STOP Mosquito Releases: $20,000 More Needed by 2/29 to File an Appeal

Donate now to help us file an appeal and move our legal case forward to stop the release of bacteria-infected mosquitoes on Maui

The island of Maui is ground zero for a dangerous biotech experiment that is threatening the health of Hawai‘i’s people, wildlife, and ‘āina. The State of Hawai‘i and its multi-agency partnership Birds, Not Mosquitoes are currently releasing millions of bacteria-infected mosquitoes in the fragile ecosystems of East Maui in a project that is overwhelmingly opposed by the community and has not been sufficiently studied for potential impacts and safety concerns. Disregarding the scientific opinion of a tropical disease and vector expert about the serious risks of the plan, these agencies continue to plow forward, using our island home as a testing ground for their lab-altered insect agenda.

Hawai‘i Unites has taken the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and their Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to court to stop these mosquito releases. We are seeking a ruling to require an environmental impact statement with comprehensive studies of the risks and consideration of safer alternatives. Last month, the court ruled in favor of the DLNR/BLNR’s motion for summary judgment, stopping our case from going to trial as scheduled. With your help, we can file an appeal. We need to raise $20,000 more in donations by the end of this month to keep this legal case going.

Mahalo to everyone for helping raise awareness about our case to stop these mosquito releases. The outpouring of support from all over the world lets us know we are speaking out for the global community to protect our natural world from these corporate experiments that desecrate sacred lands and violate our rights to a healthy environment. Please continue to share our story with your network of friends and family. If each person receiving this newsletter donates just $30, we will have enough to challenge the court’s decision. We want this case to go to trial.

To learn more about the risks of these bacteria-infected mosquitoes and the bigger plans for the state’s biotech agenda, watch my recent interviews on Children’s Health Defense and Brush Junkie:

We also have another opportunity to testify against mosquito releases in Hawai‘i at this Friday’s BLNR meeting, February 23^rd at 9:00am. The BLNR will be voting on agenda item C1 regarding procuring bacteria-infected mosquitoes for release on the island of Kaua‘i.

Email written testimony by Thursday, February 22^nd at 9:00am to: blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

Sample Testimony:

I’m opposed to the BLNR 2/23/24 agenda item C1. This bacteria-infected mosquito release project is a dangerous experiment on our islands. Serious concerns about this plan have not been adequately addressed. Southern house mosquitoes transmit diseases to people, and pathogen screenings are not being disclosed. Female mosquitoes that bite, breed, and spread disease will be released. Wolbachia bacteria can cause mosquitoes to become more capable of spreading diseases. This project has the potential to cause the extinction of the native birds it is meant to protect, and it could impact the health of the people. I demand an environmental impact statement.

We can provide Zoom video testimony on Friday 2/23 at 9:00am by emailing a request to blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov (include your name and the agenda item C1). If you’re on Oahu, you can attend the meeting live and provide in-person testimony at 1151 Punchbowl St. Room 132 (Kalanimoku Building), Honolulu. The link for the Zoom meeting is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84280945891 or telephone (669) 444-9171 meeting ID 842 8094 5891. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

Additionally, comments in opposition to renewal of the EPA Section 18 FIFRA emergency exemption for use of these bacteria-infected mosquitoes on Maui and Kaua‘i are still being accepted through February 23^rd. For more information and a sample comment, see our newsletter article. Send in your comments here:

COMMENT on the EPA Emergency Exemption for Mosquitoes

Thank you again for the continued support for the work that we’re doing. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us reach our goal of raising $20,000 more by February 29^th to file an appeal and seek a ruling that our case be remanded back to the circuit court and go to trial.

Mahalo,
Tina Lia
Founder
Hawai‘i Unites
HawaiiUnites.org

Hawai‘i Unites is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our environment and natural resources. Your tax-deductible donations help us to fulfill our mission of honoring and protecting our sacred connection to the natural world.

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