2. Work force housing agreement yields homes
3. A Market Without Parachutes
4. Press Release: New Education Website
5. Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act Raises Fears of New Government
Crackdown on Dissent
6. Happy Thanksgiving
7. New Study on Racially Just Schools and Their Policy Implications
8. Live the Legacy: Carrying on John Kelly's legacy event 12/6/07
9. Here come the thought police
10. Kanaky Union Leader, Members Briefly Detained
11. "A Real Terrorist Is On The Loose..." (Guess who?)
12. A Special Church Service
13. Grassroots International
14. Thank You, Ehren Watada
15. The Living Nation Celebrates La Ku`oko`a
16. GM SPELLS MURDER
17. War at Tara, Ireland
18. The Last Dead Bull On Wall Street.....................
19. "Megadisasters: Oil Apocalypse" Tuesday night, November 13th, (9:00
p.m.) History Channel
20. ***VOE*** Hawaii's political-ad rules could be loosened
21. Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism
22. The Peace Center -join us @ Makua Flats.doc
23. Deepak Chopra in Hawaii January 2008 - Sponsorship Opportunity
24. Maori MP Hone Harawira on NZ's "Terrorism" Bill
25. TAHITI GROUP SEEKS TO UNITE PACIFIC CHIEFDOMS - comment
26. Paul Buchanan: A Comment on Terroris Conspiracy
27. Tuhoe Tribe maori Hikoi marches on poaka [pigs] commissioner
28. Maori Radio Waatea on the Tuhoe Tribe Terrorism Raids
29. Mainland firm buys Oahu military contractor
30. SPECIAL "Twelve Oils" Invite - Sat. Dec. 1 afternoon - RSVP please
31. Island Burial Council - Need representatives for Waianae, Ewa, Kona
and Wailuku - Please respond
32. Please Make a Quick Call to Rep Abercrombie
33. Map of Military occupied areas in Hawai'i
34. Update: Pa'ahao Makahiki Opening- Arizona 2007
35. Kaua`i TV sports producer attacked by ITT security at Mana beach
36. Dialogues on Nationhood
37. Disappeared News - 3 new articles
38. UH Manoa to conduct survey and assessment of underwater munitions
39. Kaua`i TV sports producer attacked by ITT security at Mana beach -
comment
1. LONO Makahiki, eat less and give more
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:50:20 -0700
From: monets001@hawaii.rr.com
The Makahiki season is upon us. A time to cease war, celebrate good
harvest and for games. It was at Makahiki that Kamehameha I met the young
Kaahumanu.
If you are OBESE, as almost 200 million Americans are today, then you will
or do suffer from diabetes and may eventually die from a heart attack,
cancer or stroke at a very young age. If you smoke too, that is almost a
certainty.
An obese adult usually has obese children. That is a terrible way to
influence your kids. For too many Hawaiians, obesity is a major problem.
If you are overweight or obese, try something new this Makahiki. Go on a
vegetarian diet, eat fish instead of meat, eat no junk or fast food, quit
smoking and GIVE TO YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK to feed others who do not have
the luxury of gluttony.
Start the new year eating less, eating better and exercising more. You
will feel better and spend less money on drugs, doctors, food and smokes.
You will feel better and become a better HAWAIIAN CITIZEN.
Kumulipo
www.kumulipo.hawaiiresourcelibrary.com
Kamuela Kuali'i Lindsey
Executive Director
1741 Ala Moana Blvd. #98
Honolulu, Hi. 96815
Ph./cell (808) 258-1611
MONETS001@hawaii.rr.com
Kumulipo is dedicated to supporting traditional Hawaiian activities like
sailing, surfing, swimming, spear fishing and canoe paddling; Hawaiian
music, hula, renewable energy and bio fuels; as well as affordable
housing, prison rehabilitation and reform.
"Halihali mai 'oe i na po'e lahui Hawai'i. Ka ala nui Ea like me ke ka'awila.
Imua a i hope. Ma lela no hana like kakou,
a'ole hakaka, a'ole hukihuki, ALU LIKE". ...Fannie Lindsey and Aunty Harriet Purdy...1990
People of Hawai'i lets get together. The road to Sovereignty is like the
Spokes of a Wheel. Go forward or back. The way to work is together. Don't
fight or argue, COME TOGETHER.
All the spoke must be of equal size, strength and length, then they must
be tuned in order for the wheel to roll straight and true.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Work force housing agreement yields homes
From: "Maui Tomorrow List" <aina@maui-tomorrow.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8:18 AM
http://www.mauinews.com/news/2007/11/20/04worf1120.html
The Maui News
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Work force housing agreement yields homes
MAKAWAO - The signing of Maui County's first residential work force
affordable housing agreement has led to the development of at least 13
homes in Makawao, Mayor Charmaine Tavares announced Monday.
The agreement stems from KSD Hawaii's development of the 240-acre, 35-lot
Pulehu Farm subdivision in Kula. Under the agreement, the developer will
make available 17 units, selling from $240,000 to $425,000, although final
pricing had yet to be determined as of Monday and four units might be
substituted with a per-unit cash contribution.
Thirteen of the homes will be in Makawao near the intersection of Makawao
Avenue and Maha Road. They will range from 600 to 1,100 square feet, with
six two-bedroom homes and seven three-bedroom residences. Eight of the
homes have been remodeled, and five are being built new.
Four units may be substituted with a per-unit cash contribution, as
allowed by the county's residential work force housing ordinance, which
became law in December 2006. Or, they also may be built in the same
Upcountry community plan area, according to county officials.
The housing ordinance requires developers of homes, hotels and time-share
units to provide 40 percent to 50 percent affordable units based on the
size and prices of the developments.
"This agreement represents an important first step in realizing our
county's affordable housing initiatives," Tavares said. "Finding an
affordable place to live on Maui can be difficult, especially Upcountry,
so we are pleased that this first implementation of the ordinance will
make these units available."
KSD Hawaii President David Goode, a former county public works director,
said his company was proud to make the homes available to families needing
affordable housing.
"Now we're excited about starting the buyer-selection process and working
toward move-in day for the 13 families," he said.
Called "Na Hale O Kilinahe," the project's 13 initial units on 2 acres
will be offered individually for sale in about 60 to 90 days, county
officials said. Units will be sold through a lottery, with units being
made available to families earning from 80 percent to 160 percent of the
federal median income for Maui County.
Pending final negotiations with the developer, Na Hale O Kilinahe will be
managed by Na Hale O Maui, a community land trust that will ensure that
the units are kept affordable in perpetuity.
The affordable project's features include underground utilities, curbs,
gutters, sidewalks, landscaping, new waterlines and individual water
meters. The homes will be equipped with solar water heaters and
energy-efficient light bulbs.
One new home will have a complete photovoltaic system, courtesy of Hnu
Photonics of Kahului.
The project's name, "Na Hale O Kilinahe," which means homes of the sweet,
gentle raindrops, was selected by students in a Hawaiian-language class at
the Kamehameha Schools Maui.
