IMUA HAWAII!
We congratulate all those who won elective offices. We also commend all those who ran for office even though they did not win. And we salute all people who chose to make a statement by their vote and those who chose to speak by not voting.
We commend many of the candidates’ visions for Hawaii’s future expressed in the campaigns, such as Governor-elect Neil Abercrombie’s promise to: “build a sustainable economy where we produce our own clean energy and grow our own healthy food;” and to “build an economy fueled by our entrepreneurial spirit and our unique island ingenuity; an economy filled with good-paying jobs and opportunities for our children.” We support investments in health, a clean environment, comprehensive education programs from early childhood right through university, and alternatives to prison. People everywhere need hope and renewed confidence in the future.
For too long, government has served powerful special interests instead of the people. For too long, government has done the bidding for those too big to fail and too big to jail. We agree that people want change. People want justice. People want peace. People want to live and work in clean, healthy, safe communities on a clean, healthy, safe planet. People want a Hawaii and world that respects diversity and values honesty, kindness, and the humanity of all. No one wants to be terrorized — by package bombs, occupation forces, or high-tech drones.
So now let’s get to work. Let’s hold elected officials accountable. Let’s “come together to build our future together… with aloha in our hearts.” Call or write all of our newly elected, or re-elected, officials and tell them that major issues were ignored or not seriously addressed in the campaigns. (Governor-elect Neil Abercrombie 1050 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 2150 | Honolulu | HI | 96814 Phone: 808-589-2237).
Calling for an immediate end to the U.S. illegal wars of occupation, and for major cuts in military spending is fundamental toward building a brighter future and having the resources to help solve local problems. The wars and military spending are stealing and wasting the resources for everything that is genuinely needed. Trillions of dollars have been spent on armaments and the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now widening to Pakistan, Yemen, and elsewhere, with no end in sight. The trillions spent on the wars and armaments to kill and destroy abroad, could and should be used to create much needed jobs at home, to keep people in their homes, to feed and educate people, to provide medical care, clean energy, support for local farmers and a clean environment.
Here on Hawaii Island, the military continues bombing at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) known to be already contaminated with Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation. Officials need to speak up to stop the bombing and the spread of radiation contamination. Plenty of money has been spent to make the mess, but where is the money for clean up? Isn’t it time to cancel the State lease of lands at Pohakuloa like was done when the Army secretly tested nerve gas and other chemical/biological weapons on State (Crown) lands in the Waiakea Forest Reserve, Hilo’s watershed? And isn’t it time to end the ongoing illegal U.S. occupation of the sovereign independent nation of Hawaii?
Aloha ‘Aina! Malama Pono!
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 (Nov. 5, 2010 – 477th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
