Malu 'Aina

Nonviolence or

Nonexistence?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s famous quote is even more timely today than when spoken more than 50 years ago: “The choice is not between violence and nonviolence but between nonviolence and nonexistence.”

Today, humanity’s existence is threatened by the increasing risk of nuclear war and climate disasters. Both crises are human-made. The human species is now facing an urgent need for an about-face on both fronts. Put an end to war and live sustainably on this planet. Despite this urgent demand, the US continues to head toward escalating war with Russia over Ukraine, and with China over Taiwan. Behind both escalations is the desire by corporate interests for the US to remain on top – domination in a Uni-polar world. King talked about the US triplets of evil – racism, militarism, and extreme materialism. These same evils were a driving force in the 1893 illegal overthrow of Hawaii by Sugar barons with direct assistance from the US military, and continue today after 130 years of illegal US military occupation of Hawaii. The good news is that no lie can live forever!

For the US and the world to make an about-face on war and climate disasters, more and more people will need to embrace what King described as six core principles of nonviolence, or as Hawaiian kupuna say –”Kapu Aloha.” 1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people. 2. Seek to win friendship and understanding.  3. Defeat injustice, not people. 4. Suffering for a cause can educate and transform. 5. Avoid external physical violence, as well as internal violence of the spirit. 6. The universe is on the side of justice. MLK showed courage in speaking out strongly against the US war in Vietnam. He said: “The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today is my own government. I cannot be silent.” Today, we cannot be silent either. Together, let us stand up, and speak out, for justice, peace, and aloha ‘aina here in Hawaii and around the world.

For a more in-depth look at MLK’s principles of nonviolence and the story behind his assassination on April 4, 1968, see https://malu-aina.org/?p=8707

Live Aloha! Never Give Up!

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, 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 http://www.malu-aina.org

Jan. 20, 2023, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1112– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

Martha Hennessy

Speaking Schedule on Hawaii Island

 Catholic activist Martha Hennessy has traveled to Russia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Korea, and Palestine. She has been imprisoned for protesting nuclear weapons, drone warfare, and the torture of prisoners at Guantanamo.

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

Peace Leaflet #1111

      Every week Malu ‘Aina prepares a new peace leaflet for widespread distribution on the internet and handing out on the Hilo street corner of our Friday Peace Vigil. This week marks 1111 peace leaflets. It is important to remind ourselves and each other that positive change often doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, in many cases, it takes years, decades, and generations of nonviolent struggle to see real positive change. But the good news is that no lie can live forever! Struggles for racial justice, women’s rights, workers’ rights, ending wars, and environmental justice, are just some examples. The illegal overthrow of the independent nation of Hawaii by the U.S. on Jan. 17, 1893, and the continued illegal occupation ever since is another important example. The struggle continues after 130 years. The military poisoning of Oahu’s water table at Red Hill, military toxins blowing in the wind from Pohakuloa bombing, and overall desecration of the ‘aina are symptoms of the continuing illegal military occupation of Hawaii.

      The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose holiday we celebrate on Jan. 16, reminds us that the arc of the moral Universe is long, but bends toward justice. King encouraged us to play an instrument in the symphony of social change and help give hope to one another. Let’s all do our best to be a face of hope for others, especially the least among us – those struggling with critical unmet human needs. And remember MLK’s words: “The greatest purveyor of violence in the world is my own government. I cannot be silent.” True when spoken in 1967, one year to the day of his assassination, and still true today. We cannot be silent! Stand up, speak up for justice, peace, and aloha ‘aina.

“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, that person sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Robert F. Kennedy Capetown, June 6th, 1966

Put your toe in the water! Join the Hilo Peace Vigil!

Help Make Ripples of Hope!  Never Give Up!

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, 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 http://www.malu-aina.org

Jan. 13, 2023, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1111– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

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

REMINDER!!!!

There is an important peace organizing meeting Monday, January 9th, from 6-8 PM at the Keaau Community center 16-186 Pili Mua St. located behind the Keaau Police Station and Bay Clinic. People can also join from 6:30 – 7:15 via zoom Here is the link — Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9876901944?pwd=hfzRDOcH6GUnCFb8liLJY363u43mJZ.1 Meeting ID: 987 690 1944 Passcode: peacenow

And please mark your calendar for national speakers at upcoming peace organizing meetings:

Monday, Jan. 23rd  speaker Martha Hennessy 6:30 – 7:15 PM at the Keaau Community center. Confirmed.
 Catholic activist Martha Hennessy has traveled to Russia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Korea, and Palestine and has been imprisoned for protesting nuclear weapons, drone warfare, and the torture of prisoners at Guantanamo. She is the seventh grandchild of Dorothy Day (1897-1980), founder of the Catholic Worker movement, Benedictine Oblate, and candidate for sainthood in the Catholic Church. Martha will be joining the Friday, Jan. 20th and 27th Hilo Peace Vigils from 3:30-5PM at the downtown Hilo Post Office.  Come and meet her and talk story.