For more information on the residential work force housing program or
other county housing initiatives, contact county Housing Commissioner
Jo-Ann Ridao at 242-1180. For information on Na Hale O Kilinahe, call
Goode at 572-3011.
Copyright © 2007 The Maui News.
____________________________________________________________________________
3. A Market Without Parachutes
Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:48:31 -1000
From: viviane lerner <vivlerner@gmail.com>
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18691.htm
The Long Fall
A Market Without Parachutes
By Mike Whitney
11/08/07 "ICH" -- -- America is finished, washed up, kaput. Foreign
investors and central banks around the world have lost confidence in US
markets and are headed for the exits. The dollar is sinking, the country
is insolvent, and its leaders are barking mad. That^Òs bad for business.
Investors are voting with their feet. They^Òve had enough. Capital is
flowing to China and the Far East in a torrent. It^Òs "sayonara" Manhattan
and ^ÓHello^Ô Tiananmen Square.
Want some advice? Learn Mandarin.
The dollar fell another 2% last night, gold soared to $840 per ounce, oil
topped $98 per barrel, General motors reported a $39 billion loss after
the market closed on Tuesday, the real estate market continued its
downward slide, and the major investment banks are marching in lock-step
towards bankruptcy.
The news is all bad. The nation^Òs economic foundation is in shambles.
US credibility is shot. Bush and Greenspan have put us on the road to
ruin. Now their work is done. We^Òre flat broke.
The catalogue of fiscal ailments now facing the country is too long to
list. We^Òd need a ledger the size of a small encyclopedia. There^Òs been
a stampede away from the dollar even though it^Òs already lost over 60% of
its value since Bush took office and even though central banks around the
world will lose their shirts if it collapses. They don^Òt care. They^Òre
getting out while they can.
Cheng Siwei, the vice chairman of China^Òs National People^Òs Congress,
announced yesterday that China would continue to diversify its $1.4
trillion reserves away from the dollar to ^Óstronger currencies^Ô like the
euro. ^ÓStrong currencies^Ô; isn^Òt that Paulson^Òs line? Siwei^Òs
comments ignited a firestorm in the currency markets triggering a big
blow-off of the greenback. The poor dollar has no place to go now but
down, and it^Òs on a greased pole to the bottom. With consumer spending
paralyzed by the decline in home equity and frozen wages, and the banks
^Óstuffed to the gills^Ô with over a trillion dollars of mortgage-backed
sludge; the prognosis for the hobbled dollar is looking grimmer by the
day. The bulging trade deficits and dwindling foreign inflows haven^Òt
helped either. The greenback has suddenly become the global pariah; all it
needs is a leper^Òs rattle and a tin cup.
The news is no better in the real estate industry either, where the
nation^Òs biggest builders are reporting record losses and inventory is
backed-up 11 months. Sales are off 22% in one year alone. Foreclosures
are skyrocketing, jumbo loans (over $417,000) are impossible to get
regardless of one^Òs credit history, 40% of all mortgages (subprime,
Alt-A, piggyback, reverse amortization, interest- only) have been
eliminated, and entire projects in Florida, Arizona, Las Vegas, and
California^Òs Central Valley have stopped building altogether. Tens of
thousands of unoccupied homes across the Southwest have been reduced to
ghost towns. Nothing is selling. The building boom, that began when Alan
Greenspan ginned-up the Fed^Òs printing presses in 2002, has turned into
the biggest housing bust in American history.
On top of that, the banks are tightening lending standards and shunning
potential buyers just when the economy needs a boost in demand. Loan
originations are down and bankers are spooked by the gathering storm in
the credit markets. That means that home sales will continue to be
sluggish, prices will correct more quickly, and the anticipated ^Ósoft
landing^Ô will turn into a full-blown crash.
New home construction has accounted for 2 out of every 5 new jobs created
in the last 5 years. Most of those workers are either delivering pizzas,
cleaning bed pans or are lining up at the soup kitchen. The BLS^Òs numbers
on employment are bogus. It's just more government bunkum. They're
predicated on a ^Óbirth-death^Ô model that creates millions of fictitious
jobs out of whole cloth. In truth, unemployment is soaring and the most
vulnerable and impoverished among us are taking a beating from housing
debacle.
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association of Washington, the total of
mortgage loans outstanding in 2006 was $10.9 trillion; $6 trillion of
which were transformed into securities. (CDOs, MBSs) About $1.5 trillion
of those securities are subprime; another $1 trillion Alt-A (nearly as
risky) and at least another $1.5 trillion in adjustable rate mortgages
(ARMs) At least 20% of these shaky liabilities/securities will default,
and yet, no one really knows who is holding them on their books. All of
the major financial institutions^×the insurance companies, foreign banks,
hedge funds, investment banks---have purchased these CDO ^Óroadside
bombs^Ô and mixed them in with their other performing loans and hard
assets. The projected explosions have already begun to take their toll on
the financial giants---Citigroup and Merrill Lynch are just the latest
victims; others will follow. The problem can^Òt be fixed with Bernanke^Òs
low interest rates. The bad debts are everywhere and must accounted for
and written down. That puts us on the threshold of a jarring
market-downturn triggered by an unprecedented number of defaults that will
rumble through the entire system. Bankruptcies will pop up everywhere at
random. It is a blueprint for economic chaos. And it is unavoidable.
The global markets have never seen a financial typhoon of this magnitude
before. Mortgage lenders, homeowners, banks, hedge funds, bond insurers,
etc. will all either go under or feel the sting of a slumping market.
Many of the major investment banks are already broke; it^Òs clear from
their own reporting. Charles Hugh Smith sums it up like this in his recent
article ^ÓEmpire of Debt: The Great Unraveling^Ô:
^ÓIf their bad bets were marked to market, Citicorp and Merrill Lynch
would be declared insolvent. Why? Because they are insolvent--right now.
The meaning of insolvency is straightforward: their losses exceed their
capital. Recall that these firms list assets of $100 billion (or whatever)
but their actual net capital is on the order of 2.5% to 5%---a mere sliver
of their stated assets. In other words: a 5% loss of their stated assets
wipes them out^Å..The game is now over, and the players shuffling losses
can only last a few more days or weeks.^Ô
Up to this point, the banks have been able to place a sizeable portion of
their "hard-to-value" assets in a Level 3 grab bag, which allowed company
accountants to assign a value to those assets according to their own
judgment. No more. The new FASB 157 regulation will force the banks to use
^Ómarket prices^Ô to determine the true value of their holdings. Some
analysts believe that these new disclosure rules may result in $200
billion write-downs on assets and require that the over-leveraged banks to
increase their capital reserves. That will slow down lending and put a
wrinkle in the banks' bottom line. In any event, once the law is enacted;
we^Òll see who^Òs "faking" the value of their assets or as Warren Buffet
says, ^ÓWho^Òs swimming with their clothes off.^Ô
Professor Nouriel Roubini summed it up like this:
^ÓThe amount of losses that financial institutions have already recognized
- $20 billion ^Ö is just the very tip of the iceberg of much larger losses
that will end up in the hundreds of billions of dollars^Å.Calling this
crisis a sub-prime meltdown is ludicrous as by now the contagion has
seriously spread to near prime and prime mortgages^ÅAnd it is spreading to
every corner of the securitized financial system that is either frozen or
on the way to freeze^Å.The reality is that most financial institutions
have barely started to recognize the lower ^Ófair value^Ô of their
impaired securities^Å.The credit crunch is getting worse and its financial
and real fallout will be severe.^Ô (Nouriel Roubini blog)
The constant drumbeat of bad news is having a numbing affect on Wall
Street. Traders^Ò are tight-lipped and downcast. Spirits are sagging. No
one likes loosing money, and yet, the credit storm shows no signs of
letting up anytime soon. Yesterday, the Dow Jones Industrial^Òs took
another 360-point pounding before the bell rang. Another day, another
bloodbath. The subprime virus has now infected the broader markets leaving
the once-brawny financial giants bruised and reeling like Joe Frazier in
the Thrilla in Manila. A few more down-days like yesterday and they^Òll be
carrying out hedge funds feet first. The stock market is looking more and
more like a glass pitcher propped up on the edge of a bookshelf. One
little bump, and down she goes.
