From: "GMO-FREE MAUI"
Subject: Kalo Update from Walter Ritte
Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 17:44:53 -1000

Aloha everyone, here is another update on our efforts to control GMOs.

There is a ceremony and signing of a moratorium May 24th Tue at 3:00pm at the Hawaiian studies taro patch in Honolulu (Kanewai) which is off Dole street where the Manoa River goes under the Dole St. bridge. The college of tropical ag. and human resources (CTAHR) will call for a stop of all GE research on Hawaiian Taro. This has been like pulling teeth and the UH wants to protect the freedom rights of researchers and not look like they are killing the golden egg of research money. They will say as little as possible.

All of the details are not worked out yet, as there are three entities involved, UH, Sen Hee, and community.

This is just a small step, we want this to be a positive and not dwell on all the things this signing will not accomplish. We hope this will sound the alarm in the community that bad things are being done to the taro, that this will alert researchers that they can not do what ever they want in order to "save the world".

This will make this issue a safe and popular political move, and set the stage for other battles we need to take on. Spread the word, if you know any press people let them know, we need to get the word to the public that GE IS A BAD DEAL.

We will honor Haloa at the ceremonies that day. We need the civic clubs, the royal orders etc. to know what they are doing to Haloa so they can come to show their respect and support.

Walter