Hawaii Protesters Support Pesticide, GMO Proposal

Protesters estimated in the thousands marched on Sunday in the small town of Lihue, Hawaii, in support of a countywide proposal that would require large agricultural companies to disclose pesticide use and the presence of genetically modified crops.

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — Protesters estimated in the thousands marched in a small town in Hawaii in support of a countywide proposal that would require large agricultural companies to disclose pesticide use and the presence of genetically modified crops.

The demonstration happened Sunday in Lihue, a town of about 6,400 on the island of Kauai.

The Garden Island reports most of the marchers wore red as they walked from Vidinha Stadium to the Historic County Building in support of the Kauai County bill, which also would require pesticide-free buffer zones around public areas.

Event organizer Fern Rosenstiel says the estimated 4,000 marchers turned out for their right to know.

She says it's unacceptable for major chemical companies to spray pesticides and experiment with genetically modified crops and not reveal what they're doing on the island.

The council's Economic Development Committee will take up the bill Monday.

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Information from: The Garden Island, http://thegardenisland.com/

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