=====-------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Press Release: New Education Website
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:36:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Ed2Chat <ed2chat@gmail.com>
ED2CHAT.COM OPENED ITS WEBSITE THIS MONTH TO PROVIDE AN AREA ONLINE WHERE
EDUCATORS AND STUDENT TEACHERS WILL FINALLY HAVE THEIR OWN SOCIALIZING
COMMUNITY.
First Such Website Offered Specifically for Educators
New Jersey, New Brunswick (November, 20 2007) ^Ö Ed2Chat.Com announced
today that after 3 years of extensive research with teachers, principals,
superintendents, students, and professors it will be offering educators,
professors of education, and students aspiring to be educators the ability
to join the first free social site devoted solely to educators.
Educators will be able to create their own profiles complete with pictures
of themselves, their classroom, descriptions of their favorite books and
quotes. Each member of Ed2chat.com will have full access to view other
educator's profiles, join the thousands of forums, view daily updates of
educational news, purchase school supplies at a discount, choose to meet
other single educators, and search the Ed2chat database of educational
websites that have been screened for quality. Educators will also gain
access to free lesson plans, important downloads, access to classroom
decoration ideas, and professional development opportunities in their
state.
Ed2Chat.Com also offers school districts and teacher unions the ability to
set up their own Learning Management System for free in order to track
educator professional development, enable their teachers to place their
resumes online for new jobs in the district or union, and post
announcements for everyone to see central to the district or union. This
service allows school districts and unions to fully track their educator's
development in an easy to access program without the large costs normally
associated with setting up this type of system.
Educators will now have a place where they can voice their opinions and
interact with their fellow educators world-wide.
"We are thrilled to be able to offer this exciting new Online Website free
for Educators, School Districts, and Unions" said Evan Reid, President of
Ed2Chat.Com. "Educators will finally have a place where they can build
their own community online regardless of their location."
"I have been waiting for a website like this to finally become available
for educators," said Jay Lynch, a Math Teacher, in Jacksonville, NJ.
"Educators across the country need a website that caters to our ever
changing requirements and allows us to be a part of a true online
community just for us where we can meet fellow educators."
About Ed2Chat.Com: www.Ed2chat.com Ed2Chat provides an online environment
for all educators and students around the world to interact with each
other, purchase products, find jobs, download and view free resources,
research their state requirements, become mentors, meet other single
educators, view news, participate in discussion boards, earn their
professional development, choose a university to attend, post pictures,
write blogs, create personal account profiles, and build their own
communities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act Raises Fears of New Government
Crackdown on Dissent
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:32:31 -1000
From: viviane lerner <vivlerner@gmail.com>
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/20/1458214
Tuesday, November 20th, 2007
Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act Raises Fears of New Government
Crackdown on Dissent
A little-noticed anti-terrorism bill quietly making its through Congress
is raising fears of a new affront on activism and constitutional rights.
The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act was
passed in an overwhelming 400 to six House vote last month. Critics say it
could herald a new government crackdown on dissident activity and
infiltration of universities under the guise of fighting terrorism. The
bill would establish two government-appointed bodies to study, monitor and
propose ways of curbing what it calls homegrown terrorism and extremism in
the United States. The first body, a National Commission, would convene
for eighteen months. A university-based "Center for Excellence" would
follow, bringing together academic specialists to recommend laws and other
measures.
Critics say the bill's definition of "extremism" and "terrorism" is too
vague and its mandate even more broad. Under a false veil of expertise and
independence, the government-appointed commissions could be used as
ideological cover to push through harsher laws. Following last month's
approval in the House, the Senate version is expected to go before the
Judiciary Committee this week.
Jessica Lee, reporter for the Indypendent, published by the NYC Indymedia
Center. Her latest article is called "Bringing the War on Terrorism Home:
Congress Considers How to 'Disrupt' Radical Movements in the United
States" Kamau Karl Franklin, Racial Justice Fellow at the NY-based Center
for Constitutional Rights. He is also co-chair of the National Conference
of Black Lawyers and serves on the Executive Committee of the National
Lawyers Guild.
RUSH TRANSCRIPT AMY GOODMAN: A little-noticed anti-terrorism bill, quietly
making its way through Congress is raising fears of the new affront on
activism and constitutional rights. The Violent Radicalization and
Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act was passed in an overwhelming 400-6
House vote last month. Critics say it could herald a new government
crackdown on dissent and infiltration of universities under the guise of
fighting terrorism. The bill would establish two government- appointed
bodies to study, monitor, and propose ways of curbing what it calls
homegrown terrorism and extremism in the United States. The first body, a
national commission, would convene for 18 months. The university-based
"Center for Excellence" would follow, bringing together academic
specialists to recommend laws and other measures. Critics say the
definition of extremism and terrorism is too vague and its mandate even
more broad. Under a false veil of expertise and independence, they say,
the government-appointed commissions could be used as ideological cover to
push through harsher laws. Following last month's approval in the House,
the Senate version is expected to go before the Judiciary Committee this
week. Two guests join us now in the Firehouse studio. Kamau Franklin is an
attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights. CCR has been closely
following the measure. And Jessica Lee with us. She^Òs a journalist with
the Indypendent, put out by the New York Indymedia Center. She has an
extensive piece in the latest issue of the Indypendent. Its called
"Bringing The War On Terrorism Home: Congress Considers How To 'Disrupt'
Radical Movements In The United States." Jessica, let^Òs begin with you.
Lay out what this bill is.
JESSICA LEE: Thank you for having me. When I first heard about this, I
immediately did a Google news search and was alarmed to find that no media
was talking about it whatsoever. So I looked into the bill and are two
things that immediately jumped out of me. The first was that there is a
broad use of definitions and the second is, who would they study? What
does this mean? I would first like to point out the two definitions that
many people I interviewed had problems with. And if you wouldnt mind me
just reading them. The first is ^Óviolent radicalization^Ô. This term
means ^Óthe process of adapting or promoting an extremist belief system
for the purpose of facilitating ideologically-based violence to advance
political, religious, or social change^Ô. Many people I interviewed were
very concerned about this. The second definition, which is ^Óhomegrown
terrorism^Ô, talks about the planned use, threatened use, of force or
violence by a group to intimidate or coerce the government of the United
States. When you think about these definitions, what does that mean? When
you look at the activism going on today, is there planned use of force or
coercion going on? When you look at what is going on in Olympia, with
individuals sitting down and blocking war shipments. When you look at Code
Pink going into Congress and disrupting activities. Could this be included
in this definition? And that^Òs what I went out to try to find my article.
