Karmjeet Manhas is new to grassroots activism and knows he can't fight Monsanto, the U.S.-based agricultural biotechnology giant responsible for most of the world's genetically modified organisms.
What Manhas hopes to accomplish in Saturday's 11 a.m. March Against Monsanto from City Hall to Millennium Park is to raise awareness of the dangers of messing with the DNA of plants and the adverse effects he says those genetically altered foods are causing humans.
Manhas, co-organizer of the Prince George march, wants Canada to ban GMOs or at the very least require all genetically altered foods to be labeled and tested before they make it into the grocery bags of consumers.
Although genetically modified organisms are banned or labelled in 64 countries across the world, Canada or the U.S. have not followed suit.
"The march is all about solutions, what we can do to change our buying habits and protect ourselves from it," said Manhas. "It's a peaceful movement and we'll educate people to start up gardening again. A home garden is the first line of defence for healthy organic food. The next step is to buy locally with the 100-mile diet at the farmer's market.
"Consumers have to be educated on what a genetically modified organism is and the potential health risks it does have. We trust we will be protected by our government agencies, and that's the biggest issue. We're just trying to get people to take a look, and when you take a look, you're shocked."
Because Canada imports so much of its fresh produce, Manhas says many of the fruits and vegetables on store shelves might have been altered genetically, but because no law requires stores to apply labeling, consumers don't know whether it is or not.
"[Store retailers] fight really hard not to label an item and that's because when people find out it, they don't want to buy the item anymore," he said.
The march is expected to attract two million people in 400 cities and 40 countries. Locally, a Facebook page, March Against Monsanto Prince George, has been started. Manhas expects 300 people for the march and speeches at City Hall. Guest speakers will represent organic farmers, gardeners and seed collectives.
Manhas, 37, got involved in organizing the local march because he's already well in tune with eating healthy as the owner/operator of Kaiten Mixed Martial Arts.
"I have the kids programs and this is a very serious issue," he said. "They're eating stuff that literally is changing their genetic makeup. I have lots of friends involved in professional mixed martial arts and nutrition is a huge part of it. You are what you eat."