Other times and places where Martha will be speaking:

KONA Sat. 1/21 2 PM   St. Michael the Archangel Church, 75-5769 Ali’i Dr., Kailua-Kona

HILO Tue. 1/24 7 PM  Interfaith Communities in Action at Church of the Holy Cross, 440 W. Lanikaula St. (across from UHH glass bldg.)

HONOKAA 1/26 5:30  Honokaa Library 45-3380 Mamane St., Honokaa

Monday, February 13th speaker Medea Benjamin. (still to be confirmed).  We are also trying to arrange a speaking engagement for her at UH Hilo on Monday morning or early afternoon, Feb. 13th still to be confirmed.
Medea Benjamin is a co-founder of both CODEPINK  — Women lead Peace Group, and the international human rights organization Global Exchange. Benjamin is the author of eight books. Her latest book is “War in Ukraine –MAKING SENSE OF A SENSELESS CONFLICT”

Issues to be discussed at the Jan. 9th Peace Organizing meeting include the current war in Ukraine and rising US tensions with China.  Also Pohakuloa — the State lease of land and the upcoming Open House on Earth day, April 20 at Pohakuloa where hundreds of school children will be invited to visit the Pohakuloa Toxic Area.  Please bring issues of concern and pass the word to others.  We need to build a strong peace movement.  Mahalo for your kokua.

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

Join the Hilo Peace Vigil of 2023

(every Friday)

Fridays, from 3:30 – 5 PM at the downtown Hilo Post Office

 

Jan. 6, 2023 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet below.

 

             Pohakuloa!   

The Most Toxic Place on Hawaii Island!

      The Military 133,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) is located in the center of Hawaii Island and should really be called for what it is – The Pohakuloa Toxic Area. The area has been bombed and shelled for more than 75 years by the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and foreign countries too. Millions of live rounds are fired annually at PTA. A wide range of toxins has been used including lead, perchlorate, and radioactive Depleted Uranium (DU). The continuing live fire of high explosives, re suspends many of the toxins that can then be carried long distances in the high winds that frequently blow through the Saddle region of Hawaii Island. Inhaling tiny DU oxide particles can cause several cancers and genetic damage can be passed to future generations.

      The Military Pohakuloa Facebook page recently announced that the Army will again be having an Open House “Experience Pohakuloa Day” on April 20 from 9 AM to 1 PM. The military post said it is time for “showcasing our training, environmental and community relations mission.” See #XPTADay #armycommunityrelations #PacificsPremierTrainingArea How bizarre! There can be no greater desecration of the ‘aina than bombing. And to celebrate that bombing on what is widely recognized as “Earth Day” only adds insult to injury.

      Of the 133,000 acres at PTA, 23,000 are leased from the State of Hawaii for 65 years at a total cost of $1.00. That lease expires in 2029 and the military is already negotiating to renew the lease so it is doing a lot of public relations work to try to shine its image. In addition to the leased land, 84,000 acres were simply seized in 1964 by a Presidential executive order signed by Lyndon B. Johnson. The military paid ZERO dollars for that 84,000 acres and there is no expiration date to the seizure of land. However, Kaho’olawe island, which encompasses 28,000 acres was also seized by presidential order. Still, that order was rescinded by another presidential order in 1990 signed by George H.W. Bush that returned the entire island to the State of Hawaii. If it was done for Kaho’olawe, it can be done for Pohakuloa too! All that is needed is political pressure for action.

      The year 2023 has just begun. We have plenty of work to do. Don’t be bamboozled by military propaganda to renew the Pohakuloa lease and keep sending more and more weapons to escalate the war in Ukraine. De-militarizing Hawaii and the world and preventing nuclear war and climate disasters need to be at the top of our New Year’s resolutions. Never underestimate the power of people working together in nonviolent action.

Stop the Bombing! Clean Up the Military Opala!

Return the Land to the Hawaiian People!

And End the Illegal Military Occupation of Hawaii!

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-H awaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Russian, 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 http://www.malu-aina.org

 

Jan. 6, 2023, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1110– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

-- 
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