AMY GOODMAN: Kamau Franklin, your concerns?
KAMAU FRANKLIN: Somewhere, as Jessica stated, the broad definitions allow
for new laws that can be passed. that can basically equate social justice
activism and civil disobedience to terrorism in some ways. So in the past
if someone got charged for blocking the street, there were charged with
disorderly conduct, or obstruction of governmental administration. Now,
after this commission is done, if new laws are passed, with the broadness
of the definitions, the Feds can now say ^Ówell, wait a minute, you
threatened the use of violence or threatened the use of force. And that by
itself can mean that we can now charge you with federal terrorist crimes
because we do not agree with the type of demonstration that you were
doing, we don^Òt agree with the point of view that you were having^Ô. So
its the broad based-ness, the breadth, the scope of the inquiry, which is
really threatening for potential activists, people concerned with social
justice issues and civil libertarians, something people should really be
concerned about.
AMY GOODMAN: Talk about the groups you see.
KAMAU KARL FRANKLIN: Well, I see groups as folks that are come out against
the globalization, anti-globalization activists, social justice activists,
animal rights activists. I think the breadth is [extounding] in terms of
what can be covered. I dont think theres any limits placed on who can be
targeted by this particular act. I think certain groups have already been
singled out, like folks that are fighting against some of the
globalization measures that are happening. And I think that is really
going to be scary. Because the sponsors of this bill are really targeting
this sect more than targeting anything else.
AMY GOODMAN: Talk about the groups, Jessica. In particular, you^Òve
mentioned, for example, Critical Mass, the cycling movement all over the
country.
JESSICA LEE: Right. When I started to look into this bill, what I found
was a great influence by the Rand Corporation, which is a government
affiliated think tank. Twice, Brian Michael Jenkins, who is an expert on
terrorism, gave testimony in the House on this bill.
AMY GOODMAN: He is from the Rand Corporation.
JESSICA LEE: He is from the Rand, yes. They largely tried to push this
bill through on this idea there are these extreme political Islamists in
our country and they did not do a very good job stating the actual threat.
But when you look through the Rand Corporation's other reports in 2005,
they had a report called ^ÓTrends in Terrorism^Ô. And they had one chapter
called ^ÓHomegrown Terrorism Threats^Ô. When you look in that chapter,
there^Òs nothing about political Islamists. In fact, its all about anti-
globalization people on the right and left side of the spectrum. The
animal rights and the environmental movements; and anarchists. And to me I
found that very interesting that that testimony was not mentioned at all
when this bill was passed. That this legislation is not just gonna look at
so-called violent, religious people, but also people who have been very
strong opinions against this administration.
AMY GOODMAN: In terms of the Rand Corporation, it was Daniel Ellsberg who
worked for the Rand Corporation, when he have that many thousands of pages
on the history of the Vietnam war and the Pentagon papers. So Rand is the
key -- what would you say, writer of the bill? And the Congressmember
who^Òs most involved in this?
JESSICA LEE: Representative Jane Harmon, a Democrat from California, has
had a lengthy relationship with the Rand Corporation. I called several
times to get comment from the Rand Corporation, they said that their
experts are out of town and unavailable due to the holidays. So I did not
find out if they indeed did write the bill themselves. What we do know is
that have a great influence and that they have had in the past.
KAMAU FRANKLIN: I just wanted to add to the Rand comment, particularly
with Brian Michael Jenkins, supposed terrorist expert who^Òs mainly known
according to Rand as someone who helped the United States in
counter-insurgency measures in Vietnam, which is one of his claims to
fame. In addition to that, he wrote a book and in his own book, I just
want to quote that says "in their international campaign, the Jihadist
will seek common ground with leftist, anti- American and
anti-globalization forces who will in turn seek radical Islam comrades
against a mutual foe." So I think what Jessica^Òs talking about, is that,
the breadth of it is not focused in on supposed terrorists who are
threatening the United States, but folks who have real concerns about
where this country is heading, folks who express dissent in various
different ways including demonstrations and marches. These are the folks
who this bill potentially good target.
AMY GOODMAN: The Baltimore Sun has a column called "Here Comes the Thought
Police."
KAMAU FRANKLIN: I think they^Òre saying ^Óthought^Ô because one of the
important aspects of this bill, also, is to ^Ö it concentrates on the
internet as a place where terrorist rhetoric or ideas have been coming
across into the United States and to American citizens. If, once again,
this bill reaches to become a law and that study is done, who is to say
that now after the study is done, the recommendations wont get made to say
^Ólets curb how the internet is being used, lets put filters on what gets
to come into the country^Ô. You spoke a little bit about al- Jazeera.
Imagine after they take a look at this and how al-Jazeera is viewed, one
particular area well say ^Ólet's stop that^Ô ^Ö I mean they stopped that
from coming in over a cable ^Ö but, ^Ólet^Òs stop that from coming from
the internet^Ô. That could be happening to thousands of web sites in the
near future.
AMY GOODMAN: And local, federal cooperation among police, Kamau?
KAMAU FRANKLIN: Theres a New York study that was done that also was a
basis for some of where this bill came from. These type of operations go
hand-in-hand with of course, joint task force. So we truly would expect
when they go around and seek out experts and they talk to folks that it
would be talking to local police officials and looking for ways in which
they can work together on this, where the local officials can seek federal
funding and they will come out and try to use this and say ^Ólet's target
these particular groups in our area that we know about^Ô. Once again, no
basis for terrorism, but ^Óthey^Òve been dissenters, they have their
internet sites reviewed and we dont like those^Ô.
AMY GOODMAN: Jessica Lee, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown
Terrorism Prevention Act was passed in the house 400-6. That is a very big
margin.
JESSICA LEE: Correct. It was actually passed under what is called the
^ÓSuspension of the Rules^Ô, which is a provision the House uses to pass
bills very quickly and these are usually bills deemed uncontroversial and
do not need more debate. So we saw a quick vote. Six people voted
against. One was presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. He was
unavailable for comment unfortunately. So what we're seeing not only the
Republican congress giving the Bush administration swath of powers to
confront the war on terrorism, but we are also seeing the
democratically-led congress also extending these powers.
AMY GOODMAN: Talk about the Center for Excellence.
