Malu 'Aina

Hawaii County Council brouhaha! –citizens free speech and civil rights testimony

Note to Erin Miller –West Hawaii Today/Hawaii Tribune-Herald (Stephens media Hawaii) writer
David Bock, Hawaii Tribune Herald editor and publisher (Stephens Media Hawaii)

Aloha Erin and David,
Corrections to today’s Trib (2/20/14).  In my oral testimony yesterday at the council, I only mentioned Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, not Yoshimoto and some state legislators as claimed in the article. My written testimony named others but I didn’t include others in my oral testimony.  Furthermore I had a phone call today from Council Vice chair, Karen Eoff, apologizing for improperly cutting me off yesterday testifying at the county council.  She said I was right about free speech and civil rights to criticize council people in testimony.  She said she felt bad in cutting me off.   She is asking Corp council – Lincoln Ashida, to draft a memo to all the council members on this.  Eoff said It was Ashida who advised her at the break that citizens have a right to criticize and the council should be careful of free speech and civil rights violations.
I told Councilwoman Eoff I have no hard feelings and I’m glad it will be clarified but it’s a sad fact that a citizen’s right to criticize council members has to be clarified.  We are suppose to be living in a democracy.  I have never heard a council member object when they are named and praised in council testimony, so why should they object when they are named and criticized?   The main thing is we try to be civil to one another.  We all live on this island together. —
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org This communication may be unlawfully collected and stored by the National Security Agency (NSA) in secret. The parties to this email do not consent to the retrieving or storing of this communication and any related metadata, as well as printing, copying, re-transmitting, disseminating, or otherwise using it. If you believe you have received this communication in error, please delete it immediately.

My oral Testimony in support of Resolution 272 on Home Rule
Counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
9:30 AM Hearing Feb. 19, 2014

Aloha Council members:

I speak as a farmer of 34 years in Kurtistown, where our Malu -Aina farm 
has grown a wide variety of organic fruits and vegetables.  Our organization, 
Malu 'Aina, is in strong support of Home Rule 
Resolution 272.  We need to stand up to the agro-chemical corporate 
profiteers and to those in County and State government who are in the 
pockets of these GMO criminal enterprises that want to cut away our 
county voice to protect our own health and safety.  I suppose I should 
not be surprised at how low some people will go to line their own 
pockets at the expense of future generations.  The world is in terrible 
shape with unprecedented toxic pollution, climate change, etc. because
profit and greed have dominated decision making. The precautionary principle 
has not been followed. The precautionary principle states that when you do not
know the full consequences of an action, error on the side of caution.

Madamn chairperson, for the GMO supporters and promoters I have a proposal:  
Put your mouth where your money is.  Step forward. Demonstrate your 
corporate loyalty with patriotic vigor.  Volunteer yourself and your 
family members to Monsanto to be genetically engineered.  Why just 
support GMO Monsanto round up ready crops, GMO ringspot resistant 
papaya, etc.

(Interrupted.

) Volunteer to have these and other 
genetically modified organisms --round up resistant genes fired directly 
into your own DNA.  
And put a new label on yourself. Instead of "Fresh" Onishi, change your 
name to "Round up Ready" Onishi and go down to the county yard at least 
once a week and get sprayed with round up so we the citizens can do a 
health study of you, not us.   But if you really want to show your 
commitment as a Genetically Modified Organism, take the experiment to 
the next level. Brush your teeth with Round Up, wash you clothes with 
it. Shower in it, put it on your breakfast cereal and rice.  Show the 
voters what you are really made of.  For the first pro-GMO politician to 
step forward to become round up ready genetically engineered, I will 
present you with an "M&M --Monsanto & me" T-shirt with your photo 
proudly displayed."

(Cut off)

Madamn Chair, I would like to nominate Dennis "Round Up Ready" Onishi as 
the honorary chair of the GMO promoters and present him with this shirt of
Monsanto & Me to wear proudly.  But I do want to say that I believe in redemption,
even for Mr. Onishi.  I believe that people can repent and change their ways, hard
as it may be. But GMO's once released can't be recalled, even when there is 
personal repentance. This is all the more reason for following the precautionary
principle. Support Home Rule.  Ban GMOs.  Mahalo.

Jim Albertini

Stop Military Build

Up

at Pohakuloa!

Infantry Platoon Battle Course!   Urban Close Air Support Range!

Aviation Bulls-Eye Range at Pōhakuloa Training Area!

It’s one thing after another and the military keeps saying — “No significant impact.”

