Mahalo to Graham Ellis for his article on my peace work and Malu Aina.
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.
This HB 1565 is a travesty! It subverts any semblance of protecting people’s democratic input and undermines current land use regulations. It removes contested case process and fast tracks development for corporate interests. Such things as TMT, GMO, Geothermal, and runaway development in conservation and coastal areas. Kill this bill now!. Shame on the people who introduced such a bill. It’s a disgrace that citizens even have to submit testimony to uphold such basic hard fought basic rights regarding land use.
Jim Albertini, President, Malu ‘Aina center for Nonviolent Education & Action.
Aloha Mauna ʻOhana, we must kill this bill 1565. Hereʻs a sample testimony for you to reference. Call Cindy Evans, Jarrett Keohokalole today!!!!
HB 1565 should be TERMINATED
This proposed bill is a blatant special interest bill for the benefit of private entities and corporations with a clear disregard of Hawaii State Constitution Article I, Section 5 as well as other constitutional provisions and statutory laws. It is very evident that this bill is in response to the Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory LLC’s attempt to circumvent the judicial and approval process for a project that intends to take control and use of public lands in an environmentally and culturally sensitive area within a conservation district on Mauna Kea. This bill would strip the State’s constitutional obligation to protect the public trust, natural resources, environmental rights as well as native Hawaiian customarily and tradition rights in which the State is compelled to protect as stipulated in the Hawaii State Constitution Article XI, Sections 1 & 9 and Article XII, Sections 4 & 7.
“There is so much wrong with this bill, that is should be TERMINATED due to the reasons noted below. It would allow private corporations to lease public lands “for nominal considerations and without auction” similar to a $1.00 a year that existing foreign and out-of-state telescopes on Mauna Kea are paying resulting in Hawai‘i’s taxpayers having to subsidize this type of science and technology development. Also, this bill proposes a “mediation agreement reached between the parties” which proposes a ‘FAKE’ and a ‘BOGUS” due process. If a proposed project is determined to cause substantial and adverse impacts, there should be mitigation provisions instead of mediation provisions with the developer. Most disturbing is that this bill would allow any of these proposed subzones to be exempt from the environmental review process as defined under Chapter 343 which is intended to protect Hawai‘i’s unique natural and cultural resources.”
