Malu ‘Aina in Search of a Volunteer

Farm Coordinator and Farm Volunteers!

      Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action, founded in 1979, is a small all-volunteer non-profit peace farm in Ola’a (Kurtistown) on Hawaii Island. We are looking for a farm torch carrier, someone to take on the volunteer farm coordination that Jim Albertini has done for over 40 years. Jim, pushing 77 years of age, hopes to concentrate more on peace organizing and continuing Malu ‘Aina’s emergency food pantry work, and less on farm work.

      Malu ‘Aina is a grassroots non-profit organization that started with a donation of land. but no buildings. Over the years, we built some simple structures. Malu ‘Aina does not seek government or foundation money. Too many strings attached. We do an annual appeal to supporters for donations to keep the work of Malu ‘Aina going.  Our main “crop” is non-violent activism on a variety of social issues including opposing war, militarism, and injustice, and redirecting war spending to meet basic human needs, including protecting the environment.

      We are looking for someone to volunteer part-time, or full-time, to help maintain the fruit trees on the farm, and perhaps with the help of other volunteers replant some vegetable crops. Some basic gardening/farming skills would be a plus but not essential.  I’m willing to help train.  The new volunteer farm coordinator could be someone already living on the east side of Hawaii Island, or someone willing to come and live at Malu Aina rent-free and with basic food needs provided.  Life at Malu ‘Aina involves off-grid simple living on small-scale solar and water catchment. Currently, Jim is the only person in residence at Malu ‘Aina though over the years we usually had a couple of people in residence along with a few other short-term visitor volunteers.

      Due to the last 3 years of Covid, volunteer help has been minimal. Our tractor which had a major breakdown just before Covid arrived is now up and running after a difficult time finding parts. Jim is doing mowing in the orchards and farm roadways but farm fruit tree maintenance has been lacking. There are approximately 175 fruit trees here that require lots of weed whacking and other maintenance. 

      If you, or someone you know, might be interested in being the Malu Aina farm coordinator, or simply helping as a farm volunteer sharing fruits from Malu Aina, please complete the google form for potential volunteers. Here is the link:

Also check out our webpage at www.malu-aina.org to see Malu ‘Aina peace, justice, and environmental issues of concern.

Mahalo for your consideration and support.

Jim

Jim Albertini, President of Malu ‘Aina

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 http://www.malu-aina.org

Mahalo to Graham Ellis for his article on my peace work and Malu Aina. 

Jim Albertini – Puna Hero written by Graham Ellis

REMINDER:

Aloha Peace friends,

I urge you to join either, or both, Hilo Peace vigils this week.

Friday, Dec. 23, 2022 at the downtown Hilo Post Office from 3:30-5 PM

Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022 on Kanoelehua Ave. (Hwy. 11) fronting Ross and the former Walgreens from 4:30-6 PM

The time has never been more urgent to stand up and be a voice for peace, not more war, especially in this Holy Season.

Please try to join us and pass the word to others.  Mahalo.

Also, there is a peace organizing meeting Monday, Dec. 26th, from 6-8PM at the Keaau Community center. 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

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

Below is this week’s peace leaflet and our Malu ‘Aina Annual Appeal.  Please share widely.

                           Peace in Ukraine!

     Here are a few proposals for dialogue and negotiations to achieve a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine, something the world desperately needs in this Holy Season.  As the chances of nuclear war grow day by day, it’s high time to consider what a settlement might look like for this war.

     The first peace proposal is initiated by Columbia University professor Jeffrey D. Sachs who has extensive international experience. Professor Sachs summary points include: the US and NATO must back down, Russia must withdraw its troops, Ukraine must stop seeking to retake Crimea, and all parties must commit to respecting Ukraine’s sovereign borders.  See an article on the proposal by Jeffrey Sachs here: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2022/12/05/mediators-guide-peace-ukraine

     Another peace proposal comes from former US Secretary of State, 99-year old Henry Kissinger.  I and many others, consider him a war criminal.  However, Kissinger says that urgently negotiating an end to hostilities in Ukraine would prevent another world war.  Kissinger says delays increase the risk of a world war. Kissinger laid out his reasoning in the December 17 issue of The Spectator, describing the current conflict as a “war in which two nuclear powers contest a conventionally armed country,” a clear reference to Ukraine being a proxy war between the US and Russia. Read about Kissinger’s outline of a peace proposal here –https://www.rt.com/news/568389-kissinger-ukraine-peace-proposal/

     US Veterans for Peace Call for a Holiday Truce, Ceasefire, and Negotiations to End War in Ukraine. See https://www.commondreams.org/views/2022/12/18/us-veterans-call-holiday-truce-ceasefire-and-negotiations-end-war-ukraine? Please share other peace proposals. Mahalo. The worst option is to continue escalating the war.