JESSICA LEE: It would be one of the ^Ö there^Òs already eight in
existence, under the Department of Homeland Security, and they^Òre based
in universities, they bring scholars together from around the country,
that are ^Óexperts^Ô in a bunch of different fields to study a particular
thing. This is someone who would want to study the moment in which
somebody who is a radical or extremist will turn from being peaceful,
having those beliefs which are protected under the First Amendment, to
when they might become violent. I found it very interesting because if you
want to study the moment in which somebody is going to turn violent, don't
you need to study them before they turned violent? If so, aren^Òt you
studying First Amendment beliefs? I talked to a couple of scholars who
study this type of thing. One is Braun Taylor who has studied the radical
environmental movement for about 15 years, and he says if you really want
to understand this stuff, you have to go into the field, make human
interactions, build trust, and you have to talk to them. It takes a long
time. These people are very wary to talk to academics in the first place.
So we are seeing the Center of Excellence that is supposed to bring people
together to study these very people that are skeptical of academics.
Another interesting thing, the national commission which has mandated to
produce three reports, each six months apart. The first report is supposed
to come out after six months. How in the world can they possibly study
these very complex issues? They want to study the social, criminal,
political, psychological and economic roots of terrorism. How are they
supposed to study this in six months and come up with these
recommendations, which in fact, are going to be used to prevent, disrupt
and mitigate domestic terrorism in six months?
AMY GOODMAN: Kamau Franklin, Center for Constitutional Rights, what are
you doing about this?
KAMAU FRANKLIN: On our website, we have a lot more information about what
this bill is. In fact, we have the different versions for people to start
to view. We^Òre gonna call for some actions in the next couple of weeks.
We probably agree that at this stage the Senate is also going to pass
their version of the bill. What is really going to happen, where the
fight^Òs really gonna start to take place is in the forming of this
commission, watching this commission, responding to its inquiries. In
fact, doing demonstrations against this commission. We think that is
where the real fight will be now is in the grassroots who are gonna have
to come out and really talk about how they think this commission will not
really study terrorism but will study them. We want to provide as much
information as we can on who should be the target of some of this work
that will have to be done. So when people go to the website
ccrjustice.org, they^Òll start to find this information. In the next
couple of weeks, we^Òll rally start to target and hone in on who should be
thought about.
AMY GOODMAN: Kamau Karl Franklin, Center for Constitutional Rights and
Jessica Lee, journalist for the Indypendent. Thank you for being with us.
This is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. I'm
amy Goodman. When we come back, I will be joined by Marcel Khalife the
Marcel.
=====--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Happy Thanksgiving
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:19:31 -1000
From: Tim Bostock Productions <tbp@artsatmarks.com>
Dear Friends
Hawai`i Craftsmen's Gallery Sale is now open at The ARTS at Marks Garage,
running through the Holiday Season until Saturday, December 29. Artists
from Kauai, Hawai`i, Maui and Oahu have created hundreds of hand crafted
and artistic items, tiny and large in this major gallery sale. Cash &
carry for all artwork, gift wrapping and shipping available. Regular
gallery hours i.e. Tuesday, Wednesday: 11 am - 6pm, Thursday: 11am - 8 pm
Holoholo Extended Hours, and Friday -Saturday: 11 am - 6 pm.
This week is slow for good reason - stay home, enjoy the family and stuff
the turkey! Or, for alternative Thanksgiving activities keep reading ...
Tomorrow Wednesday night at Anna Bananas from 9pm-1am, singer / songwriter
Millicent Cummings brings her excellent mix of contemporary folk and
Hawaii-inspired music in a slack key rock-blues-folk full band format and
with special guests Kealoha and Cindy Combs. Anna Bananas is located at
2440 S. Beretania Street Just $5 at the door.
This and every Friday 7pm to closing Ginai and Pierre Grill play the
Dragon Upstairs, (above Hanks, at 1038 Nu'uanu Ave). These two
superlative hipsters are musically stunning, graceful and often extremely
funny. What a great night out! Genai and Pierre kick off a long jazzy
weekend at the Dragon, other regulars include The Satomi Trio every
Saturday and Quadpod with the incredible DeShannon Higa every Monday.
Call ahead for details 526-1411, or just drop in.
This Saturday Nov 24 British folk rock legend Richard Thompson plays
Paliku Theatre from 8pm. Only a few seats in that house and they're all
excellent - so hurry - $30 from 235-7330 or www.etickethawaii.com.
COMING UP
The first Kumu Kahua Playreading of the 2007-2008 season features Chang by
Gary A. Dias. Chang intertwines a love story that results in a murder,
and a present day detective story - and is based on actual police files
from the 1930s. The reading of Chang is on Tuesday, November 27th at
7:30pm at Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant Street, downtown. Admission is
free, with complimentary refreshments and discussion following the
reading. For more information call 536-4441.
The Very Best of Christmas Talk Story from Honolulu Theatre for Youth will
this year include the most popular stories from the last decade, performed
to live music. The show opens at Tenney Theatre on Friday Nov. 30 at 7:30
p.m., then plays Saturdays Dec. 1, 8, 15, and 22 at 1:30 & 4:30. Tickets
are $8 for children and $16 for adults; discounts for students, seniors
and military. Call the HTY box office at 839-9885.
"Road Trip" plays Saturday, December 1st and Saturday, December 8th at
8:00pm at The ARTS at Marks Garage. The multi-talented Garrick Paikai will
improvise a full cast of characters and several musical numbers, all
fueled by audience suggestions, in a one-man, improv comedy tribute to the
Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "Road" movies of the 1940's. Tickets are $10
general and $8 students w/ ID and are available at the door one hour
before show time. Advance tickets are available for no extra charge
through Honolulu Box Office at 550-8457 or www.honoluluboxoffice.com.
Hawaii's superb acoustic guitar trio, KOHALA, play live at rRed Elephant,
Saturday December 1 at 7:30pm and Sunday December 2, at 4:00pm. TICKETS:
Honolulu Box Office: 808-555-8457 or www.honoluluboxoffice.com.
Enjoy Thanksgiving, and support the arts in Honolulu!
With Aloha
Tim
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
7. New Study on Racially Just Schools and Their Policy Implications
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:57:59 -0800
From: Susan Sandler <susans@justicematters.org>
Hello fellow listserv members,
Here's some info about an exciting study that Justice Matters just
released.
Last Tuesday, Justice Matters and Linda Darling-Hammond and Diane
Friedlaender of the School Redesign Network at <?xml:namespace prefix =
st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Stanford
University released a study. High Schools for Equity: Policy Supports
for Student Learning in Communities of Color seeks to answer fundamental
questions about how education policy can best bring about racially just
schools. With so many inequities and problems in our school system, it is
difficult to cut through to the policies that are most strategic to
transforming the learning experience for students of color.<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
To view the policy brief on High Schools for Equity, click here:
http://www.justicematters.org/jmi_live/jmi_sec/jmi_dwnlds/hsfe_policy_brief.pdf
To view the full report, click here:
http://www.justicematters.org/jmi_live/jmi_sec/jmi_dwnlds/hsfe_policy_report.pdf
To find out more, keep reading!
High Schools for Equity starts by looking at five California high schools
that are giving low-income students of color the kind of education they
deserve. These schools interrupt the status quo by providing learning
experiences for students of color that are intellectually rigorous,
responsive to their cultures, and relevant to their lives, communities,
and specific learning needs. These schools connect learning to students'
interests, passions, and concerns.
