Restore Hawaii County’s

Historic Nuclear–Free Law!

Repeal the Military

Exemption!

Support Bill 206

Click on the link above to read the Bill

Send an email in support of Bill 206 to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov

On Wed. Oct. 16th, the Hawaii County Council voted 9-0 to support Bill 206 Draft 2 at its meeting in Kona to repeal the 40-year-old Military Exemption from the County’s Nuclear-Free Law.  This is very good news.  Several people testified from around the island in support of Bill 206.  As far as I could tell, no one testified in opposition.

Bill 206 Draft 2 requires one more council vote to move the Bill to the Mayor for his signature to become County law.  That second vote will be in Hilo, likely on Friday, Nov. 8th at 9 AM, although the time and date will not be confirmed until 6 days prior.  But please mark your calendar.  Try to attend the Hilo meeting at the Council Chambers.  You can now send testimony by email up until 1 day before the final vote.  People can also testify via zoom from their homes at the next meeting, or from various county sites around the Island.  Call the County Clerk’s office for more information.  808-961-8255.

Mahalo for your support.

Jim Albertini for Malu ‘Aina

More Background

     Hawaii County’s historic Nuclear-Free Law (No, 665) was passed in February 1981. Hawaii County was the first municipality in the U.S. to pass a law declaring itself a Nuclear-Free Zone. Since then, more than 100 or 200, other municipalities have passed similar laws.

     Forty years ago, on July 18, 1984, hundreds of people gathered peacefully on the Hilo docks to protest a visiting US Navy Nuclear-armed warship – the USS Ouellet. After 3 years of requesting the US Navy to respect our County’s Nuclear-Free law without success, our organization announced that we planned a non-violent peaceful swimming protest of the next Navy Nuclear ship visit a month later. A Navy Nuclear ship visit was planned for the July Hawaii Japanese Chamber of Commerce Festival of the Pacific.

On July 17, 1984, the day before the nuclear warship’s scheduled arrival, the Hawaii County Council, under the leadership of then Council chair, Stephen Yamashiro, passed an emergency amendment “exempting the military” from the Nuclear-Free law.  Having an amendment to the Nuclear-Free Law to exempt the military is like having an exemption for smokers from Smoking laws.  It makes no sense. For more on the Hilo Bay Warship Peace Blockade,  see https://malu-aina.org/?p=10305 My testimony on Oct. 1^st can be viewed here. https://malu-aina.org/?p=10529

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Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a (Kurtistown) Hawai'i 96760
Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org

 Recycle the War Machine!            _______________________________________________________________

Food Not Bombs! Houses Not Bombs! Education Not Bombs! Health Care not Bombs! Stop the Genocide!

The US spends $1 Trillion a year on its war machine, more than the next 9 nations combined, and plans to spend more than $1.7 Trillion on upgrading its nuclear weapons arsenal that already can destroy the world many times over. After WWII the Pentagon was to revert to a medical facility. The above figures on military spending appear to confirm that the Pentagon has kept its word. It has become – a War Machine Insane Asylum, with Bi-partisan Congressional, Executive Branch, and Wall Street support!

Save the Planet! Peace is a Victory for ALL!

1 . Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3. Defend civil liberties.  4. Oppose all discrimination: anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti- Russian, anti-LGBTQ, etc. 5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org to receive our posts.

For more information see https://www.malu-aina.org

Oct. 18, 2024, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1203– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

On The Brink of WW III

Our World is on Fire!

     Our world is facing a climate crisis and the increasing risk of nuclear war, both of which threaten human civilization. We all can see with our own eyes what is happening: Raging storms, flooding, record hot oceans, wildfires, bombs and missiles flying, millions displaced, hunger, starvation, Israel Genocide in Gaza with US bombs, and a widening war in the Middle East – Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran. The death toll mounts! Where will it end? WW III? Global Nuclear War? Human Extinction?

     We are in desperate need of a global citizen 911 Emergency Nonviolent Movement to sound the alarm and cool things down before the entire planet melts from climate catastrophe and/or nuclear Armageddon. (more…)

The Dangers of Escalating

War!

     More than 1 million people have been displaced in a matter of days in Lebanon by Israel using US weapons while the death toll mounts. Bombs are flying in many directions. Israel is bombing Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria. Iran is now bombing Israel. Where will it end? Global Nuclear War?

