Maui GMO Moratorium Election Victory!
Election Results in
Hawaii & U.S.
I am writing these reflections on the morning following the Nov. 4th elections. I write from the standpoint of a long time non-violent activist for justice, peace and the environment and a small scale organic farmer. One’s standpoint in life determines one’s viewpoint, so here are my views.
For me the brightest spot of the day was the victory of the Maui GMO moratorium initiative that was successful despite $8 million dollars being pumped in to defeat the initiative by Chemical giants Monsanto and Dow. It shows the power of a grassroots broad based effort against corporate power and money.
GMOs, and their big Ag sponsors, are the new plantations seeking to dominate Hawaii and the world. In every way, GMOs violate the basic principle of aloha ‘aina –love for the land and the precautionary principle. GMOs are directly tied to the toxic chemicals produced by their corporate owners whose main concern is short term profit despite long term consequences. Poisoning of air, water and land, and people, plants, and animals are secondary concerns to the corporate bottom line.
No doubt, these same chemical companies will now spend millions more to fight the Maui GMO Moratorium law in court. The battle is not over but a significant victory has been achieved by the Maui vote.
In other election matters locally, some good candidates won. Others lost. In the U.S., the Republicans now control the House and Senate. U.S. imperial wars will continue full throttle which is one thing Republicans and Democrats agree on. From October 26 through November 2, 2014, Hawaiian Civic Clubs from across the Hawaiian Islands and the United States met at its annual convention. Resolution 14-28, acknowledging the continuity of the Hawaiian Kingdom. was passed on November 1, 2014. This is an important vote of Hawaiian sovereignty toward restoring the independent nation instead of being corralled into a U.S. Indian tribe reservation.
The moral of the story on all elections and issues is this. Positive change doesn’t come from the top down. It comes from the bottom up. It takes grassroots organizing to clarify vision and unite people for the common good. We have our work cut out for peace, justice and preserving the earth. We need to unite our issues realizing that an injury to one is an injury to all. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks along the way and never, NEVER, give up!
The People United Will Never Be Defeated!
Aloha ‘Aina Now & Forever!
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.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email:ja@malu-aina.org http://www.malu-aina.org
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Nov. 7, 2014 – 685th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
