Malu 'Aina

Climate Change is

Overriding Issue of

Survival!

But like lemmings, many humans race to the cliff!

      While there are many pressing issues of justice, peace, and environmental destruction facing us here in Hawaii and in every country around the world, there is no question that on the grand scale of issues like Nuclear War, Climate Change trumps all. It is an issue of species destruction. Symbolic of how humanity is growing very short of time in addressing changes that need to be made to deal with this human-made disaster, here is a short video that teaches climate change in one minute and 31 seconds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UatUDnFmNTY&feature=youtu.be

      The end of “normal” is here already. The climate changes are already upon us and accelerating at an alarming rate. Here on Hawaii island the NOAA weather observatory located on Mauna Loa recorded the monthly average for CO2 in the atmosphere at 401.33ppm. In early May 2014, the U.S. federal government’s National Climate Assessment, the national scientific community’s definitive statement on the current and future impacts of greenhouse gas emissions was released.

      Compiling the efforts of 300 leading climate scientists and experts, the message is “bleak” as the NCA details how human-caused global warming is being felt “here and now” nationwide. As a consequence of the nearly two degree Fahrenheit rise which occurred throughout the country over the past century, the report says, Americans are experiencing water scarcity in dry regions, increasing torrential rains in wet ones, increasingly severe heat waves, worsening wildfires, and the death of forests as a result of heat-loving invasive insect species. And all of this is likely to worsen as average temperatures continue to increase. The authors… estimate that global warming could exceed 10 degrees Fahrenheit in the United States by the end of this century.

      Following its release, many noted that the report provides an abrupt wake-up call to politicians and the fossil fuel industry, saying that their ongoing denial of mankind’s disruptive impact on the planet has significantly hastened many of these dangerous effects. “As our communities reel from droughts, floods, forest fires, fossil fuel disasters, crop failures and more, it becomes harder for these polluters and those aligned with them to hide just how out of touch from reality they are,” said Trip Van Noppen, president of Earthjustice. “The divide between the fossil-fuel industry’s misguided attempts to place profits above the needs of our families and communities grows as each new scientific report is released,” Van Noppen continued. “The National Climate Assessment paints a bleak picture, but it is a picture we have seen clearly for many years, and we have to act on it now.”

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/05/06-2
http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/23670-on-the-edge

          Time to Mother Earth!
Aloha ‘Aina & Future Generations Before Profits!

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, etc.
5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
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
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (May 16, 2014 – 660th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Aloha Peace, justice, and environmental ohana,
The Hilo rain was a blessing for a great day to stand up for Aloha Aina.  The parade crowd was huge — thousands lining the entire length of the parade route. Organizer Craig Neff and many others led the Aloha ‘Aina contingent of about 100 dressed in green color shirts, etc. in chants throughout the route  “Aloha ‘Aina –HAWAII, Aloha ‘Aina POHAKULOA. Aloha ‘Aina Mauna Kea,” which echoed off the Hilo buildings.  There were other chants as well. The signs and banners were low key and positive “Aloha ‘Aina,” but the message of standing for the sacred ‘aina against all forms of desecration was clear.  There were old veteran activists and new generation activists.
For me, it was great to see the smiles and shakas of support all along the parade route.  This was a real local people event and the support for “Aloha ‘Aina” was very strong. Peoples faces lit up seeing the Aloha ‘Aina Banners and hearing the chants. Our contingent was number 54 of 150 plus units in the parade.  Being in the parade you can’t get an overview so we will have to leave that for others who saw the entire parade to respond.  But it was clear there were military units in the parade.  A navy band was there, and soldiers in what appeared to be combat gear with helmets along with some humvees.
Of the Aloha Aina contingent, the strongest presence was for Aloha ‘Aina Pohakuloa, and Aloha ‘Aina Mauna Kea.  I wish there was a stronger presence for GMO-Free, Let Pele Be, and other Aloha ‘Aina issues but it was a good beginning  of all Hawaii coming together in solidarity for Aloha ‘Aina.  Next year –even mo better!  Malu ‘Aina was glad to be part of this effort.
—
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 Peace ohana,
Below is an email from Bob Petricci of Puna Pono Alliance requesting testimony in support of SB 2663.  Below his email is testimony I sent in. Please send in testimony and pass the word.  Mahalo.
Jim Albertini
—
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

This year’s geothermal legislation needs your help now, one last time.  Please send an email (see below) and ask your friends to do the same.  The immediate need for these emails ends this week (please do not send emails after April 26th.)  You may use our online form to send your email:www.punapono.com/sb.php
Representatives Chris Lee and Cindy Evans along with their committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Water and Land made appropriate changes to Senate Bill 2663 (now referred to as SB2663 SD2 HD2.) They not only cleaned up the Senate version of the bill, but they also provided for contested cases in geothermal permitting and a ban on fracking (with a sunset of 10 years.)   Representative Sylvia Luke and her Finance committee then also approved the favorably amended legislation.

