffer zones, GMO labeling and local farmers. The Senate majority then ousted environmental and local food hero Russell Ruderman from the Agriculture Chairmanship, and ousted DOCTOR and Senator Josh Green from the Chairmanship of the Health committee! Was it because he was standing up for children's health to prevent childhood pesticide exposure as a medical doctor and Senator? He was trying to force a percentage of marijuana dispensaries to be locally owned and operated to give opportunity to keep the money in the state and the profits to people at least in business for 5 years so distant companies can't snatch up all the profits so there was a bit of a fight in the Senate over the marijuana dispensary bill.

Who knows? They did it just in time to pass the dispensary bill, but not the way Senator Green was insisting. But they also took Senator Ruderman's Chairmanship. They just so HAPPENED to strip the Chairs standing up for children's health and the environment. But now the extremely over worked Senate calendar has to face COMBINED committees in a rather disjointed, somewhat absurd manner. The Health committee chaired by a Doctor is gone, it's now combined with GMO industry ally Roz Baker's Commerce, Consumer Protection & Health committee. The Agriculture committee, which was Chaired by a long time local entrepreneur and local food provider and major local farming advocate, is gone. It is now combined with Water, Land & Agriculture with pesticide lover Clarence Nishihara as VP. At least Mike Gabbard is the Chair but... bummer.

Frankly, as long as District 2 Representative Clift Tsuji of Keaukaha, parts of Hilo, Panaewa, Waiakea is the house Chair of Agriculture, and District 3 (Hilo, Keaau, Kurtistown, Volcano) Representative Richard Onishi is the Vice Chair, it doesn't matter because we probably won't be able to get them to be reasonable about anything substantial agriculturally related. Tsuji was literally named Biotech Co-Legislator of the Year (with Rep. Calvin Say) by the world's largest biotech trade group, for "tirelessly," blocking regulation of their industry. Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) was just suing Hawaii island to overturn the GMO crop ban. The agrochemical industry politicians seem take it out on sustainable policy, period. When we don't let them pre-empt the county rights, they don't let us have no-spray buffer zones for the kids or simple steps to help local farmers grow local food. Meanwhile, while we import 94% and have 70% of our productive ag land in GMO testing and seed export and Clarence Nishihara is recognizing the lobbying groups on the Senate floor. For the record, Clift Tsuji's agrochemical+GE campaign fund is currently at $19,195.81.

Check your Hawaii legislator's agrochemical+GE campaign fund: http://tinyurl.com/HIchemcash1015

Join #teamBAB: tiny url.com/teamBAB

#flashbackfriday #fbf #rozbaker #govgmo #clarencenishihara #babesagainstbiotech #BAB4life

Photo by Melanie Castillo