Archive for April, 2010

DANGER FROM THE FAR RIGHT!

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

“I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime,” says Noam Chomsky, whose been called America’s greatest intellectual…  Chomsky says “the mood of the country is frightening. The level of anger, frustration and hatred of institutions is not organized in a constructive way. It is going off into self-destructive fantasies.”

Chomsky says “It is very similar to late Weimar Germany.  The parallels are striking. There was also tremendous disillusionment with the parliamentary system. The most striking fact about Weimar was not that the Nazis managed to destroy the Social Democrats and the Communists but that the traditional parties, the Conservative and Liberal parties, were hated and disappeared. It left a vacuum which the Nazis very cleverly and intelligently managed to take over…  If the polls are accurate it is not the Republicans but the right-wing Republicans, the crazed Republicans, who will sweep the next election.” Read the full interview of Noam Chomsky by Chris Hedges http://www.alternet.org/story/146523/

****************

The Tea Party movement held Tax Day rallies last week locally and throughout the U.S., protesting what they perceive to be excessive income taxes, big government, and infringement of constitutional rights. As Chomsky notes, some of this movement has a legitimate complaint: “For over 30 years, real incomes have stagnated or declined. This is in large part the consequence of the decision in the 1970s to financialize the economy” (investment banking, and outsourcing manufacturing to other countries). But the Tea Partiers don’t direct their anger at the banks and corporations that profit abroad while ordinary workers at home see no gain. Nor do they connect their income tax burden with the fact over half of the federal budget goes to militarism and wars of empire disguised as wars against “terrorists.”  Tea Partiers, besides  blaming President Obama and Congress, focus their anger on a number of scapegoats including undocumented immigrants, welfare recipients, the poor, Muslims and people of color, and even the peace movement.

We believe that the corporate warfare/banking state, not excessive taxation, is at the heart of the current economic decline. Working Americans pay with their tax dollars, while American servicemen and women, along with innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan  pay with their lives and their health.   The Tea Party Patriots draw public attention away from this injustice by channeling anger toward the host of scapegoats instead of toward the corporations and bankers that profit from war.

LEARN MORE – JOIN the COMMUNITY PEACE FORUM

Eric Orseske — U.S. veteran of Iraq/Afghanistan wars
will speak on his war experience and transformation to anti-war activist

Jim Albertini and others will discuss Military Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation contamination at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) in the center of Hawaii Island.
(The military was invited to participate in a balanced public forum on DU but refused.)

Time: 7-9PM  Date: Sunday, April 25th  Place: Keaau Community Center
(Located behind the Keaau Family Clinic and Keaau Police Station.  The event is free and open to the public)

STOP THE WARS!  STOP DU RADIATION CONTAMINATION IN HAWAII, IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN

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 AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622.  Email ja@interpac.net  http://www.malu-aina.org
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (April 23, 2010 – 449th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Exchange with a “Gathering of Eagles” (GOA) member

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Aloha Ron and all Gathering of Eagles (GOA)
Mahalo for your thoughts, though I wish you would express them in a more respectful American tone recognizing our right to disagree but respecting each other in the process.  If we are not speaking the truth you have no worries.  If you detest what we stand for –peace, justice, non-violence, and respecting the rights of all people and the earth itself, then I think you need to reconsider your own positions.
Blessings to you and all the GOE.  We wish you no ill will.
Jim Albertini

On 4/20/2010 10:12 PM, Ronald wrote:
> Have as many goddam meetings and protests as you want and preaching  to the choir of far-left fringies but you are not and will not make any progress on this. SHOW ME WHERE dude.  Even the vast amount of knee-jerk Dems here would think you and your ilk are wackos. Do you know what the definition of insanity is ? You guys are objects of derision amongst our group.  WE DETEST WHAT YOU SONS-OF-BITCHES stand for and will fight you at every chance we get.  That’s right GOE. You are pissing in the wind,   you INGRATE.  Shame on you.   noaloha    W.

COMMUNITY PEACE FORUM

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Eric Orseske — U.S. veteran of Iraq/Afghanistan wars

will speak on his war experience and transformation to anti-war activist

****************************

DU Update

Jim Albertini and others will discuss Military Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation contamination at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) in the center of Hawaii Island.
(The military was invited to participate in a balance public forum on DU but refused.)

Time: 7-9PM

Date: Sunday, April 25th

Place: Keaau Community Center

(Located behind the Keaau Family Clinic and Keaau Police Station)
the event is free and open to the public

STOP THE WARS!

STOP DU RADIATION CONTAMINATION IN HAWAII,

IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, ETC.

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

Join Peace Doves Around the Island!

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Take a Stand for Peace

The two day (8 stops) around the island roving  peace vigil calling for an end to the wars and redirecting military spending toward education and other human needs was a new experience in peace making on Hawaii Island.  Mahalo to our Kauai peace sisters and brothers for the idea.

We started in Hilo bayfront on Sat. at 9AM which was very busy with lots of people getting ready for the Merrie Monarch parade. Our signs were against war and occupation.  We also called for “Schools NOT War, Jobs not war, Healthcare not warfare,  Bring the troops home, Rescue the troops from war, Cut off the war funds, etc.”  The message, especially concern for school funding, was well received.  We handed out a lot of leaflets about 54 cents of every federal tax dollar going to the military while less than 2 cents goes to education.

