Multi-Island Pesticide Tour

Our Win Against Herbicides

PROJECT DETAILS

CLIENT: Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action
PRODUCT: Tour Video
TOUR ORGANIZERS: Protect Our Keiki Coalition
COALITION: Beyond Pesticides, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), Hawaii Center for Food Safety, Hawaii SEED, Pesticide Action Network
IN PARTNERSHIP W/: Herbicide Fee Campus & State Representative Amy Perruso

This will forever be one of my most memorable projects! It was the first win for our community that I’ve personally experienced & am so honored to have been a part of! My role was documenting the tour throughout the islands. Because most of the tour was group discussions around pesticides, so much great information was shared, not only by experienced & knowledgable people, but by those who had found alternatives & solutions.

 

I witnessed the incredible magic created when different people with different perspectives & areas of expertise join forces to protect our community & our islands. Together, they were undeniable. And successful! It was beautiful. It was the spark of hope we need when working towards meaningful community impact.

Featured

To highlight some important points shared throughout the tour & capture the combination of perspectives, the video includes messages from:

 

  • Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, Plaintiff, Monsanto/Bayer Case
  • Duane Sparkman, Engineer/Landscaping Manager, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaʻanapali
  • Shane Sinenci, County of Maui Councilmember
  • Mackenzie Feldman, Founder, Herbicide-Free Campus

TOUR DETAILS

In the summer of 2019, the Protect Our Keiki Coalition organized a multi-island tour educating Hawaiʻi on carcinogenic pesticides/herbicides that pose great risk to public health and safer alternatives.

Dewayne “Lee” Johnson

Lee & his family were invited to join the tour. He is a former school groundkeeper from California who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from exposure to glyphosate-based products. He was the first plaintiff to successfully win a case against Monsanto/Bayer, who was found responsible. He was awarded $300million which was later reduced to $70million.

Dewayne “Lee” Johnson

Lee & his family were invited to join the tour. He is a former school groundkeeper from California who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from exposure to glyphosate-based products. He was the first plaintiff to successfully win a case against Monsanto/Bayer, who was found responsible. He was awarded $300million which was later reduced to $70million.

Conversations

This tour was planned perfectly, gathering panelists & speakers of different backgrounds/expertise, to discuss pesticides from every angle/perspective. Rooms were filled with community supporters, testifiers, activists, and decision-makers.

Conversations

This tour was planned perfectly, gathering panelists & speakers of different backgrounds/expertise, to discuss pesticides from every angle/perspective. Rooms were filled with community supporters, testifiers, activists, and decision-makers.

Changing Laws

A community meeting with the Board of Education was held towards the end of the tour on Oʻahu. After hearing from concerned local families, community organizers, and experienced individuals, including Lee Johnson, it was announced the following morning: Herbicide use will be banned on all Department of Education school grounds, effective immediately!

Changing Laws

A community meeting with the Board of Education was held towards the end of the tour on Oʻahu. After hearing from concerned local families, community organizers, and experienced individuals, including Lee Johnson, it was announced the following morning: Herbicide use will be banned on all Department of Education school grounds, effective immediately!

Setting the stage

Everyone gathered for an evening of rap & poetry, creative political expression. Lee shared the stage with local activists from across Hawaiʻi.

Setting the stage

Everyone gathered for an evening of rap & poetry, creative political expression. Lee shared the stage with local activists from across Hawaiʻi.

Good To Know

Chemical-Free Parks

Shane Sinenci worked with community members & county to get pesticide use banned on Maui County Parks.

Glyphosate

A chemical ingredient by Monsanto, found in products like Round-Up, that kills weeds & causes cancer.

Safer Schools

DOE's ban on herbicides protects almost 180,000 students in the Hawaiʻi public school system, including teachers & staff.

Organic Hotels Grounds

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Kaʻanapali uses organic landscaping practices, especially w/ guests in bikinis & shorts.