      The entire PTA 133,000-acres should be considered a “Radiological Control Area” due to poor military record keeping about Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons used, less than 1% of PTA has been surveyed for DU, and the fact that citizen monitors on numerous occasions have detected radiation in civilian areas beyond the confines of PTA boundaries. The Hawaii County Council, on July 2, 2008 passed resolution 639-08 that called for 8 military actions, none of which have been carried out.  The first and foremost action is that all live-fire at PTA, and anything that creates dust, should be stopped until there is comprehensive testing and monitoring to determine the full extent of radiation contamination at PTA, and the DU is cleaned up.  In addition Army regulation 700-48 sec. 2.1 says that the Army is required to follow local government actions.  The Army is in violation of its own regulations.  The Army said for years, no DU has been used at Pohakuloa.  This was proved to be false.  How much and where it was used are still in dispute. 

       Furthermore,  the independent nation of Hawaii is under continued illegal military occupation by the U.S. even since the Bayonet Constitution and Reciprocity Treaty of 1887.  The illegal state of Hawaii has no clear title to the Crown and Government lands of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the area known as Pohakuloa, so the State of Hawaii and the U.S. military have no legal basis for building any ranges at Pohakuloa or conducting any activities there.  Therefore cease and desist from any further operations.

      A full EIS should be conducted to investigate thoroughly all of these matters raised.

Aloha ‘Aina!   Join the

Protest at Pohakuloa!

Saturday, March 1, 2014 – 10AM-Noon

Pohakuloa Main Gate

Pot luck at Mauna Kea Park following the protest

Car Pools leave Hilo 9AM sharp from makai Hamakua side parking lot at Pauahi/Kamehameha Ave.

(March 1st throughout the Pacific is known as Nuclear-Free & Independent Pacific Day)

 Stop the Bombing!   Shut Down PTA, Clean Up & Exit!

Return Crown & Government Lands to the Hawaiian Nation!

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 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622.  Email ja@malu-aina.org   http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (February 21, 2014 – 648th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

—
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org

Testimony in support of Resolution 272 on Home Rule
Counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
9:30 AM Hearing Feb. 19, 2014

Aloha Council members:

Our organization, Malu ‘Aina is in strong support of Home Rule Resolution 272.  We need to stand up to the agro-chemical corporate profiteers and to those in County and State government who are in the pockets of these GMO criminal enterprises that want to cut away our county voice to protect our own health and safety.  I suppose I should not be surprised at how low some people will go to line their own pockets at the expense of future generations.  The world is in terrible shape with unprecedented toxic pollution, climate change, etc. because the precautionary principle has not been followed. The precautionary principle states that when you do not know the full consequences of an action, error on the side of caution.

For the GMO supporters and promoters I have a proposal:  Put your mouth where your money is. Rep. Richard Onishi, Rep Clifton Tsuji, Richard Ha, Eric Weinnert, Senator Malama Solomon, Councilman Dennis Fresh Onishi, Greggor Illigan, J. Yoshimoto, etc. step forward. Demonstrate your corporate loyalty with patriotic vigor.  Volunteer yourself and your family members to Monsanto to be genetically engineered.  Why just support GMO Monsanto round up ready crops, GMO ringspot resistant papaya, etc.  Volunteer to have these and other genetically modified organisms –round up resistant genes fired directly into your own DNA.  And put a new label on yourself. Instead of “Fresh” Onishi, change your name to “Round up Ready” Onishi and go down to the county yard at least once a week and get sprayed with round up  so we the citizens can do a health study of you, not us.   But if you really want to show your commitment as a Genetically Modified Organism, take the experiment to the next level. Brush your teeth with Round Up, wash you clothes with it. Shower in it, put it on your breakfast cereal and rice.  Show the voters what you are really made of.  For the first pro-GMO politician to step forward to become round up ready genetically engineered, I will present you with an “M&M –Monsanto & me” T-shirt with your photo proudly displayed.”

Mahalo.
Jim Albertini

—
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Construction of an Urban Close Air Support Range and an Aviation Bulls-Eye Range at Pōhakuloa Training Area

http://www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil/UnitHome/FeaturedInformation/UCAS.aspx
—
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org This communication may be unlawfully collected and stored by the National Security Agency (NSA) in secret. The parties to this email do not consent to the retrieving or storing of this communication and any related metadata, as well as printing, copying, re-transmitting, disseminating, or otherwise using it. If you believe you have received this communication in error, please delete it immediately.

