Darth Tatoe, the Eggs, Cuke Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Cannoli- these are some of the main characters in Star Wars- no, Store Wars, an online video created for the fight for organic foods and abolition of chemically engineered foods. An amusing parody which follows the story lines of Star Wars, it takes on a world issue and makes light of it.

            The basis of Store Wars is the story of Cuke Skywalker, your everyday cucumber who lives in the farm which produces fresh, organic food items. However, Cuke Skywalker, our protagonist, is later told by Obi-Wan Cannoli, that the farm has been conquered by none other than the Dark Side.

The Dark Side manages to bring their customers lower prices, which is all that the consumers see. They do not manage to see the fact that the food that they eat has been contaminated by chemicals, pesticides, genetic engineering, and irradiation.

Cuke knows that something must be done. Consequentially, he joins the Organic Rebellion, a group of brave fighters in order to help bring back the whole goodness of organic foods and to possibly save Princess Lettuce.

 Unfortunately, bringing the organic back to the Farm is not an easy task. First, the Organic Rebellion meets up with the Thai Fighters, the Eggs, and finally, Darth Tater. Darth Tater is sure to be their hardest foe yet. Not only is he evil and extremely strong, he had previously murdered Cuke’s father, Organikin Skywalker.

 Will Darth Tater succeed in bringing Cuke over to the Dark Side of the Farm or will friendship, family, and a strong hard-headed belief triumph?

  This spoof has been shown over and over again on multiple websites. In fact on the youtube version of the video, seen here,  they have managed to get over 584,998 hits- not an easy feat. This video has managed to do something to people who have not been paying attention to the news: get aware of the fact that there is a dispute over genetically engineered foods. People who were previously Switzerland are now involved and informed.

However, this video was not the best one to refer to for information on organic and genetically modified (MD) foods. It provided very little information on the pros and cons of both types. The question, “Why should I join/fight the anti-MD force,” still exists.

Furthermore, this video decides that all foods which are inorganic are ‘evil’. Is this true? Our population is expected to rise over eight billion by 2027. Already, we’re talking about food shortages. The prices of food have inflated- rice and flour prices have increased at a higher rate than ever before and this is in a developed country boosting a strong economy. Logically, this would mean that basics such as rice and flour have possibly doubled in price in some country.

 Furthermore, a Danish study concluded that organic farming practices only produces half as much food as GM farming practices. In fact, organic farming methods can only properly support four billion people.  We have six billion people as it is. Who’s to say that sooner or later we won’t be able to produce enough food to support eight billion people? If more food and cheaper prices mean GM foods, I’m all arms.

 Most pro-organic people boast that organic foods are free of pesticides in contrast to genetically modified foods which have carcinogens. This means that if we’re not consuming chemicals we’re going to be healthier and live longer right? This is misleading. Some of the manmade materials that were found to be higher in organic foods include rotenone (a carcinogen), Pyrethrum (literally a nerve poison), BT spray, ammonia, and many other chemicals. Likewise, these chemicals do take their toll on the environment as they do on our bodies. Lastly, GM foods use “Friendly” bioherbicides and bioinsecticides, have better natural waste management, and conserve more water and soil. On an environmental scale, everything is technically balanced out.

 We are told over and over again that many of the pesticides in GM foods cause cancer and that eating fruits and vegetables will prevent cancer- no matter how they are grown. You still receive the nutrients you need to eat. Therefore, when GM foods have been controlled, they are just as effective in sustaining life as other organic foods.

  So while Cuke Skywalker fights in the favour of organic foods, I’ve most unfortunately joined the dark side.

Were you interested in this review and side? Check out an essay focusing on the opposite argument here:

• The Consequences of Genetic Engineering