Malu 'Aina

The situation has gotten much worse in the 52 years since.

“We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations. This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government…  Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.”

President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a televised farwell address to the nation Jan. 1961

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34165.htm

Aloha peace ohana,

I spoke at Hilo High School on Wednesday, March 6th and today, March 8th to several classes of students each day.  It all went well.  I was told that the security presence on campus was three times the normal, in anticipation that the right wing “Gathering of Eagles” might protest my speaking.  The Eagles were a no show.  All went smooth. I spoke on the ongoing wars, the military presence in Hawaii, the use of DU weapons at Pohakuloa (PTA), increasing use of drones and drone training at PTA, and the role of non-violent resistance for justice and peace.  I handed out lots of literature to the students on the above issues plus literature to counter military recruiting propaganda.  Hilo HS has a junior ROTC program, recruiters regularly visit the campus, and there is military recruiting material in the school library.  To counter my presentation, the same classes will be hearing from Mr. Bill Moore, a Big Island civilian aide to the Army coming to the school next week.

During my presentations, I showed various slides on the issues (too big of file to include here), and video clips of “Living Under Drones” http://livingunderdrones.org/  done by Stanford University and New York University documenting civilian drone deaths.  Also an Air Force video clip about the next generation of what’s called “Swarm drones” which combine surveillance and killing capability.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_5YkQ9w3PJ4

The students had good questions and seemed quite interested.  The Hilo HS principal, Robert Dircks, sat in on all the classes and took notes.  The teachers had to call each of the parents to get permission for their students to hear my presentation. At least one other teacher’s cancelled bringing his students.  I’m not sure of the reason but I suspect the extra work required to call all the parents.   I’m not sure if parents will also have to give permission to hear Mr. Moore –the Army’s representative.  I made clear the Army has been stonewalling the community by refusing to answer questions on DU contamination for years and that the Army has ignored the Hawaii County Council’s resolution 639-08 passed by a vote of 8-1 in 2008 calling for a halt to all live-fire at PTA until there is a comprehensive independent  assessment and clean up of the DU present there.

I made clear to the students that just to get me into the school to speak after being invited by a teacher, required the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union and attorney Eric Seitz along with a possible civil rights federal lawsuit based on equal access to schools where there is a military presence.  I especially thank Hilo H.S. teacher, Joseph Watts, who had the courage to issue the invitation for me to come and speak to his students.  He is the one responsible for the students learning an important lesson on free speech for peace and non-violence.  My gratitude and aloha to him and all of you who have shared your letters and solidarity.

Mahalo! Mahalo!  Mahalo!
Jim Albertini  10:40PM friday, March 8, 2013.

10 Year Anniversary of

U.S. Invasion of Iraq!

     March 19, 2013 will mark the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The invasion was based on bold faced lies: that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), and that Iraq was linked to the U.S. 9-11 attacks in the U.S. In truth it was an illegal war of aggression for oil and one of many regime changes planned in advance for countries that opposed the U.S. global empire’s interests, countries like Libya, Syria, Iran, etc.

     On Feb. 15, 2003 there were massive protests around the world saying to the U.S. “Don’t Attack Iraq.” Estimates are that between 10 and 30 million people took to the streets in up to 800 cites in 60 countries. Even in Antarctica, dozens of research scientists formed a human peace symbol in the snow.

     Ten years later and what do we have? Wars and more wars – conflict still in Iraq, now a nation destroyed and contaminated with tons of radioactive depleted uranium weapons used by the U.S.; continuing war in Afghanistan, U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, etc.

What have been the costs of war, human and otherwise?

A young boy named Ali, who in the initial “Shock & Awe” U.S. bombing of Baghdad on March 19, 2003, lost both of his arms and was burned over much of his body. 11 of 13 relatives, including his mother and father, were killed in the bombing.

        Cost of war: Numbers of Iraqis slaughtered in U.S. War and occupation of Iraq 1,455,590″

 Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’s War On Iraq: 4,883
Number Of  International Occupation Force Troops Slaughtered In Afghanistan : 3,258

Cost of War in Iraq & Afghanistan. Total Cost of Wars Since 2001

$1,430,076,102,816

http://www.costofwar.com/

No More Lies! No More War!

Make Peace! Work for Justice!

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.orghttp://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (March 8, 2013– 598th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office