After Hilo Bayfront, a Hilo contingent of 7 traveled to Honoka’a and then on to Waimea and Waikoloa where they were joined by others in each community against the wars. It was good to give support to one another and stand for an hour in each community in solidarity for peace.

On Sunday 4 of us from east Hawaii first traveled to Volcano, where we were joined by a dozen other peace activists, including Hawaii Independence supporters.  Local residents helped bring out Volcano friends to join the vigil. Next stop was Na’alehu where many people were on their way to church.  Watching the churches fill we wondered – – would Jesus or Buddha bomb anyone?  Shouldn’t it be a given that churches are on the side of peace and not war?  At Captain Cook there was a strong showing by south Kona residents against the war.  Kailua-Kona was busy with tourists but also local residents hanging out in the pier area.  We were joined by several youth who brought good energy to the last stop in the vigil.

Along the roving peace vigil there were several war supporters counter demonstrating. They were part of a group called “The Gathering of Eagles.’ or what one peace vigiler called “the screaming eagles” for some of their members who screamed insults.  Among the insults  (not by all the eagles mind you) were “losers, dope smokers, communists, get a job.”  Some of their signs were curious: “The Big islands wants/needs more military.” “We need more bombs.” Especially troubling was hearing one of the eagles scream “NUKE ‘EM”

Malu ‘Aina has a firm non-violent discipline. Do not return insult for insult. Treat all people with respect, even those who disagree with us. Take the high road. Let insults go like water off a duck’s back.

All total, over the 2 days, dozens of island residents took to the streets to stand for peace against war; to say that our priorities are upside down. Spending 54 cents out of every federal tax dollar on the military and
2 cents on education is nuts. It’s time to put our kids back in school, open the libraries, and furlough the warmakers and arms merchants, instead of teachers and students.  Stand up and act for peace.

Don’t be a Warhead!

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 AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.  Phone (808) 966-7622.
Email ja@interpac.net  http://www.malu-aina.org
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (April 16, 2010 – 448th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Hawaii Island Roving Peace Vigil

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

Report on the islandwide roving peace vigil.

Saturday, April 10
* 9-10 a.m. Bayfront Hilo,
* 11 a.m.-noon Honokaa (Highway by Tex’s Drive In)
* 1-2 p.m. Waimea fronting Foodland,
* 3-4 p.m. Waikoloa Village by Shopping Center

Sunday, April 11
* 9-10 a.m. Volcano Highway 11 Wright Road
* 11 a.m.-noon Naalehu theater
* 1-2 p.m. Captain Cook across Manago Hotel,
* 3-4 p.m. Kailua Pier

The two day around the island peace vigil calling for an end to the wars and redirecting military spending toward education and other human needs went well We started in Hilo bayfront on Sat. at 9AM which was very busy with lots of people getting ready for the Merrie Monarch parade. Our signs against the war and calling for “Schools NOT War, jobs not war, bring the troops home, Rescue the troops from war, etc. were well received. We handed out a lot of leaflets about 54 cents of every federal tax dollar going to the military while less than 2 cents goes to education.
Danny Li headed the Hilo contingent of 7 that traveled to Honoka’a and then on to Waimea and Waikoloa Village where they were joined by others against the wars. In Waimea and Waikoloa there were several war supporters counter demonstrating. In Hilo there was a lone woman. They were all part of a group called “The Gathering of Eagles.’ or what Danny Li called “the screaming eagles” for some of their members who shouted disrespectful, screaming insults.
On Sunday 4 of us from east Hawaii first traveled to Volcano, where we were joined by a dozen others, including Hawaii Independence supported Calvin Kaleiwahea. Caki and Robert Kennedy helped bring out Volcano residents to join the vigil. There were 2 pro-war counter demonstrators.
Next stop was Na’alehu where we were joined by Ka’u resident Sterling Robbins. A few pro-war demonstrators stood on the opposite side of the street from us while people traveled between us on their way to church which was a rather odd scene.  Who would Jesus bomb?
At Captain Cook there was a strong showing by south Kona residents against the war including faithful Shannon Rudolph.  Anti-war people  nearly doubled the number of pro war sign waivers. Only in Kailua-Kona were we out numbered by “the screaming eagles.” We were joined by several youth who despite being yelled at by the screaming eagles to not take our “propaganda” leaflet, did in fact take a leaflet and help a protest sign against the war.
Among the insults hurled by some screaming eagles (not all the eagles mind you) were “losers, dope smokers, communists, get a job. I’ve learned a long time ago to take my mother’s advice: ” Do not return insult for insult. Take the high road. Let insults go like water off a duck’s back.”

The screaming eagles carried lots of big American flags. There were always more flags than people. Some of their signs were curious: “The Big islands wants/needs more military.” “We need more bombs.” Especially troubling was hearing one of the screaming eagles scream “NUKE ‘EM”

All total, over the 2 days, dozens of island residents took to the streets to stand for peace against war; to say that our priorities are upside down. Spending 54 cents out of every federal tax dollar on the military and 2 cents on education is nuts. It’s time to put our kids back in school, open the libraries, and furlough the warmakers and arms merchants, instead of teachers and students.

Mahalo to all,
Jim Albertini