#HELLNOGMO
March 2014
What exactly is a GMO and why are they banned in some countries, but not in others? Why do companies refuse to label GMO foods, if they’re safe and nutritious as they claim?In this video, we take a trip to the north shore of Oahu to find out how GMOs are impacting the land and the people on the Hawaiian Islands – and what it means for the rest of us.Here are some key facts about GMOs:
- GMO = Genetically Modified Organism. It’s a plant or animal that has been genetically altered with DNA from other plants, animals, bacteria, and even viruses. Humans literally inject genes from one species into another species to change it in some way that could never occur naturally.
- Five countries produce 90% of the world’s GMO crops: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and the United States. Common GMO crops include corn, canola, soy, sugar beets, and cotton.
- GMOs are engineered to withstand heavy amounts of pesticides, which are bad for our health and the environment. Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. (source: Non-GMO Project)
- More than 60 countries have banned or seriously restricted GMOs because they aren’t considered to be safe.
- In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. Nearly 90% of corn, 94% of soy, and 90% of cottonseed grown in the U.S. are from genetically engineered seeds. (source: Just Label It)
- More than 90% of Americans want GMOs labeled. By labeling GMO foods we could make more informed decisions about what we’re eating, and better understand the risks and benefits of GMOs.
- Hawaii is ground zero for new GMO and pesticide testing. The largest biotech agri-chemical corporations in the world (including Syngenta, Monsanto, Pioneer, Dow Chemical, and BASF) are spraying toxic restricted use pesticides on GMO field trials near schools, hospitals, and residential neighborhoods. People are getting sick adjacent to these test fields.
Take Action
Take Action Now
Help Hawaii become GMO Free!
Share this video.
The more people who know about this issue, the more effective we can be!
Instagram: Download this image and make sure to tag us when you post it! Tag @surfing4change and use #StopPoisoningParadise
Sign the Petition to Evict Monsanto from the North Shore of Oahu.
Tell Kamehameha Schools to do what’s right and evict Monsanto.Sign the petition here!
Tell Hawaii State Legislature:
“Don’t Let GMO Corporations Poison Paradise.”
Put the pressure on Hawaii state politicians and tell them to regulate biotech and pesticide experimentation in Hawaii.Sign the petition here!
Say “Shame On You” to GMO Corporations for suing Kauai County.
Download this image and post it to the Facebook walls of the GMO corporations who are suing Kauai County so they can continue to spray poisons next to schools, homes, and hospitals. Include a custom “shame on you” message with your post.
Make changes in your own life to become GMO free!
Here are some easy actions you can take to make a big difference in your own life and community.
Buy organic and “Non-GMO Project”certified foods.
Avoid the main GMO crops including corn, soy, canola, and sugar beets.Click for a Non-GMO Food Chart
Ask your local restaurants if they have any non-GMO menu items.
If enough people ask for this, they’ll make the change. Customers know best!
Shop at your local farmers market.
Get to know the people that grow your food.
Host A Show
Want to host a screening? Great! Here are 5 steps to get started:
Setup a computer and stream it online with friends in the room.
If you can’t make this happen we would be happy to mail a DVD, it just might take some time because there’s a good change we’ll be out shooting on location for a new film.
Choose your space.
You can show the film in your backyard, living room, school, university, church, library…wherever…just make sure there’s a power supply!
Set up the technology.
The space you choose will determine the technology you need. The basic components are: power supply, computer with hi-res digital copy of movie, speakers, digital projector or TV, appropriate cables, and screen. If your space doesn’t have all the necessary components, you can rent equipment on the cheap.
The basics: connect the video signal from your computer to the projector/TV; connect the audio signal from your computer to the speakers/TV. If you’re renting a projector, the company can tell you the details of how it works. Easy peasy!
Host the event, discuss, and take pictures!
This is the fun part. Enjoy and don’t forget to take pictures of the screening!
Send us your pictures!
Let us know how your screening went… email pictures to kyle@surfingforchange.com and tag us in social media posts on Facebook and Instagram.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surfingforchange
Instagram: http://instagram.com/surfing4change
Other Resources
Take Action Now
Why re-invent the wheel, when others are already doing great work? Check out the following resources to learn more about GMOs and get involved!
‘Ohana’O Kaua’i is a group of local residents committed to active community…
Great resource to learn more about GMOs in Hawaii.
Working for mandatory labeling of GMO foods.
Great resource to learn more about GMOs in general.
Find non-GMO foods and products.
The latest news about GMOs on the Hawaiian Islands, and upcoming events.
The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods.
An unflattering look inside America’s corporate controlled food.
Share these resources!
The more people who know about this issue, the more effective we can be!