Below are my comments to the Marines

tiffany.patrick@usmc.mil
Feb. 12, 2014

Attn: Commanding Officer, Attn: Tiffany Patrick
Comments to Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
for Construction of an Urban Close Air Support Range and
an Aviation Bulls-Eye Range at Pōhakuloa Training Area

I have reviewed your EA on line and find it totally insufficient.  The entire PTA 133,000-acres should be considered a “Radiological Control Area” due to poor military record keeping about Depleted Uranium weapons used, less than 1% of PTA has been surveyed for DU, and the fact that citizen monitors on numerous occasions have detected radiation in civilian areas beyond the confines of PTA boundaries. The Hawaii County Council, on July 2, 2008 passed resolution 639-08 that called for 8 military actions, none of which have been carried out.  The first and foremost action is that all live-fire at PTA, and anything that creates dust, should be stopped until there is comprehensive testing and monitoring to determine the full extent of radiation contamination at PTA, and the DU is cleaned up.  In addition Army regulation 700-48 sec. 2.1 says that the Army is required to follow local government actions.  The Army is in violation of its own regulations.  The Army said for years, no DU has been used at Pohakuloa.  This was proved to be false.  How much and where it was used are still in dispute.

Furthermore,  the independent nation of Hawaii is under continued illegal military occupation by the U.S. even since 1893.  The illegal state of Hawaii has no clear title to the Crown and Government  lands of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the area known as Pohakuloa, so the State of Hawaii and the U.S. military have no legal basis for building any ranges at Pohakuloa or conducting any activities there.  Therefore cease and desist from any further operations.

A full EIS should be conducted to investigate thoroughly all of these matters raised. Below is a recent statement issued on DU contamination in Hawaii that has bearing on the proposed Marine training at PTA.

Hawaii DU Site to be Bombed!

Army to bomb known DU contaminated area on Oahu’s Schofield Barracks.

Is Pohakuloa on Big Island Next?

      According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Army will be using high explosives in known Depleted Uranium (DU) contaminated areas at Schofield Barracks on Oahu during the week of Feb. 4-11, 2014.  The NRC has given the go ahead even though the NRC said it has not completed it’s review of the Army’s air monitoring plan.  In effect, Hawaii residents and visitors are being used as lab rats for continued military experiments.

      The history of military pollution in Hawaii is epic – hundreds of polluted sites, unexploded bombs and toxins all over the place on land and sea, thousands of nuclear waste drums dumped on the ocean floor off Oahu, etc. etc. And it’s not just Hawaii. The U.S. military is the greatest polluter the world has ever known, and the so called regulators such as the NRC, instead of regulating, are complicit in this pollution and disregard for the health and safety of the people. For years the Army said it did not know that DU was used on its own live-fire ranges in Hawaii and elsewhere, so they continued to bomb those ranges. Now they admit they know DU was used. How much, they are not sure. The Army said it will do air monitoring during its bombing. But as one scientist said if you try to catch BBs with a tennis racket you are not likely to catch many. The same with the Army’s monitoring plan. If they don’t want to find anything they are not likely to look very well. The fox guarding the hen house is not likely to report any chickens missing.

      Recently two Hilo High School students were arrested for suspected terroristic threatening for setting off a small plastic bottle explosive device at the school. Now the Army can bomb known DU contaminated areas with high explosives that risk spreading the contamination around the island and beyond and that’s OK?  That’s hypocrisy and a double standard. Bombing known areas of DU contamination is criminal reckless endangering and amounts to government terrorism on its own population.

      All NRC and Army officials complicit in this approved bombing of known DU areas, should be prosecuted locally for terroristic threatening and brought before an international war crimes tribunal and tried for crimes against humanity. The world is in terrible shape with unprecedented toxic pollution, climate change, etc. because the precautionary principle has not been followed. The precautionary principle states that when you do not know the full consequences of an action, error on the side of caution. It’s common sense –you do not bomb nuclear waste dumps!

      Fellow lab rats unite! Protest these reckless military actions with NRC consent.  When the NRC and the Army refuse to act in the interest of the health and safety of Hawaii’s people, then the people themselves must act. All live-fire needs to be stopped at Hawaii’s military ranges and comprehensive, independent, testing and monitoring done to determine the full extent of toxic contamination. How much DU is being dispersed from Hawaii military bases? Hold your breath! The answer is “Blowing in the Wind!”

Fellow Lab Rats Unite in Protest!
Whatever Happened To Signed Informed Consent?

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 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622.  Email ja@malu-aina.org   http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (February 7, 2014 – 646h week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office