Hawaii's Kauai Island Moves to Curb Gene-altered Crops, Pesticide Testing:

            A bill was recently passed in the Hawaiian island of Kauai. After protests against the testing of genetically engineered crops and pesticides on the island, the island’s citizens rallied and passed legislation against genetically modified organisms in food and feed by DuPoint Pioneer, Syngenta, BASF, and Dow AgroSciences. The citizens believe the GMO testing in negatively affecting their health, fearing increases in cancer cases. The companies testing GMOs argue that their programs are for the greater good of society; their main goal is larger food supplies for the world and increased welfare. They think that only state and federal government should monitor and manage them, since those levels of governments already have qualified committees that watch over their programs. The bill that was passed was cleared of some of its sturdier guidelines; but it requires that GMO testing companies reveal the presence of their pesticides and crops, and also create a buffer zone between public facilities. While the citizens of Kauai still believe their convictions hold true, the agricultural companies believe no real evidence supports the claim of environmentally unfriendly factors to the islanders. I applaud the efforts of the Hawaiians. It is their land that the scientists are testing the products on; they should have a say in how it is used. I think that the testing of pesticides and genetically modified organisms should be completely up to the citizens whose land is being used.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=hawaiis-kauai-island-moves-to-curb