Sleepwalking to Global Nuclear Armageddon is NOT the Answer!

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

Dec. 23, 2022, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1108– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

Malu ‘Aina Annual Appeal

December 2022

Aloha friends,

     Once a year, during this Holy season, I write to ask for your help to sustain the work of Malu ‘Aina, an all–volunteer organization committed to justice, peace, and a living planet for generations to come.

   2022 marks 43 years since the founding of Malu ‘Aina. Some of you have been with us from the start. Others more recently. Please know, we appreciate all of you for your solidarity and donations of support. You are our base. To maintain our independence and critical voice, we do not seek corporate or government funding. We started grassroots and want to stay grassroots.

     We remain committed to the principle of non-violence, kapu aloha, as our guiding light. We believe deeply that the means we use must be in line with the end that we seek. Currently, we are in transition to the next generations of leadership.  It’s a slow process but we hope the vision of Malu ‘Aina will be carried forward for generations to come. Your ideas, and suggestions of next-generation leaders, are encouraged.

     We continue to grow food at Malu ‘Aina to share with people in need, but with limited volunteer farm help.  We have long served as an emergency food pantry.  Each week we also write a new peace leaflet for widespread distribution and conduct a peace vigil at the downtown Hilo Post Office/Federal Building.  Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, marks 1108 consecutive weekly peace leaflets, for a vigil that started the day after Sept. 11, 2001.  You can read the new weekly leaflet on our website www.malu-aina.org.  In addition, we continue our efforts to de-militarize Hawaii and the planet and shift resources from warfare to healthcare, education, and protecting the environment.  Protecting the planet from nuclear war and climate disasters are the two biggest challenges facing human civilization.

   We have plenty of work to do.  Our 40 year-old-farm tractor was not running for nearly 2 years. We had difficulty finding parts. But thanks to the help of a volunteer mechanic friend and your financial help it’s now running again. A younger driver would be helpful to this senior citizen turning 76. Mahalo for your continued financial support and solidarity in this journey of working for justice, peace, and aloha ‘aina. You are a blessing and very much appreciated.

With gratitude and aloha,

Jim Albertini

Donations are tax deductible if checks are made to Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 ‘Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawaii 96760 A Pay Pal account (Donate Button) has also been set up on our webpage www.malu-aina.org. To receive our posts, please send me an email ja@malu-aina.org with a request. You can also reach us by phone (808) 966-7622. Mahalo.

Malu ‘Aina Annual Appeal

December 2022

Aloha friends,

     Once a year, during this Holy season, I write to ask for your help to sustain the work of Malu ‘Aina, an all-volunteer organization committed to justice, peace, and a living planet for generations to come.

     2022 marks 43 years since the founding of Malu 'Aina. Some of you have been with us from the start. Others more recently. Please know, we appreciate all of you for your solidarity and donations of support. You are our base. To maintain our independence and critical voice, we do not seek corporate or government funding. We started grassroots and want to stay grassroots.

  We remain committed to the principle of non-violence, kapu aloha, as our guiding light. We believe deeply that the means we use must be in line with the end that we seek. Currently, we are in transition to the next generations of leadership.  It's a slow process but we hope the vision of Malu ‘Aina will be carried forward for generations to come. Your ideas, and suggestions for next-generation leaders, are encouraged.

  We continue to grow food at Malu ‘Aina to share with people in need, but with limited volunteer farm help. We have long served as an emergency food pantry. Each week we also write a new peace leaflet for widespread distribution and conduct a peace vigil at the downtown Hilo Post Office/Federal Building. Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, marked 1104 consecutive weekly peace leaflets, for a vigil that started the day after Sept. 11, 2001. You can read the new weekly leaflet on our website www.malu-aina.org. In addition, we continue our efforts to de-militarize Hawaii and the planet and shift resources from warfare to healthcare, education, and protecting the environment. Protecting the planet from nuclear war and climate disasters are the two biggest challenges facing human civilization.

  We have plenty of work to do.  Our 40 year-old-farm tractor was not running for nearly 2 years. We had difficulty finding parts. But thanks to the help of a volunteer mechanic friend and your financial help it’s now running again. A younger driver would be helpful to this senior citizen turning 76. Mahalo for your continued financial support and solidarity in this journey of working for justice, peace, and aloha ‘aina. You are a blessing and very much appreciated.

With gratitude and aloha,

Jim Albertini

Donations are tax deductible if checks are made to Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 ‘Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawaii 96760. A Pay Pal account (Donate Button) has also been set up on our webpage www.malu-aina.org. To receive our posts, please send me an email ja@malu-aina.org with a request. You can also reach us by phone (808) 966-7622. Mahalo.