“When I pray for peace, I pray not only that the enemies of my own country may cease to want war, but above all that my country will cease to do the things that make war inevitable.”

the late Trappist Monk, Thomas Merton

     The US continues to send tens of Billions of dollars of weapons into Israel, including Bunker Busting bombs being used in dense urban areas, more and more weapons into Ukraine (including long-range missiles) that could trigger a nuclear war with Russia, increased militarization in Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia, etc. surrounding China – all for what? To make more war inevitable and maintain US global domination in a unipolar world, rather than make peace in a multi-polar world of civilized nations? The only winners in the current situation are the Corporate War Profiteers!

     Some good news: On Oct. 1, 2024, the Hawaii County Council Committee on Health, Safety, and Well Being, voted 7-0 on Bill 206 with Council persons LeeLoy and Kierkiewicz excused. Bill No. 206 Repeals the 1984 military exemption from Hawaii County’s Historic 1981 Nuclear-Free Law. Bill No. 206 will now go before the full council for a vote. Stay tuned to testify in support. Mahalo Councilmembers!

Negotiations for Peace Now,

Not More Weapons and War!

1 . Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3. Defend civil liberties.  4. Oppose all discrimination: anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Russian, anti-LGBTQ, etc. 5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org to receive our posts.

For more information see https://www.malu-aina.org

Oct. 4, 2024, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1201– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

Restore Hawaii County’s

Historic

Nuclear–Free Law!

Repeal the Military

Exemption!

Support Bill 206

Send an email in support to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov

There is a first hearing on Bill No. 206 at 3 PM on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 3 PM in the Hilo Council chambers before the Policy Committee on Health, Safety and Well-Being.  Call the County Clerk’s office 808-961-8255 to ask how you can testify via video from various places around the island.

Hawaii County’s historic Nuclear-Free Law #665 was passed in February 1981. Hawaii County was the first municipality in the U.S. to pass a law declaring itself a Nuclear-Free Zone. Since then, more than 100 or 200 other municipalities have passed similar laws.

     Forty years ago, on July 18, 1984, hundreds of people gathered peacefully on the Hilo docks to protest a visiting US Navy Nuclear-armed warship – the USS Ouellet. After 3 years of requesting the US Navy to respect our country’s Nuclear-Free law without success, (leave your nuclear shoes in Pearl Harbor) our organization announced a month in advance that we planned a non-violent peaceful swimming protest of the next Navy Nuclear ship visit. A Navy Nuclear ship visit was planned for the July Hawaii Japanese Chamber of Commerce Festival of the Pacific.

     On July 17, 1984, the day before the nuclear warship’s scheduled arrival, the Hawaii County Council, under the leadership of Council chair, Stephen Yamashiro, passed an emergency amendment “exempting the military” from the Nuclear-Free law.  Having an amendment to the Nuclear-Free Law to exempt the military is like having an exemption for smokers from the No Smoking laws.  It makes no sense.

     On July 18, 1984, the day the Navy Nuclear ship arrived, the US Coast Guard established a Federal security zone for the entire Hilo Bay at the request of the Navy. Anyone putting their toe in the water with a protest sign was subject to a felony violation. July 18. 1984 Hilo Bay was like a war zone.  Coast Guard Cutters escorted the Navy Nuclear warship.  Military helicopters patrolled overhead.  Naval Seal teams in zodiacs were in the water.  Hundreds offered pule on the docks, sang peace songs, and held signs — Respect County Law!  Nuclear-Free Zone! No Nukes! Peace Now! Approximately 100 people were prepared to enter the water in protest.  (For more on the Hilo Bay Warship Peace Blockade, see https://malu-aina.org/?p=10305

Make Hawaii Nuclear Free!  It’s in YOUR Hands!

1 . Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3. Defend civil liberties.  4. Oppose all discrimination: anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Russian, anti-LGBTQ, etc. 5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action

P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760

Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org to receive our posts.

For more information see https://www.malu-aina.org

Sept. 27, 2024, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1200– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

Nuclear Never!  Hawaii Forever!

Nuclear-Free & Independent Pacific March through Waikiki in 1980. Hawaiian activist Moanikeala Akaka is on the far right, Angel Pilago is above “Hawaii” on the banner, and Lopeti Senatule of Fiji on the left.

The Waikele Nuclear weapon depot (now closed) was located in central Oahu. West Loch of Pearl Harbor is where all Navy ships load, or unload weapons. It is a major weapons depot on Oahu.  ASROC nuclear warheads were carried on US surface ships like the USS Ouellet that visited Hilo on July 18, 1984.

Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action

P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760

Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org to receive our posts.