For example, June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco offers a
course that focuses on the literature surrounding immigration to the
United States where students explore questions such as "When do immigrants
choose to assimilate? When do they reject conforming to American
standards?" Such courses combine college-prep level thinking and skills
with content that addresses questions that students and their families
confront on a daily basis.
It was important that the study selected schools that took a wide range of
factors into account rather than just choosing schools by test scores
alone. Test scores are not necessarily connected to the high quality
learning experiences that students of color deserve.
After selecting the schools, the study then identifies the policies that
are most important to enabling all schools to provide the education that
students received in these exemplary schools. Researchers asked what
supports were provided by the district and the state that enabled these
schools to carry out their work. What aspects of the policy environment
were obstacles that the schools had to overcome in order to carry out
exemplary practices? What policies are needed to move from a tiny number
of isolated schools who are doing good work in spite of the system, to
having all schools do such work in part because of the school system?
The resulting findings lay out a policy agenda that can not only move us
away from the deep problems in today's schools, but that also moves us
toward a system that is centered on a vision of what learning should be
like for students of color and all students. Rather than tackling each
isolated problem in our school system in a piecemeal fashion, this policy
agenda lays out a coherent set of policies that are most important for
getting us to the schools that we ultimately want to have.
Susan Sandler
Justice Matters!
605 Market St., Ste. 1350
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 618-0995
http://www.justicematters.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Live the Legacy: Carrying on John Kelly's legacy event 12/6/07
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:41:07 -0500 (EST)
From: keboi@aol.com
building on traditions of activism in hawai'i
Live the Legacy
John Kelly (1919 - 2007). Surfer, waterman, and activist--John helped
found a environmental, social, political, and cultural movement that
contributed to the contemporary Hawaiian Sovereignty movement and saved
140 surf sites on Oâ^À^Ùahu. John passed away on October 3, 2007.
This movement continues today. People around Hawai'i continue to join
together--to take action and make a difference!
Living the legacy means getting involved!
Join, take action with, and contribute to organizations in Hawai'i working
today towards environmental protection, cultural rights, peace, and social
justice.
Places to start:
American Friends Service Commiittee
www.afschawaii.org
www.dmzhawaii.org
808-988-6266
KAHEA
The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance
www.kahea.org
808-524-8220
Oahu Surfrider
www.surfrider.com/oahu
event announcement!
Live the Legacy
Continuing traditions of activism in Hawai'i
What's going on today and how YOU can get involved!
Live the Legacy
on Thursday
DECEMBER 6, 2007
6PM - 8PM
Church of the Crossroads
1212 University Avenue
For more information, call 808-524-8220 or email laakea@kahea.org.
Parking:Â There are two parking lots nearby. One is behind the old
Varsity Theater (pay parking), the other lot is at a nearby pre-school
called The Early School (free parking).
Your help needed!
Seeking Nominations
Your nominations needed! Celebrate those making a contribution by
submitting names of worthy environmental businesses, pro-surfers, and
lifetime environmental advocates for Surfrider Oahu's John Kelly
Environmental Achievement Awards.
The John Kelly Environmental Achievement Awards seeks to promote
environmental protection and activism by recognizing those who have made
the greatest contributions towards protecting or enhancing the coastal
community and environment of Oahu. John Kelly, for whom the award is
named, was the original recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award.
**************************************-------------------------------
9. Here come the thought police
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:42:37 +0000
From: mike sysiuk <msysiuk@hotmail.com>
FYI,
Mike
>
> Here come the thought police
> By Ralph E. Shaffer and R. William Robinson
> November 19, 2007
>www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.thoughtpolice19nov19,0,2384977.story baltimoresun.com
>
> With overwhelming bipartisan support, Rep. Jane Harman's "Violent
> Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act" passed the House
> 404-6 late last month and now rests in Sen. Joe Lieberman's Homeland
> Security Committee. Swift Senate passage appears certain.
>
> Not since the "Patriot Act" of 2001 has any bill so threatened our
> constitutionally guaranteed rights.
>
> The historian Henry Steele Commager, denouncing President John Adams'
> suppression of free speech in the 1790s, argued that the Bill of Rights
> was not written to protect government from dissenters but to provide a
> legal means for c itizens to oppose a government they didn't trust.
> Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence not only proclaimed the
> right to dissent but declared it a people's duty, under certain
> conditions, to alter or abolish their government.
>
> In that vein, diverse groups vigorously oppose Ms. Harman's effort to
> stifle dissent. Unfortunately, the mainstream press and leading
> presidential candidates remain silent.
>
> Ms. Harman, a California Democrat, thinks it likely that the United
> States will face a native brand of terrorism in the immediate future and
> offers a plan to deal with ideologically based violence.
>
> But her plan is a greater danger to us than the threats she fears. Her
> bill tramples constitutional rights by creating a commission with
> sweeping investigative power and a mandate to propose laws prohibiting
> whatever the commission labels "homegrown terrorism."
>
> The proposed commission is a menace through its power to hold hearings,
> take testimony and administer oaths, an authority granted to even
> individual members of the commission - little Joe McCarthys - who will
> tour the country to hold their own private hearings. An aura of
> authority will automatically accompany this congressionally authorized
> mandate to expose native terrorism.
>
> Ms. Harman's proposal includes an absurd attack on the Internet,
> criticizing it for providing Americans with "access to broad and
> constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda," and legalizes an
> insidious infiltration of targeted organizations. The misnamed "Center
> of Excellence," which would function after the commission is disbanded
> in 18 months, gives the semblance of intellectual research to what is
> oth erwise the suppression of dissent.
>
> While its purpose is to prevent terrorism, the bill doesn't criminalize
> any specific conduct or contain penalties. But the commission's findings
> will be cited by those who see a terrorist under every bed and who will
> demand enactment of criminal penalties that further restrict free speech
> and other civil liberties. Action contrary to the commission's findings
> will be interpreted as a sign of treason at worst or a lack of
> patriotism at the least.
>
> While Ms. Harman denies that her proposal creates "thought police," it
> defines "homegrown terrorism" as "planned" or "threatened" use of force
> to coerce the government or the people in the promotion of "political or
> social objectives." That means that no force need actually have occurred
> as long as the government charges that the individual or group though t
> about doing it.
>
> Any social or economic reform is fair game. Have a march of 100 or
> 100,000 people to demand a reform - amnesty for illegal immigrants or
> overturning Roe v. Wade - and someone can perceive that to be a use of
> force to intimidate the people, courts or government.
>
> The bill defines "violent radicalization" as promoting an "extremist
> belief system." But American governments, state and national, have a
> long history of interpreting radical "belief systems" as inevitably
> leading to violence to facilitate change.
>
> Examples of the resulting crackdowns on such protests include the
> conviction and execution of anarchists tied to Chicago's 1886 Haymarket
> Riot. Hearings conducted by the House Un-American Activities Committee
> for several decades during the Cold War and the solo hearings by a
> member of that committ ee's Senate counterpart, Joseph McCarthy,
> demonstrate the dangers inherent in Ms. Harman's legislation.
