Anti-GMO Groups Host Sign Waving Demonstration

Anti-GMO rally, Sunday, March 30, 2014. File photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Maui Now Staff

A coalition of grassroots groups host a sign waving demonstration on Maui today in an effort to bring attention to health and welfare issues relating to genetically modified organisms, and GMO farming.

The demonstration comes on the heels of the recently passed GMO initiative that places a moratorium on GMO cultivation in Maui County, and the subsequent lawsuit filed seeking to delay any enforcement of the measure and ultimately to have it declared unenforceable.

Since the lawsuit was filed, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in favor of Monsanto Hawaiʻi, preventing the initiative from taking effect until the court considers its legal merits further.  That injunction was set to expire on Dec. 5, according to a KITV report.

“It is unacceptable that the citizens of Maui passed a GMO Moratorium and Dow and Monsanto did an end run around us,” said Autumn Ness of the group Maui United in an event press release. “This is yet another incident of the government over-riding the citizens and it has people very upset,” she said.

Today’s (Wednesday, Dec. 10) sign waving demonstration runs from 3 to 6 p.m., at the corner of Hāna Highway and Dairy Road.

Event organizers say the demonstration is led by the Maui Unite group, but also includes participation from GMO Free and Hawaiian rights groups, Stop Cane Burning, and individuals concerned with excessive pesticide spraying.

Organizers claim that the government is “enacting laws favoring corporations over people,” and, “letting them down on protecting their health and the health of the water, land and air.”