On Friday, April 25th, SB2663 SD2 HD2 will be considered by a conference committee (where Chris, Cindy, Sylvia and Cynthia Thielen will confer with Senators Malama Solomon, Donovan Dela Cruz, Mike Gabbard, Brickwood Galuteria and Sam Slom for decision making only, with no public testimony.)   Puna Pono Alliance is supporting a campaign of email messages to the conference committee members.   Here is a sample email message:

__________________________________________________

Thank you for your concern and support for a community that lives near Hawai`i’s only geothermal development. We appreciate how the House has provided for contested cases in geothermal permitting and a ban on fracking as amendments to Senate Bill 2663.  These House changes, along with other improvements in language and intent, make Senate Bill 2663 an initiative I support. As members of the House and Senate confer on the bill, I ask that you please keep contested cases and the ban on fracking as essential elements of the bill.  Without both of these elements, I feel that the bill would not be worthwhile.

__________________________________________________
Bob’s email:
Please freely edit the above draft text for your email.   Here are the email addresses of the conference committee members::

repclee@capitol.hawaii.gov,repevans@capitol.hawaii.gov,repluke@capitol.hawaii.gov,repthielen@capitol.hawaii.gov,senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov,sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov,sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov,sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov,sensolomon@capitol.hawaii.gov

You also may use our online form to send your testimony by email –www.punapono.com/sb.php    —

Thanks very much for your help,
Bob
My testimony:

Aloha Legislators,

As a 34 year resident of Puna on the Big Island I have long been
concerned about geothermal issues. Thank you for your concern and
support for a community that lives near Hawai`i’s only geothermal
development. We appreciate how the House has provided for contested
cases in geothermal permitting and a ban on fracking as amendments to
Senate Bill 2663.  These House changes, along with other improvements in
language and intent, make Senate Bill 2663 an initiative supported by
Puna Pono Alliance which is a grassroots community group I support. As
members of the House and Senate confer on the bill, I ask that you
please keep contested cases and the ban on fracking as essential
elements of the bill.  Without both of these elements, I feel that the
bill would not be worthwhile.

I do want to add that personally I stand with the Pele Defense Fund
in strong opposition to all geothermal as a violation of Native
Hawaiian religious beliefs that Pele is a deity and drilling into Pele
is sacrilegious and a desecration of the Hawaiian religion equal to the
desecration of drilling for oil in the Vatican, the Temple mount in
Jerusalem or the sacred sites of Mecca.  How have we come to this?  Have
we no longer any shame?  Where is our aloha and respect for Hawaii’s
native religious practitioners?

Mahalo for your consideration.
Jim Albertini

March For

Aloha ‘Aina

Saturday, 4/26/14

9:30 AM

King Kamehameha Statue

(Hilo)

Let’s March in Solidarity

For Aloha ‘Aina

in the Merrie Monarch Parade

Now is the time we put all

our Mana together for

our Sacred ‘Aina!

Wear Green Colored Shirt/Attire

Bring Positive – Aloha ‘Aina Signs

For more information contact: Craig Neff (808) 934-7171

Malu Aina believes The March for Aloha Aina this Saturday is an important event to link struggles for justice, peace and the environment – A Free Independent Hawaii, Respect for Mauna Kea, Pu’uhonua not Prisons, GMO-Free Hawaii, Let Pele Be – No More Geothermal, Go Solar, Stop the Bombing at Pohakuloa, Climate Change, Feed the People, Peace not War, etc. etc.
All Hawaii Stand together.  Please join in solidarity and bring your ohana and friends. Mahalo.

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 (April 25, 2014 –657th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Aloha Peace Ohana,
The March for Aloha Aina in the Merrie Monarch parade this Saturday is an important event to link struggles — Respect for Mauna Kea, GMO-Free Hawaii, Let Pele Be, Go Solar, Aloha Aina Pohakuloa, Feed the People, etc. etc.  Please mobilize people to join.  Bring positive signs.  Talk to Craig Neff (number below) if more information is needed.
Mahalo and solidarity,
Jim

Aloha Peace Ohana,
Below is an email from March organizers  about the “March for Aloha ‘Aina.”  Please pass the word and join this important solidarity action to take care of the land and one another
Mahalo.
Jim Albertini

Aloha e ‘ohana:)

Date: Saturday, 4/26/14
Location: Merrie Monarch Parade
Time: 9:30am at King Kamehameha Statue
Attire: Green colored shirt/clothing
Signs: Positive Aloha ‘Aina
For more information contact: Craig Neff (808) 934-7171

Let’s all stand in solidarity FOR Aloha ‘Aina!
—
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