Occupy Maui Occupies Maui College

On Sunday, Jan. 22, under the shade of a banyan tree, inspirational Hawaiian music and impassioned discussion on the topic of genetically engineered crops and the future of Maui agriculture prepared the modest gathering of Occupy Maui activists for their upcoming week of Occupation events against genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

The evening began with a chant and prayer before the stage was handed over to the esteemed George Kahumoku, Jr. Free-spirits danced to the familiar sounds of Hawaiian favorites as "Uncle George" interlaced the classic lyrics with present-day messages of activism and the ideals of organic farming.

"I'm not against anything," Kahumoku stated, "I'm for balance, eating good, being healthy, and giving everyone a choice."

Kahumoku became interested in biodynamic engineering, a method of organic farming that promotes the natural relationships between soil, plants, and animals to create a self-sustaining system, after a farming accident exposed him to methyl bromide, a pesticide, and left him blind for days.

"I didn't know what it was," said Kahumoku, "I was just using it."

After his accident, Kahumoku moved away from chemicals and into organic farming. He was one of the first farmers in Hawaii to obtain organic certification. Since his decision to become an organic farmer, he has participated in programs that offer education and grants to other farmers trying to convert to organic methods.

Among those gathered was Rena Rejoice! Blumberg, a 2010 University of Hawaii graduate. A lifelong activist, Blumberg has been avidly involved in many movements throughout the years. Now that her attention has turned to GMOs, she has spent much of her time educating herself and others on the environmental effects of farming genetically modified crops. As she expressed her concern over GMOs, she cited a library's worth of reference material – everything from grassroots publications, YouTube videos, and award-winning documentaries.

"King Corn is something that I wish everyone in America would watch," implored Blumberg.

Blumberg acknowledged that her views may not be shared by everyone. As a substitute teacher, she has been faced with opposition from parents and school staff for showing films deemed "inappropriate" for students.

"The teacher didn't have anything set aside for when I was supposed to be there, so I asked her if it was okay to show "Supersize Me" to her biology class." Blumberg recounted. She only got through the first half of the documentary before having it confiscated by security. Blumberg later found out that a parent had called in a complaint when her child was unwilling to eat dinner after being shown the film in school.

The message woven into the stories and testimonies shared was that "one person cannot do much on their own, they need to be part of the many" in order to exact change. Emphasis was placed on public education and that "everyone has a choice" to educate themselves and make informed decisions based on what is out there.

In a brief discussion on the potential long-term effects of GMO consumption, Dr. Lorrin Pang lauded the efforts of the public to become educated on the issue.

"[It was] lonely talking about GMOs by myself," Pang reminisced as he talked about a time before the public became interested in GMO education. He also cited the historic movement against genetically modified taro as one of the reasons public awareness in GMOs has increased in recent years.

For more information on GMOs in Hawaii, visit http://www.hawaiiseed.org

And, for more information on Occupy Maui and a listing of upcoming events, visit their website at http://www.occupymaui.com. Occupy Maui meets Wednesdays on the UH-Maui College campus.