Very Important article

https://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/shannon-biggs/would-you-bulldoze-your-own-temple

Recommended by Kalio Kanaele.  Pass it on.  Mahalo.

Is this what we want with Florida’s NextEra Energy coming to Hawaii?

Florida Court Rules ”Off Grid” Living Illegal

By Joshua Krause in Activist Post – Robin Speronis had been living in an off-grid home for many years without incident, until she was interviewed by a local FOX affiliate in November of 2013. Shortly thereafter, the city of Cape Coral tagged a “notice to vacate” on her property, due to multiple code violations, all of which stem from the fact that her home isn’t connected to water, sewage, or the electrical grid. The city has tried to argue that she is in violation of the International Property Maintenance Code for relying on rainwater and solar panels, instead of utilities. Since that time, Speronis has been fighting the courts for her right live off the grid. Magistrate Harold Eskins recently ruled that she can live without using water or electricity, but she still has to be connected to these utilities no matter what. -more-

Here is a brief report of the TPP protest:  (photos to follow)

Hawaii had a a very spirited protest against TPP on Sat. March 14th from 11-1PM at the Waikoloa Marriott Beach Hotel. More than 60 people gathered on the highway fronting the hotel property and held signs and banners against TPP for the first hour and leaflets were handed out to passing vehicles at the traffic light. (Leaflet below).  People came from all over the island and included Native Hawaiian leaders, ILWU  Union members, peace, environmental and anti-GMO activists, etc.  Signs and banners included: “Secret meetings taking place here.” “NO TPP –Backroom deal -License to Steal,” TPP Kills Jobs, Kills Nature, Kills Home Rule.”  “Stop TPP Fast Track –People Before Profits.” There were even signs in Japanese against TPP.  The response from those passing by in vehicles and on foot was very positive.

At 12 noon, about 30 people moved from the highway to the King’s trail area near the King and Queen marketplace areas of the resort complex to continue the protest and hand out leaflets to TPP delegates passing by on the sidewalks to and from the nearby restaurants and shops.  The King’s trail is a public trail where free speech rights must be recognized within resort private property.  Some delegates passing by wanted their pictures taken next to a protest vehicle truck with magnetic signs that read “No TPP: People Power Not 1% Rule.” and “No TPP –No License to Steal.” Hotel security were upset that the truck was parked in the parking area clearly marked “King’s Trail Parking Area.”  They wanted the truck removed but protesters stood firm.
At the King’s trail, several county police eventually arrived and I heard one of the officers falsely assert that the trail was private hotel property.  But the protests continued.

Another dozen protesters went to walk the public shoreline area carrying protest signs and offer informational leaflets to people on the beach fronting the resort.  Hotel security again tried to dispute people’s first amendment rights on the shoreline and the legal definition of the shoreline which is “the high wash of the high seasonal surf,” not the low or high tide mark.  When protesters turned their cameras on to record the encounter, the security supervisor refused to say another word and left the area.

No arrests were made throughout the day.  The protest was peaceful.  Still, people’s rights of peaceful protest need to be clarified and respected by hotel security and police on Hawaii’s public trails and shorelines.  And of course corporations, and things like TPP, trampling on peoples rights and destroying the earth need to be stopped by united global citizen action.
Jim Albertini for Malu ‘Aina

ALOHA ‘AINA “DAY OF ACTION”

AGAINST TPP & FOR

HOME RULE, SOVEREIGNTY,

DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPARENCY

      Secret international TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnershp) trade talks are taking place March 9-15, 2015 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott and Waikoloa Hilton Hotels. TPP has been described as NAFTA (North American Free-Trade Agreement) on steroids. It is a totally non-transparent meeting of the world’s “1%” to negotiate a mega-treaty that would give ultimate power to corporations like Wal-Mart, Monsanto, Goldman-Sachs, Philip Morris, Apple, G.E., GM, etc.

      This is big!  We need to put the emergency brake on Fast Tracking of TPP. It will grant corporate domination of county, state, and national sovereignty, threaten native peoples’ land, sacred sites and traditional customs and practices, jobs, labor rights, and the environment. TPP will increase the gap between rich and poor, and result in further militarization in the Pacific. All to benefit corporate profits and the super rich 1%.

• TPP will offshore millions of good-paying jobs to low-wage nations, undercutting working conditions globally and increasing unemployment.
• TPP will expand pharmaceutical monopoly protections and institute longer patents that will  decrease access to affordable medications
• TPP will potentially limit GMO Home Rule laws, GMO labeling, and allow the import of goods that do not meet US safe standards.
• TPP will encourage the privatization of lands and natural resources in areas where indigenous people live.
• TPP will roll back Wall Street regulations, prohibit bans on risky financial services, and establish international corporate tribunals to collect damages from governments that hurt corporate profits.

Countries involved: U.S. Japan, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Hawai’i Loa Ku Like Kakou! All Hawai’i & the Pacific Stand Together!

Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org http://www.malu-aina.org

Aloha kakou,
Those heading from Hilo to the Waikoloa Marriott for the 11-1PM protest of TPP on Saturday, March 14, 2015, please stop at the parking area at the corner of Komohana and Saddle Rd near Puainakao to help with carpooling if you have extra room in your vehicle.  Cars should leave that area for Waikoloa at 9AM.  People need rides and we can reduce the number of vehicles traveling.
Mahalo for your kokua.

Below is a leaflet for distribution at the protest and a non-violent code of conduct for the TPP protest.
Jim —

Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB 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

Mahalo for joining the Aloha ‘Aina Day of Action

Against TPP and For Home-Rule, Sovereignty, Democracy, and Transparency.

March 14, 2015 Waikoloa Beach Resorts 11-1PM

We have come to affirm our right of peaceful protest of TPP (so called Trans-Pacific Partnership)and to affirm positive values of aloha ‘aina. We stand in the spirit of aloha and we ask that everyone adhere to the principles of non-violence. This means if hostility is directed at us, we return aloha, and not engage with the hostility. Please spread out, do not block each others signs, and be very careful of traffic. Stay off the roadway. Wave to passing cars and spread aloha. Please abide by the following:

Nonviolent Action Code of Conduct

1. Our attitude will be one of openness and respect toward all we encounter in our actions.
2. We will use no violence, verbal or physical, toward any person.
3. We will not harm anyone, and we will not retaliate in reaction to violence.
4. We will not carry weapons.
5. We will neither be under the influence nor bring any non-prescribed drugs or alcohol.
6. We will neither bring dogs nor other animals, except for service animals.
7. During our demonstration we will not run nor make threatening motions.
8. In case of any confrontation, we will sit down.
9. We will not destroy or damage property.

Following sign holding on the highway from 11-12 noon, participants may want to consider some options:

1. Continue holding signs from 12-1PM on the highway fronting the Waikoloa resorts.
2. To hold signs from 12-1PM on the King’s trail as the trail intersects the roadway to the Waikoloa Marriott Beach and Hilton Hotels. Parking for the King’s trail is available at the King’s Market Place. Please stay on the trail (which is quite narrow) and do not block or impede traffic — pedestrian or vehicle. The King’s Trail is public. The surrounding area is private and off limits to free-speech. We will have leaflets to offer to people passing on the sidewalks, including TPP participants. (Those wanting to join the King’s trail protest please wear red arm bands.)
3. To walk and hold signs on the public shoreline fronting the Waikoloa Beach Marriott at ‘Anaeho’omalu Bay. The road to the Bay, the parking lot, and the beach are private and off limits to protest. What is public is the shoreline, defined as the high wash of the high seasonal surf. That’s a gray area so to avoid possible conflict, please stay below the high wash of the waves at high tide. We could walk the length of the beach and back holding signs. We will have leaflets to offer to people within the shoreline area only, not to people on the general beach (private property) area. (The parking lot at the beach is likely to be filled at 12 noon. Those with trucks could shuttle people to and from the shoreline from the Kings marketplace near the King’s trail. (Those wanting to join the shoreline protest please wear yellow arm bands.)

Both the King’s Trail and shoreline sign holding and leafleting increase the risk of possible hostile encounters either by members of the public, hotel security and/or police. Those undertaking this action need to be aware of this, prepare yourself for this possibility, even though these areas are clearly public access areas where free-speech rights should apply. No arrests are planned. This is a peaceful assertion of our right to protest and to affirm aloha ‘aina over TPP. Mahalo for your aloha.

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 ‘AINA “DAY OF ACTION”

AGAINST TPP & FOR

HOME RULE, SOVEREIGNTY,

DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPARENCY

Secret international TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnershp) trade talks are taking place March 9-15, 2015 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott and Waikoloa Hilton Hotels. TPP has been described as NAFTA (North American Free-Trade Agreement) on steroids. It is a totally non-transparent meeting of the world’s “1%” to negotiate a mega-treaty that would give ultimate power to corporations like Wal-Mart, Monsanto, Goldman-Sachs, Philip Morris, Apple, G.E., GM, etc.

      This is big!  We need to put the emergency brake on Fast Tracking of TPP. It will grant corporate domination of county, state, and national sovereignty, threaten native peoples’ land, sacred sites and traditional customs and practices, jobs, labor rights, and the environment. TPP will increase the gap between rich and poor, and result in further militarization in the Pacific. All to benefit corporate profits and the super rich 1%.

• TPP will offshore millions of good-paying jobs to low-wage nations, undercutting working conditions globally and increasing unemployment.
• TPP will expand pharmaceutical monopoly protections and institute longer patents that will  decrease access to affordable medications
• TPP will potentially limit GMO Home Rule laws, GMO labeling, and allow the import of goods that do not meet US safe standards.
• TPP will encourage the privatization of lands and natural resources in areas where indigenous people live.
• TPP will roll back Wall Street regulations, prohibit bans on risky financial services, and establish international corporate tribunals to collect damages from governments that hurt corporate profits.

Countries involved: U.S. Japan, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Hawai’i Loa Ku Like Kakou! All Hawai’i & the Pacific Stand Together!

Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org http://www.malu-aina.org