STOP POISONING PARADISE:
DEFEND ORDINANCE 960
 
An Archived Site documenting the historic 2013 victory and efforts of families, teachers, farmers and health professionals on Kaua‘i (Hawai‘i)

A new report, Pesticides in Paradise: Kaua’i Test Fields, released July 2013 by Pesticide Action Network, shines a spotlight on the high levels of Restricted Use Pesticides applied on Kaua’i, which has become one of the world’s “epicenters” for biotech seed testing and experimentation.  The report shares new information about the situations faced by “fence line” communities that live near open-air testing-based biotech research facilities.

 

Based on records maintained by the HI Department of Agriculture, researchers have discovered that the highest volume Restricted Use Pesticides used on Kaua'i are Paraquat, Atrazine and Chlorpyrifos.  

 

Research and experimentation through open-air testing by biotech agrochemical companies on Kaua’i require approximately 18 tons of Restricted Use Pesticides annually.  Over 15,000 acres on this tiny island are under the control of the companies, constituting almost the entirety of leased agricultural state lands in west Kaua’i.

 

Parents and the medical community began to raise concerns over the past several years about the possible links between disease rates and the heavy application of Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP's) near their homes, schools, and churches.  Pesticides in Paradise: Kaua’i Test Fields is an overview study of the 22 Restricted Use Pesticides applied on Kaua’i. It highlights three of the most heavily applied RUP’s on Kaua’i, chlorpyrifos, paraquat, and atrazine, and the health impacts of exposure to these chemicals.

 

Additional results from the report and research will be released on Tuesday, July 30th @ 12:30 pm HST via webinar.