Reminder: Besides the Friday Hilo Peace Vigil 3:30-5PM at the downtown Post Office, there will be an Armed Forces Day Peace Vigil, Saturday, May 15th 10-11:30AM on Hilo Airport Road near the national guard hangers.  Please come and pass the word.    Please come in a spirit of peace and non-violence toward all.  Be respectful.  Do not return insult for insult.  Mahalo.

Rescue the Troops from War!

It’s not just the troops that need rescuing from war.  It’s all of us — all of humanity, and the earth itself. The world is spending Trillions of dollars on wars and militarism which is contributing to our global crisis with unprecedented human and environmental needs going unmet.  The U.S. spends almost half of the world’s total military spending.  www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-military-spending

Besides the current wars consider the following: :The ongoing global financial crisis threatens  global economic collapse;  there is a global environmental crisis that threatens the sustainability of life on the planet; an uncontrolled oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has no end in sight.  Trust in religious institutions and governments to solve problems appear at an all time low.  Amid unprecedented concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, billion dollar bonuses and bail outs, ordinary people are hurting.  Look at the number of unemployed, foreclosures, homeless, and mounting debt.  People are afraid, angry, and confused. Many don’t know where to turn.

In the face of such crises, we need a new local and global vision of justice, peace, and caring for the earth, a vision that rejects violence as a solution to problems, a vision where the means we use must be in line with the end we seek.  The choice is now between embracing non-violence or non-existence.  And a big question locally and globally is can we recognize and end our addiction to war?  Or will we remain in denial?

The U.S. is now in its 9th year of war in Afghanistan, 7th year in Iraq, and now war in Pakistan.
Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’s War On Iraq:  4,715   icasualties.org/oif/
Many troops are in their multiple year deployment.
Cost of War in Iraq & Afghanistan $992,517,275,108 http://www.costofwar.com/
The Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq “1,366,350”
www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html
The number of casualties in Afghanistan and Pakistan are increasing daily and there is an increasing threat of a US/Israel attack on Iran.

1.  A majority of Americans says the war in Afghanistan is not worth its costs, the Washington Post reports. 56 percent of independents say it is not worth fighting, up from 47 percent in December. Among Democrats, 66 percent say it’s not worth it, including half who feel that way strongly.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/behind-the-numbers/2010/05/on_afghanistan_a_negative_shif.html

2)  Shootings of Afghan civilians by American and NATO convoys and at military checkpoints have spiked sharply this year, becoming the leading cause of combined civilian deaths and injuries at the hands of Western forces, American officials say.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/world/asia/09afghan.html

Cut off the war funds!  Bring the Troops Home Now!

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, 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 AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622.  Email ja@interpac.net  http://www.malu-aina.org
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (May 14, 2010 – 452nd week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

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