“The pomp and circumstance for imperial presidents, dead and alive, must be unmasked without any more mercy than they showed to millions of their victims.”
Gerry Condon, President US Veterans for Peace
Assange is an Australian citizen who has published via Wikileaks evidence of US war crimes in Iraq through leaks of classified material. Wikileaks also published classified State Department diplomatic cables, CIA hacking into citizen privacy, and emails from the Democratic Party that showed tipping of the party scales unfairly toward Hillary Clinton and against Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary election in 2016.
What happens to Assange will be a test case in press freedoms. It will effect all journalists and their ability to disclose things governments want kept hidden, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican it doesn’t matter. At issue is not whether you like or dislike Assange and what he exposed. At issue is the media’s right to publish and the citizen’s right to know the truth.
If Julian Assange is arrested and prosecuted in the US, it will have profound consequences for Press freedoms and free speech around the world. Clearly the US is trying to silence Assange. If the government crosses the line and prosecutes media and journalists for publishing leaked material as part of a criminal conspiracy, it will be the death spiral of a free press and the right of free speech won’t be far behind. The two go together.
Dec. 7, 2018 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet — 898th week – Fridays 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
Annual Christmas Appeal
Dear friends, December 2018
Once a year, we write to ask for your help to sustain the work of Malu ‘Aina for justice, peace and a living planet. We are grateful for whatever donation you can make. Malu ‘Aina has been planting seeds and sharing food with people in need for nearly 4 decades, feeding many thousands. The spirit of Aloha ‘Aina (Love for the Land) and non-violence have guided Malu ‘Aina all these years. 2019 will mark 40 years since our small non-profit organization was formed and Bernard Punikaia of Hale Mohalu/Kalaupapa blessed our farm with the name Malu ‘Aina meaning Land of Peace. From the outset, it’s always been our vision to stay small as an all volunteer organization with no government or corporate funding to maintain our independence. As the late Hawaiian activist Kekuni Blaisdell said, instead of big pyramid organizations, we need lots of small “kipuka of resistance.” Like an old growth kipuka ecosystem, where many species interact and depend on one another, so too it is with movements for social change. We know we can’t do it alone. It takes shared commitment, volunteer people power, and the solidarity of your donations to carry on. Besides financial donations, right now we could use a volunteer with carpentry skills for a few days to help replace two shed roofs. We have all the materials and are ready to go. At age 72 common sense tells me my roofing days should be over. I better stick to ground level support activity.
This year has been especially difficult for us located in the Puna district of Hawaii island. Kilauea volcano lava flows have changed Puna forever. We were very fortunate not to be in Pele’s path but the near constant earthquakes for several months during the eruption, and 52 inches of rain in 3 days have taken their toll. We had to redo cement foundation pier blocks on a couple buildings and clear a major water drainage way through our farm clogged with debris.
During this special time of the year we remember dear friends and supporters who have passed on. Like you, they have been an important part of Malu ‘Aina. We thank all of them, and all of you, for solidarity in life’s precious journey. Presently, and looking toward the future, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Our planet is in climate crisis with intensifying storms, fires and other weather extremes. Violence, hate, economic disparity, wars and displays of militarism are all on the rise. Hawaii, already one of the most militarized places on the planet, is now facing proposed Military Special Ops training on our beaches, and parks. It seems one of the hardest lessons to learn is we cannot bomb, kill, and exploit our way to a world of justice, peace, and respect for the earth and one another. In such time, work for justice, peace and respecting the sacred is more important that ever. We are in this together. Your support keeps us from being discouraged. We pledge to never give up. Blessings of this holy season to you and your loved ones.
With gratitude and aloha,
Jim Albertini,
together with Ruth Aloua and Adhann Iwashita
PS. Donations are tax deductible if checks are made to Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 ‘Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai`i 96760. A Pay Pal account (Donate button) has also been setup on our webpage www.malu-aina.org as another convenient way to make donations. On the website, please click “Subscribe” to receive the Malu ‘Aina weekly peace vigil leaflet (now nearing its 900th week) and other posts for peace, justice and the environment. Other contact information: Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org Mahalo.
