Malu 'Aina

Press Release: 7:00PM Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
From: 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 www.malu-aina.org

Re: Hilo High School Principal Flip-flops: cancels Albertini speaking to students after threats
Jim Albertini’s presentations for March 6th and 8th at the invitation Hilo High School teachers have now been canceled by School Principal Robert Dircks.
Topics were to include the military presence in Hawaii, U.S. ongoing wars, use of drones, DU contamination in Hawaii, and the role of non-violent resistance for peace and justice.

One day after receiving an email from Hilo High School Principal Robert Dircks and teacher Joseph Watts saying that the controversy has been resolved over pro-military school librarian, Amy Okuyama, objecting to Jim Albertini speaking in the school library, Albertini was informed by teacher Watts that Principal Dircks has decided to block Albertini from speaking to students.

Albertini said that on Tuesday, Feb. 19th at 2:50 PM he received emails from Principal Dircks and teacher Watts saying his speaking to students on March 6th and 8th was a go.  The controversy was an intra-school issue and had “been resolved.”

What a difference a day makes!

Albertini said on Wed. Feb. 20th at 4:30PM he received a phone call from teacher Watts saying that Principal Dircks has decided to cancel the invitation for Albertini to speak.  Albertini said Watts informed him that in the last 24 hours Principal Dircks received threats and decided to cancel my speaking because “it was going to disrupt the school.”  Watts informed Albertini that Principal Dircks would be glad to talk with Albertini about the situation and provided Albertini with the principal’s school phone number. Albertini tried to phone principal Dircks at 4:50PM Wed. 974-4021 ext. 2229 but there was no answer.  Albertini left a message and his phone number 966-7622 saying that he would be glad to talk about the matter but also requested the reason of cancellation be put in writing.

Albertini said “if talking about peace and non-violence is “going to disrupt the school,” we are in deep trouble as a society.  It says to me we have too much war and violence. There are Jr. ROTC programs and military recruiters in our schools.  It’s time to make some room for peace and non-violence.”

Jim Albertini was honored by Pax Christi USA as the 2010 Teacher of Peace, awarded to one individual annually in the U.S.
In 2012, the Interfaith Alliance Hawaii presented Jim Albertini and his Malu Aina organization its award for “Encouraging Non-violent Civic Participation”

Principal Dircks email address is Robert_Dircks/HILOH/HIDOE@notes.k12.hi.us
Librarian Amy Okuyama’s email address is Amy_Okuyama/HILOH/HIDOE@notes.k12.hi.us
Teacher Joseph Watts’ email address is Joseph_Watts/HILOH/HIDOE@notes.k12.hi.us

See ilind.net and bigislandnow.com/2013/02/19  for stories on the controversy caused by my being invited to speak to classes at Hilo High School March 6th and 8th.

Jim Albertini

Military Medals!

None for War Crime Whistle Blowers

      Military whistle blower, Bradley Manning, deserves a medal for heroism for exposing U.S. war crimes.  Instead, February 23, 2013 marks the young Army private’s 1,000 day behind bars awaiting trial. Supporters are gathering in cities across the U.S., Europe and Australia for marches, rallies, art installations, concerts, live theater, and other events to criticize the unjust prosecution and raise awareness about Manning’s case.

      Manning, an intelligence analyst, faces life in prison for passing classified documents, exposing crimes, abuse, and corruption, to WikiLeaks. He returns to court for a pretrial hearing February 26—March 1 in Fort Meade, MD, where Judge Denise Lind will rule on the defense’s motion to dismiss charges for lack of a speedy trial. Manning’s lawyer, David Coombs, says the military has made an “absolute mockery” of his client’s right to a speedy trial. Manning’s court-martial trial is scheduled to start June 3, 2013, more than three years after his arrest in May 2010. For more information on Bradley manning see Bradley Manning Support Network www.bradleymanning.org

But “Distinguished Warfare Medals” For Drone Pilots?

      US drone operators, cyber troops to get distinguished medal: On 14 Feb 2013 The Pentagon said it was creating the Distinguished Warfare Medal that can be awarded to those US troops who launch assassination drone strikes and direct cyber attacks. The outgoing US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, said that the US drone operators and those who direct cyber attacks would be eligible to receive the medal for their direct impact on a US military operation from afar. “I’ve seen firsthand how modern tools, like remotely piloted platforms and cyber systems, have changed the way wars are fought,” Panetta said. Besides the Killer drones named “Predator” and “Reaper,” the U.S. Air Force is developing tiny unmanned drones that will fly in swarms, hover like bees, crawl like spiders and even sneak up on unsuspecting targets and execute them. What’s next?

 On swarm drones see  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34040.htm

For more information on Drones, see http://www.knowdrones.com/ and

http://vcnv.org/project/drone-warfare-awareness

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/282-98/15172-focus-the-coming-drone-attack-on-america

Free Bradley Manning & Ground the Killer

Drones!

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 AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622 Emai ja@malu-aina.org  http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Feb. 22, 2013– 596th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Aloha!

My principal has advised me that this was an inter-school issue and it has since been resolved. We look forward to hearing from Mr. Albertini. I will get back with you before then to reconfirm the times.

Mahalo,
JW

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Aloha Joey and all,
I am glad the issue has been resolved.  I look forward to my visit to Hilo H.S.
Jim

For the Malu Aina website:
A big mahalo to all the people that wrote to blogs, etc. with their outrage over the attempted control of speech at Hilo H.S..  I think the principal realized he better resolve the controversy fast before it mushroomed, and it appears to be resolved positively.  I look forward to speaking there March 6th  & 8th.  Solidarity and aloha,
Jim

Free Film showing — “FIVE BROKEN CAMERAS”

UH Hilo Room UCB 100
200 W. Kawili St.

7PM Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013

Details:  Film by Palestinian and Israeli co-directors.  This first-hand account shows the resistance in a Palestinian village to encroaching illegal Israeli settlements.

“A rigorous and moving work of art.”  NY Times.  Sundance Festival winner.

For more information contact Bunny Smith 935-0622.