>
> Ms. Harman denies that her bill is a threat to the First Amendment. It
> clearly states that no measure to prevent homegrown terrorism should
> violate "constitutional rights, civil rights or civil liberties."
>
> But the present administration has demonstrated, in its response to
> criticism regarding torture, that it can't be trusted to honor those
> rights.
>
> Ralph E. Shaffer, professor emeritus of history at California State
> Polytechnic University, Pomona, and R. William Robinson, an elected
> director of a Southern California water district, wrote this article for
> the History News Service.
>
> Copyright (c) 2007, The Baltimore Sun
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Kanaky Union Leader, Members Briefly Detained
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:57:40 +1300
From: karaka <tepaatu@gmail.com>
------ Forwarded Message
New Caledonia's USTKE on strike in protest at arrest of its leader
Posted at 01:39 on 21 November, 2007 UTC
The Union for Exploited and Kanak Workers, or USTKE, in New Caledonia is
on a 24-hour strike in response to the arrest of its leader.
Gerard Jodar has been detained over two incidents of alleged union
violence.
A USTKE union spokesperson, Pierre Chauvat, says the arrest was unfair and
it has called for a one-day strike as a response.
"We are today marching and rallying to ask France to apply human rights
and also to defend the way that unions are struggling for the defense of
the workers."
Pierre Chauvat says about 3,000 people have stopped work and are marching
to the French high commission building in Noumea to show their support for
Mr Jodar
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=36557
<http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=36557>
http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/11/21/new-caledonia-union-leader-members-briefly-detained
Wednesday: November 21, 2007
New Caledonia's Union of Kanak and Exploited Workers (USTKE) leader Gerard
Jodar was on Monday arrested and briefly heard by French police in New
Caledonia, as part of what is described as an enquiry into recent events,
including demonstrations and incidents reports >New Caledonia's public
prosecutor Robert Blaser told local media Jodar and three other YSTKE
prominent members were arrested early on Monday and were released some 12
hours later, early in the evening of the same day.
Blaser said the arrests were in relation to recent incidents, including
blockades and a violent confrontation with local police, which saw the
officers slightly injured.
The incidents took place during a recent visit in New Caledonia by French
State Secretary for overseas territories Christian Estrosi.
During his visit, Estrosi had warned that the French government would no
longer tolerate blockades such as those organised by New Caledonia unions
on a regular basis. The French minister also lashed out at the then French
High Commissioner, Michel Mathieu, for not authorising the French police
to intervene in union-generated conflicts and blockades, even when a Court
warrant had been issued.
As a result, Mathieu resigned last month.
In response, USTKE on Monday has condemned what it regards as exaggerated
force towards its members and what it calls the ongoing "criminalisation
of the exercise of union rights".
The union has called on yet another general strike, on Wednesday this
week, in protest against the arrests.
The string of events also coincides with the formal announcement, at the
weekend, of USTKE's political wing, a new party in New Caledonia, which it
was decided, would be called the "Labour" party.
http://newspad-pacific.info/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
11. "A Real Terrorist Is On The Loose..." (Guess who?)
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:04:12 -0800 (PST)
From: patricia blair <cris6369@yahoo.com>
I hope you'll find the opportunity to read this powerful speech
...Bob
http://www.countercurrents.org/baghdadi171107.htm
A Real Terrorist Is On The Loose: Humanity And Mother Earth
Are in Danger
By Ali Baghdadi
17 November, 2007
Countercurrents.org
I am greatly honored to be speaking to you. I must tell you from the start
that I will not beat around the bushes. I am not here to entertain you or
to please you. Truth sometimes hurts. You are adults. You can take it.
I am a Palestinian, an Arab and a Muslim. That means I belong to the
people that the United States government has designated as enemy. I belong
to the camp of the "bad guys", who are punished, murdered, tortured and
even raped. But I am also an American. I belong to the camp of the "good
guys", who are doing the murder, torture and rape, who are waging what
President George W. Bush calls a crusade, against my people, the
"terrorists". Israel is an integral member of this camp. As a matter of
fact, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a
Zionist-Jewish lobby in Washington, is leading this camp.
My wife for forty three years is an American. My six children and eleven
grandchildren know no other country on Earth except the United States of
America. Two of my kids have served in the military, and were honorably
discharged.
Let me put it this way. I do belong to the people who hate you.
Ironically, I also belong to the people who are hated, not only by Arabs
and Muslims, but by almost the rest of the world, including Europeans. The
United States is hated not only by Muslim masses, but also by Arab rulers
who enjoy Washington's military and political support. Yes, America is
hated by its "loyal friends," King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia, King Abdallah
II of Jordan, President Mubarak of Egypt, and al-Maliki of Iraq, among
many others. They hate, because the White House humiliates them, despises
them and pushes them around. George W. Bush has given them one choice.
Either you are with us, or with the "terrorists," their own people. They
are unwilling to face the destiny of those who challenge the American
empire. Unlike Saddam Hussein, they chose to be living cowards and
traitors, instead of becoming great martyrs loved and honored by the Arab
and Muslim people. The fact remains that, when their service is no longer
needed, their master will trash them, will flush them into the sewage of
history. America has no permanent friends, only interests. Today,
anti-Americanism throughout the world is the norm, not the exception.
During a two-day visit to my city of birth, Jerusalem, and as my family
and I were attempting to enter the Holy Sepulcher, the holiest church in
Christianity, Palestinians told me, point blank, straight to my face, that
they hate me; that they hate all Americans; that I am one of them, an
enemy to Arabs and Muslims. The fact that I have been defending Arab and
Muslim causes, particularly the Palestinians', for forty-seven years, made
no difference. I do understand.
A day earlier, at the Jordan River entry point to my native land,
Palestine (Israel), I was treated by the Israeli authorities quite
differently. Though none of us meet the profile of a Muslim "terrorist,"
my son and I have no beard, and my grandson is too young to have a beard;
though my wife is blond, has a low profile and peaceful disposition;
though my wife, daughter and granddaughter had no headscarf; and though we
all carried U.S. passports, we waited for seven hours in front of the
passport control window before we were allowed in. In the eyes of the
Israeli authorities, we are all Palestinians, not Americans. We are all
potential terrorists.
I don't blame the Palestinians, my fellow countrymen and women for hating
me. President Jimmy Carter describes the Tel-Aviv government as the worst
occupational regime. Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu speak of
Israel as worse than the former apartheid government of South Africa. The
present South African government agrees. In the West Bank and Gaza,
Palestinians are murdered daily. They are being starved to death. They all
live in a prison. Their homes and agricultural lands are bulldozed. Their
olive and citrus trees are uprooted. More than 550 Israeli military
checkpoints are scattered all over the West Bank alone. A trip between two
villages that normally takes fifteen minutes lasts for five to seven
hours. Palestinian babies die at military checkpoints while their mothers
are on their way to a hospital to deliver. Palestinians' drinking water is
stolen and diverted to Jewish swimming pools in illegal settlements built
on their confiscated lands. Their economy is in shambles. The little of
what they clench onto of their remaining land is actually a living hell.
