This January, Dr. Vandana Shiva, internationally acclaimed food sovereignty activist, author, and philosopher, will join community leaders from across Hawaii on Oahu and Maui to share stories from the frontlines of the global movement.
Hawaii is home to untold biodiversity and some of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth. However, it is also ground zero for the outdoor experimentation of pesticide-promoting plant technologies, genetically engineered to withstand heavy spraying of toxic chemicals. On Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Molokai, chemical and biotechnology companies like Monsanto, Syngenta, Dupont, Dow Chemical, Bayer, and BASF have purchased prime agricultural land, taking advantage of Hawaii’s isolation and year-round growing season, in order to field test crops that have been genetically engineered to withstand greater applications of pesticides.
Despite public health concerns and contamination of natural resources, the State of Hawaii has taken no action to regulate the activities of biotechnology companies performing open-air testing on genetically engineered seed and synthetic pesticides.
As a result, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Counties asserted their county’s authority to create policies that address these issues and protect the safety and health of its residents and land. Otherwise known as “Home Rule,” Hawaii has shown the world just how important this kind of political power is in the movement to create more safe and sovereign food systems.
Dr. Shiva’s incredibly successful Raise Awareness, Inspire Change tour in January 2013 ignited and empowered the food movement in Hawaii. This year’s visit will help bring Hawaii’s story to the rest of the world, as Vandana will carry forward our victories to all who are fighting for increasing control of their food system.
