Aloha peace & justice ohana,
As you probably know, folk legend and activist Pete Seeger died this past week at the age of 94.  As a small tribute to all he contributed to justice, peace and the environment I’ll be bringing a small solar charged sound system, mic and my guitar to play a few sing along songs in his honor at today’s Jan. 31, 2014  Hilo Peace Vigil 3:30-5PM at the downtown Hilo Post Office. There will be a time for others to share memories of inspiration by Pete.
Please pass the word.  Mahalo and Solidarity.
Jim
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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 www.malu-aina.org

An absolute must read.  Please pass it on.  Mahalo.
Jim

Dahr Jamail: Considering Extinction: Are We Falling Off the Climate Precipice?
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/12/17-5
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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 www.malu-aina.org

Aloha Nelson Mandela!

      “In the desire to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life — an iconic figure who triumphed over South Africa’s brutal apartheid regime — it’s tempting to homogenize his views into something everyone can support. This is not, however, an accurate representation of the man.

      “Mandela was a political activist and agitator. He did not shy away from controversy and he did not seek — or obtain — universal approval. Before and after his release from prison, he embraced an unabashedly progressive and provocative platform…

      “As the world remembers Mandela, here are some of the things (edited for space) he believed that many will gloss over.

1. Mandela blasted the Iraq War and American imperialism. “All that (America) wants is Iraqi oil,” he said… He saw the Iraq War as a greater problem of American imperialism around the world. “If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America. They don’t care,” he said.

2. Mandela called freedom from poverty a “fundamental human right.” Mandela considered poverty one of the greatest evils in the world, and spoke out against inequality everywhere. “Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times — times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry and wealth accumulation — that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils,” he said…

3. Mandela criticized the “War on Terror” and the labeling of individuals as terrorists without due process. On the U.S. terrorist watch list until 2008 himself, Mandela was an outspoken critic of (the U.S.) war on terror. He warned against rushing to label terrorists without due process… and basic tenets of the rule of law.

4. Mandela called out racism in America. On a trip to New York City in 1990, Mandela made a point of visiting Harlem and praising African Americans’ struggles against “the injustices of racist discrimination and economic equality.”

5. Mandela embraced some of America’s biggest political enemies. Mandela incited shock and anger in many American communities for refusing to denounce Cuban dictator Fidel Castro or Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who had lent their support to Mandela against South African apartheid…

6. Mandela was a die-hard supporter of labor unions. Mandela visited the Detroit auto workers union when touring the U.S., immediately claiming kinship with them. “Sisters and brothers, friends and comrades, the man who is speaking is not a stranger here,” he said. “The man who is speaking is a member of the UAW. I am your flesh and blood.‘” The above is from an article by By Aviva Shen and Judd Legum originally published at ThinkProgress

Quotes from Nelson Mandela

“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.”

“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”

Take Action:

It has been reported that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency played a key role in Nelson Mandela’s capture in 1962, leading to his 27 years behind bars. The CIA reportedly tipped off South African authorities as to Mandela’s exact whereabouts, etc. Call for the release of all U.S. government files relevant to Mandela’s capture. The public deserves to know the full truth even if more than 50 years late, and South Africa and the Mandela family deserve an apology from the U.S.

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc. 5. Seek peace through 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  http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (December 13, 2013– 638thweek) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

2013 Christmas Appeal

Dear Friends,                                                                                            December 2013

Christmas, with its message of “Peace on Earth, Good Will to all,” is a special time of year to pause and reflect. It’s a time to take stock of what is really important in life, the values we hold dear, including our family and friends. It is during this season that I send out an “Annual Appeal” to help sustain Malu ‘Aina’s work for justice, peace, and aloha ‘aina (love for the land). It’s also a time to say thank you for the solidarity over the long haul.

      Malu ‘Aina has been planting seeds and sharing food with people in need, the least among us, for 33 years, and all of you have been part of that effort in one way or another. This sense of caring for one another, providing mutual aid, is one of our core values. Oh how I wish we were seeing less need and more justice and joy, but that is not the case. The gap between rich and poor is widening. It appears that personal gain for the .1% has displaced concern for the common good. For many, hope of a better life, is in short supply.

     Malu ‘Aina is now in its 637^thconsecutive week of sponsoring a Friday Peace Vigil at the downtown Hilo Post Office/Federal Building. Each week a new peace leaflet is prepared for worldwide distribution on the internet and on the downtown street corner. 637 weeks is more than 12 years of ongoing wars and trillions of dollars spent for death and destruction. There seems to always be enough money for new weapon systems and wars, but never enough money for building a more just world, meeting basic human needs and caring for the earth.

      Together, we want to see a change in priorities, a world where we fight less and talk more; where love and kindness, not violence, is affirmed as the law of our being; where everyone has the basic necessities of life; where “justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream;” and where we treat the earth, our mother, with the respect she deserves.

      In this Holy season, and the year around, we are truly blessed by the gifts of your solidarity – your peace, good will, aloha, and financial help.  Thank you for the sharing of your lives. Together, we help each other keep the faith and never give up the promise of peace and hope for future generations, The English philosopher, Sir Francis Bacon, advised centuries ago that “wealth, like manure, only does good when we spread it around.” Today, even Pope Francis agrees. Amen!

With gratitude and aloha,

Jim Albertini for Malu ‘Aina

Donations are tax deductible if checks are made to: 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

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (December 6, 2013– 637th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office