Malu 'Aina

Join the Pope’s Call for Peace!

Published by jalbertini on March 12th, 2024 in Climate Change, Hawaii Independence, Military, Pohakuloa, Public Events, Radiation, Social Justice, Take Action!, Vigil leaflets | No Comments

Join The Pope’s Call for

Peace!

Ceasefire Now! No More Weapons! No More War!

Negotiate! Negotiate! Negotiate!

In Ukraine! In Gaza! And Around the World!

Pope Francis said what needs to be said and heard in all conflict situations: All sides need to “have the courage to negotiate” an end to war!

Instead of negotiations for peace, what we have in Ukraine, Gaza, and other conflicts around the world is more and more death and destruction, with the danger of widening wars that include the risk of global nuclear destruction, and the end of human civilization. Right now before the US Congress is a bill for $95 Billion more military weapons to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. On Tuesday, March 12^th the Biden administration announced it was sending $300 million in weapons to Ukraine under an emergency makeshift plan – More weapons, more war, more killing, and destruction..

It is time for people everywhere, especially US taxpayers, to stand up and say “ No More War, No More Weapons in our names, especially the genocidal campaign in our name and funding by U.S. tax dollars, being carried out in Gaza by Israel. Counties and States are calling for a CEASEFIRE NOW.

Please use this QUICK-CLICK TOOL to tell Hawai’i Legislators to #SUPPORTCEASEFIRE Resos.

Here: http://bit.ly/hiceasefire Also STOP BOMBING POHAKULOA ! End the State lease of land.

The Hawaii County Council will be holding a final vote on a peace and Ceasefire resolution #449-24 on Wed. March 20^th . Call your council members to support the resolution and testify on March 20^th.

See more on the Ceasefire resolution here https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2024/03/05/council-peace-resolution-amended-to-include-statement-on-gaza/

End the US/Israel Genocide in Gaza! End all US military Aid to Israel! Terminate the strategic partnership between Hawaii and Israel signed in Oct. 2022.

Peace is a Victory for

All!

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, anti-Russian, anti-LGBTQ, 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 see https:malu-aina.org

March 15, 2024, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1172– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

Weekly peace vigil and upcoming Peace organizing meeting

Published by jalbertini on March 7th, 2024 in Climate Change, Military, Pohakuloa, Public Events, Social Justice, Take Action! | No Comments

Join the Friday, weekly, Hilo Peace Vigil 3:30 – 5 PM at the downtown Hilo Post Office/Federal Building on Waianuenue Ave., and please pass the word. Mahalo.

Reminder: A Peace organizing meeting is on Monday, March 11th from 6 to 8 PM at the Kea’au Community Center. Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. Zoom is usually possible from 6:30- 7:15 PM. See info on Zoom connection here https://malu-aina.org/?p=9826

Topics for discussion: Ceasefire resolutions at county, and state levels. Pohakuloa Lease, Public forums on Pohakuloa, etc.

Send in testimony in writing or participate via Zoom for Ceasefire reso in Hawaii State Senate

Published by jalbertini on March 6th, 2024 in Uncategorized | No Comments

JVP CALL TO ACTION: The Hawaiʻi Ceasefire Resolution needs your testimony!

Hi everyone,

Please see below forwarded email from Rise for Palestine. This is an ALL HANDS ON DECK call to action! We need everyone to submit testimony to have our state pass a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire! Testimony should ideally be submitted by Thursday, March 7 at 3 p.m. but can be submitted up to an hour before the hearing which will take place Friday, March 8 at 3 p.m. (it will be marked late). IWe highly encourage everyone sign up to present their testimony either in person or via zoom as it has a greater impact on the committees decision, for this you must meet the 24 deadline of March 7 at 3 p.m.

Please see email below for more detailed information and steps to take! Thank you in advance for taking the time to be part of this pivotal moment. The passage of this resolution will put maximum pressure on our congress people.

Please forward this email to as many friend’s as possible.

———- Forwarded message ———
From: Rise for Palestine <will@hiappleseed.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 4:31 PM
Subject: The Hawaiʻi Ceasefire Resolution needs your testimony!
To: <hawaii@jvp.org>

Aloha e Friend,

Thanks to all your efforts, calling, emailing and spreading the word, the Senate Public Safety (PSM) committee has scheduled the Hawaiʻi Ceasefire Resolution (SCR13/SR6) for a hearing at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol this Friday at 3 p.m. This is our chance to raise our voices in support of Palestine, Gaza and collective liberation for all oppressed people and share our manaʻo directly with elected officials. Below we provide instructions and sample testimony.

Friday, March 8, 2024
3:00 PM
Conference Room 225 & Videoconference
State Capitol, 415 South Beretania Street

Create an account or log in at capitol.hawaii.gov.
Type “SCR13” in the search bar to bring each measure up.
Click the orange “Submit Testimony” button in the top right.
Click “Continue” on the next page.
Fill out the form that appears making sure to check “Support”
If possible, please check “In Person” and show up to the hearing to provide oral testimony.
Type in your written testimony in the text box at the bottom or attach it as a PDF or word document.
Click “Submit” at the bottom.
Repeat these steps for “SR6.”

Sample Written Testimony

You can copy this testimony and use it on both measures (which are identical) if you are short on time, but we strongly suggest you modify it to share your own personal perspective on why a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is an imperative, and why Palestinian liberation must be achieved. Please note, the sample testimony is designed for the legislators as its recipients and our language is reflective of that.

