Testimony in opposition to County Resolution 337-22 on Ukraine
See Resolution 337-22 here Hawai’i County Council has a crazy resolution asking for actions that could precipitate nuclear war. Will be testifying against it. https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/…/doc/1031093/Page1.aspx
My testimony below, plus leaflet
Aloha Council members,
Testimony in Opposition to Resolution 337-22
Let me be clear. I condemn the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and I support a neutral, non-NATO Ukraine, humanitarian support for all those displaced by the war, and an immediate ceasefire to the war in Ukraine. I would gladly support such a resolution.
Resolution 337-22 in my view is extremely hostile and provocative in tone and substance. It promotes war not peace and will only help to escalate the humanitarian disaster ongoing in Ukraine. Language in the resolution using words and phrases such as genocide, closure of Ukranian airspace, calling Russia a terrorist state, removal of Russia from the UN security council, supporting all measures, which implies more war and possibly nuclear war, is a dead end. More war is not the answer. We need to wage peace not war. And remember the US has contributed to creating 37 million war refugees in the past 2 decades, and has a long list of war crimes to its name.
The war in Ukraine is a disaster for the people of Ukraine and a terrible threat to us all, including increasing the danger of nuclear war. Our peace organization opposes the Russian invasion and calls for the immediate withdrawal of all Russian troops. We recognize that the expansion of NATO and the aggressive approach of Western states have helped cause the crisis and we demand an end to NATO expansion. We also oppose sanctions that will harm ordinary Russians and call on all countries to welcome refugees fleeing the war. There have already been many anti-war demonstrations in Russia and many other countries. What we need now is a massive, unified response by peace-loving people around the world to say No to More War in Ukraine; Yes to Negotiations and Peace. See the following links to ways forward to peace in Ukraine.
https://www.peaceinukraine.org/
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/russia-ukraine-war-invasion-madman-script-same
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/02/putin-crazy-like-a-fox/
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 Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
Ukraine & Elsewhere –
More War is NOT the Answer!
Professor, author and internationally recognized scholar Noam Chomsky says that US military escalation with Russia in Ukraine would be a death warrant for humanity with no victors. Chomsky made clear he views Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an unprovoked and unjustified attack that will go down in history as one of the major war crimes of the 21st century. But the U.S. must choose urgent diplomacy over military escalation. Read more of Chomsky’s insights at the link below.
Talk about trying to establish a Ukraine “No Fly Zone” or supplying Ukraine via NATO with fighter jets, etc. is not the way to peace. Such actions will only broaden and escalate the war. The way to peace is not through more weapons of war, but diplomacy, negotiation, and reaching out with an olive branch.
What is needed is de-escalation and it appears Putin has opened the door for that possibility.
Both NBC and PBS reported on March 7th Putin’s willingness to stop the war if Ukraine promised Not to join NATO and also recognizes the sovereignty of Crimea, and the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
See the following links for ways forward to peace in Ukraine.
https://www.peaceinukraine.org/
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/russia-ukraine-war-invasion-madman-script-same
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/02/putin-crazy-like-a-fox/
1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, etc.
5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for 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 to receive our posts.
For more information http://www.malu-aina.org/
March 11, 2022 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1067– Fridays 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
