My testimony to the Hawaii County Council
emailed to the Hawaii County Council March 3, 2024, 7:45 PM
Testimony in support of Council Resolution #449-24 to be heard on Tuesday, March 5, 2024
at 9:30 AM in The Hilo Hawaii County Council chambers.
On behalf of our organization, Malu ‘Aina, I testify in support of Hawaii County Resolution 449-24 for Aloha and Peace. But given the global situation of US/Israeli GENOCIDE in Gaza, the resolution is not enough. It needs to be strengthened to call for an end to the Genocide, an immediate and permanent CEASEFIRE in Gaza, an end to all US military aide to Israel, and termination of the strategic partnership between Hawaii and Israel signed in Oct. 2022.
Let’s be clear. This County resolution is tied to a UN Resolution around disarmament and non-proliferation. Yet the US in recent months has vetoed a UN security council resolution three times calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
When the Titanic was sinking, it wasn’t enough to call for rearranging the deck chairs. More was need to save lives. The same is true today in Gaza and our entire planet. In less than six months, more than 100,000 people in Gaza have been killed or injured by US weapons provided to Israel, the majority of victims being women and children. Most houses, businesses, schools, even hospitals and refugee centers have been damaged or destroyed. Disease is now rampant. Many people are starving. This Genocide must be stopped now by an immediate and permanent Ceasefire, and a massive influx of humanitarian aid.
In addition, I urge the following actions:
1. Support the Hawaii Interfaith call for an immediate Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza signed by dozens of Hawaii religious leaders of many faiths that acknowledges we live in the Hawaiian Kingdom which has been illegally occupied by the US since 1893. Now, over 100 years later, it urges people to join the call for the de-occupation of Hawaii, Palestine, and all occupied nations across the globe.
2. Remove the military exemption made in 1984″ from Hawaii County’s historic Nuclear-Free Law passed in 1981, the first county in the US to pass such a law, now followed by many other counties and municipalities. Having an exemption for the military to a Nuclear-Free law is like having an exemption for smokers to a No Smoking Law. It makes no sense.
3. File Hawaii County legal action against the military decision in 2008 to leave in place (dispose) Depleted Uranium radiation at Pohakuloa. That appears to be a clear violation of the Hawaii State Constitution that says: “Section 8. No nuclear fission power plant shall be constructed or radioactive material disposed of in the State without the prior approval by a two-thirds vote in each house of the legislature.” [Add Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978]
4. Provide follow up action to Hawaii County Resolution 639-08 passed July 2, 2008, by a vote of 8-1 that called for 8 actions, including stopping all live fire at Pohakuloa until there is a comprehensive, independent assessment and clean up of Depleted Uranium at Pohakuloa. None of the 8 actions called for in Resolution 639-08 have been carried out by the military. Are we in Hawaii County living in a democracy or under military rule?
5. The State lease of 23,000 acres of Hawaiian conservation zone lands for a total of $1 for 65 years is being renegotiated. Hawaii County should take a stand to cancel that lease, call for a complete clean up of the entire 133,000 acres at Pohakuloa, most of which was seized by a presidential executive order at zero cost in 1964, and return that land to the Hawaiian people for reforestation, etc. before PTA bombing and shelling creates a Lahaina firestorm on Hawaii Island.
Let’s see some substance, not just lip service, to DEMONSTRATING THE ALOHA SPIRIT AND FOSTERING PEACE, DIPLOMACY, AND UNITY WITHIN THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I, THE STATE OF HAWAI`I, AND BEYOND. Otherwise, we simply make a mockery of peace and aloha. Imagine if The Nazi Auschwitz extermination camp passed a resolution for Shalom (Peace) in the midst of Genocide. Remember in the center of our island is a 133,000 acre military toxic waste dump, burn pit, and training ground for war, including nuclear war. Strategic US nuclear bombers do practice bombing missions flying non-stop from Louisiana, Missouri and Guam to practice bombing Pohakuloa. Nuclear weapon spotting rounds, and perhaps even actual nuclear weapons, have been fired at Pohakuloa. Perhaps it is time for the Federal Pact Act, passed to cover military veterans exposed to toxic substances, to be expanded to cover civilians living around toxic military sites like Pohakuloa, where toxins are blowing in the wind around the island. US occupied Hawaii has more than 100 US military installations including the headquarters of the US Indo-Pacific command that is the military nuclear Headquarters for more than half the earth. That’s a classic example of the aloha spirit and peace under US occupation.
As South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Together, let’s not choose to side with the oppressor. Let’s take a meaningful stand for aloha and peace. Amend this resolution to be clear. Mahalo.
Jim Albertini
President
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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