Aloha members of the committee,

I am testifying in strong support of [SCR13/SR6]. The unparalleled escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and other armed groups has taken a devastating toll on civilians. The level of casualties is unprecedented. Some 40,000 civilians have been killed since Oct 7, and the majority of them are women and children. Another 70,000 have been wounded, and many thousands more are missing under the rubble of Gaza.

At the same time, some 200 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and other armed groups and held in Gaza remain in danger, and ongoing indiscriminate rocket fire into Israel places its own civilians at risk.

Israel’s tightened siege of Gaza has blocked the entry of goods, including water, food and fuel leaving the 2 million people in the Gaza Strip struggling to survive. The humanitarian catastrophe stemming from Israel’s 16-year-long illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip will only get worse if the fighting doesn’t stop immediately.

A ceasefire would put a stop to unlawful attacks by all parties, halt the mounting death toll in Gaza and enable aid agencies to get life-saving aid, water and medical supplies into the Strip to address the staggering levels of human suffering. It will also allow hospitals to receive life-saving medicines, fuel and equipment they desperately need and to repair damaged wards.

A ceasefire would also provide opportunities to negotiate the release of hostages detained in Gaza and for independent international investigations to take place into the war crimes committed by all parties in order to end long-standing impunity, which will continue to breed further atrocities.

Tackling the root causes of this conflict, by dismantling Israel’s system of apartheid imposed on Palestinians is now more urgent than ever. That cannot be accomplished as long as the violence continues.

Tips for In-Person Testimony

You will need to speak your mind in 2–3 minutes max, so focus on just a few things to say.
You will need to maintain “decorum” while in the hearing—please, no booing or clapping, and no signage will be allowed inside.
It’s OK to get emotional, but try to remain calm and don’t shout or curse at the lawmakers.
Say it from the heart—you can read off a page if you need to, but nothing beats looking lawmakers in the eye. You know what you need to say. Don’t be afraid to speak your truth.

Note: Parking at the capitol is not free, and is often tight. There is a Chinatown municipal lot that is affordable about a 5–10 minute walk from the capitol located here that we recommend. Another option is ʻIolani Palace or street parking.

Please forward this email to everyone you can think of that would want to submit testimony in support. Let’s show the lawmakers that Hawaiʻi stands with Gaza and the Palestinian people!

Mahalo!

Video and news coverage of Hawaii County Council Ceasefire Call

Published by jalbertini on March 6th, 2024 in Military, Take Action! | No Comments

Council Peace Resolution Amended To Include Statement On Gaza

There will be another vote by the full Council in two weeks. 
https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2024/03/05/council-peace-resolution-amended-to-include-statement-on-gaza/

Testifiers on Hawai‘i County Council resolution promoting world peace demanded inclusion of Gaza cease-fire : Big Island Now

Testifiers on Hawai‘i County Council resolution promoting world peace demanded inclusion of Gaza cease-fire

Hawaii County Council Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza!

Published by jalbertini on March 5th, 2024 in Climate Change, Hawaii Independence, Military, Pohakuloa, Public Events, Radiation, Social Justice, Take Action!, Vigil leaflets | No Comments

Hawaii County Council Calls for

Ceasefire in Gaza!

The Hawaii County Council voted on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, to pass an amended Peace resolution # 449-24 to include a call for a CEASEFIRE in Gaza. The CEASEFIRE additions were proposed by Councilwoman Jenn Kagiwada and seconded by Councilman Matt Kaneali’i Kleinfelder. The vote in the Government Operations Committee that included all the Council members was unanimous. The vote came after many Big Island residents all testified for strengthening the general peace resolution to call for an immediate Ceasefire in light of the massive killing, injuries, and destruction happening in Gaza with direct US military aid to Israel. A copy of the amended resolution will be posted on our website www.malu-aina.org when it is made available.

Other Actions Needed!

An End to the US/Israel Genocide in Gaza! An End to All US military Aid to Israel! A termination of the strategic partnership between Hawaii and Israel signed in Oct. 2022.

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, we urge support for the following:

1. Remove the military exemption made in 1984″ from Hawaii County’s historic Nuclear-Free Law passed in 1981, 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.

2. File Hawaii County and/or state legal action against the military decision in 2008 to leave in place (dispose of) Depleted Uranium radiation at Pohakuloa. That appears to be a clear violation of the Hawaii State Constitution that says: Section 8. No radioactive material shall be 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]

3. 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.

4. End the State lease of 23,000 acres of Hawaiian conservation zone lands to the military at Pohakuloa for a total of $1 for 65 years. 84,000 acres at Pohakuloa, was seized by a presidential executive order at zero cost in 1964. Return all the land at Pohakuloa to the Hawaiian people for reforestation, etc. before PTA bombing and shelling creates a Lahaina firestorm on Hawaii Island.

5. Pohakuloa Commander LTC Tim Alvarado should participate in town hall public forums around the island to respond to community concerns about Pohakuloa. To date, he has refused participation.

6. De-militarize Hawaii. Hawaii is one of the most militarized places on the planet with more than 100 US military installations, including the US Indo-Pacific nuclear command center for more than half the earth. Hawaii has been illegally occupied by the US since 1893.

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 see https:malu-aina.org

March 8, 2024, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1171– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office

Malu 'Aina

Join the Pope’s Call for Peace!

Weekly peace vigil and upcoming Peace organizing meeting

Send in testimony in writing or participate via Zoom for Ceasefire reso in Hawaii State Senate

Video and news coverage of Hawaii County Council Ceasefire Call

Hawaii County Council Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza!

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