More than 60% of the work force is unemployed. Palestinian children are
seen searching in Jewish garbage dumps for food to eat. Recently,
Palestinian students who had come home to visit were not permitted to
return to their universities abroad.
Three weeks ago, despite protest made by the United Nations, the world
community and international human rights organizations, food, electricity
and fuel to Gaza were cut in half, by Israeli government, as a mass
punishment, because the Palestinians chose Hamas as their representative,
in an election that was described by former President Carter, as free and
democratic. President Bush, who told us that his invasion of Afghanistan
and Iraq is prompted by his desire to spread democracy, labels the
Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, as a terrorist
organization with which the United States will not deal. Even Israeli
military disagrees with Bush's claim. According to a Nov 11, 2007 news
report published by Haaretz, a leading Israeli newspaper, Israeli
paratroopers testified that "in all parameters, we are facing an army, not
gangs."
The Zionist-controlled U.S. mass media allege that Israel is not morally
or legally obliged to cater to needs of Palestinians who are blockaded,
who are under occupation, and all their air, sea and land entry points are
controlled by Israeli forces. Israel continues to disavow responsibility
for the human catastrophe Palestinians are facing, in violation of
international law. No wonder that my family and I saw, by the Damascus
Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem, Palestinian crowds who were not allowed
to pray at al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock mosques, shouting, pleading
upon the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad, to fire Iranian missiles
towards their Israeli-occupied city, out of no concern for their own
lives. No wonder why, after experiencing the intolerable living conditions
of Palestinians, my children and my grandchildren in my company stood
helplessly by, and expressed approval and support, despite the heavy
presence of trigger-happy Israeli soldiers. No wonder why, during the 1991
war of aggression ordered by Bush senior against Iraq, West Bank
Palestinians danced on the roofs of their homes and cheered Saddam's
missiles lighting the skies on their way to Tel-Aviv and Haifa. No wonder
why, after they were forcefully driven out of over 550 towns and villages
in 1948, and the remaining 22% of their lands occupied in 1967, did
Palestinian youths, males and females, find no alternative but to explode
themselves amongst Israeli soldiers. Palestinians have no army. They have
no tanks, no jet fighters, no apache helicopters, and no weapons of mass
destruction, but their enemy does, and uses them.
Iraq as a country has been completely destroyed. Its seven-thousand-year
civilization has been shattered. Its infrastructure has been ruined. Its
industrial machinery, 750 billion dollars worth, was disassembled and sold
as scrap to neighboring countries. Its water, air and land have been
poisoned. Its resources are being robbed. Since Bush's "mission
accomplished" declaration on the aircraft carrier Lincoln, 1.2 million
Iraqi men, women and children have been murdered, a death toll that rivals
Rwanda genocide. This brings the total number of Iraqis losing their lives
from a combination of the two wars led by Bush the father and the son, and
including the 13 years of illegal sanctions imposed on the country, to 3.5
million. Iraqi widows number over 3 million. Iraqi orphans exceed 5
millions. 70% of Iraqi children suffer traumatic stress syndrome due to
death and destruction they are exposed to daily. Though Iraqis are known
to be proud, educated and hard-working people, thousands of mothers and
children are forced into prostitution to survive. According to the U.N.,
Iraqi refugees, including the internally displaced, reached 4.4 million,
two millions in Syria alone.
A month ago, in an interview that appeared on 60-Minutes CBS TV, a U.S.
field commander said that the military is authorized to bomb and kill
civilians if a suspected Taliban fighter was in their midst, provided that
the number of those civilians is less than thirty. If the number of
unarmed civilians was higher, the approval of the U.S. Secretary of
Defense or the President would become necessary. I am almost certain that
those two men have never said no to the murder of Muslims and destruction
of Muslim countries. Even the Afghani leader, Hameed Karazai, a puppet and
a traitor, stated on the same program that he had complained to the U.S.
President and had asked him "to stop bombing us." Remember that Karazai is
the White House man. Until he was handpicked by Bush and Cheney to become
president of Afghanistan, the man was employed by Unocal, an oil giant,
here in the United States.
You must have heard a question that Americans often ask, "Why do they hate
us?"
In a speech given to the Congress, George W. Bush answered, because they
hate our freedoms. We are told that they hate us because we are rich. They
envy us because we stand for democracy and freedom. They resent us because
we are the most powerful nation. They are jealous of our achievements and
accomplishments. They are loners like Timothy McVeigh. They are
intolerant; and their religion is primitive, irrational and violent.
Certainly, these statements are insults to the intelligence of the
American people.
Americans, particularly the Christian Zionists, ignore the fact that Arab
Christians share Muslim sentiments. They also hate America.
"Why do they hate us?" Americans should have known why. Americans have
allowed the Israeli Jewish lobby to hijack U.S. government in the service
of the Israeli policy of aggression and expansionism. No Republican or
Democrat candidate can win without the blessings and approval of this
lobby. We have been pouring billions of dollars into aid to insure
Israel's military superiority over all Arab armies. We protect Israel in
the United Nations, despite its refusal to implement U.N. resolutions, and
its disrespect to international law. We have also allowed Israel to be the
only state in the Middle East that possesses nuclear weapons aimed at all
major Arab and Muslim cities. In addition, this illegal and genocidal war
was waged on behalf the Zionist state, to prevent Iraq of becoming a
threat and a challenge to its military power and dominance.
Israel invaded southern Lebanon in July of 2006. Israeli-U.S. F-15 and
F-16 fighters dropped over 1.25 million American cluster bombs on the
civilian population. Lebanese cities and villages were bombarded, day and
night. The infrastructure, including highways, roads, and bridges south of
Beirut, was destroyed. Food, water and fuel storages were hit. Apartment
buildings, schools, hospitals, clinics and houses of worship were leveled
to the ground. One million Lebanese refugees were compelled to flee, with
little food or water. It took 33 days of killing and destruction by the
Israeli army, which is described as the fourth most powerful army in the
world, before the U.S. agreed to a U.N. resolution for a cease fire.
Notably, Americans who volunteered to go to Lebanon to help were there
only to rescue the surviving animals.
Five weeks ago, many of the residents of southern California, who escaped
the deadly fires that resulted in over a half million displaced
individuals, left almost everything behind, but brought with their
animals, their dogs, cats and even fish.
Love for animals is not confined to Americans. It is universal. I do love
animals.
Again, I must tell you the truth. Americans show unusual love and mercy
towards animals. Those who are cruel to animals are punished and jailed if
convicted. But what is really disturbing is the fact that the great
majority doesn't show similar love and mercy towards people, towards
fellow men and women. Death and destruction has been an integral part of
Western culture and Western history.
I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist. However, I do know that that is
sick. It is also sickening. It makes me vomit.
Despite tight censorship, Americans saw the destruction of Baghdad, and
images of the assault on the city of Falujah, which was nearly razed to
the ground. They saw the devastation of the entire city. They saw Iraqi
corpses blackened with Napalm and phosphorus bombs, which are outlawed.
They heard cheers and laughs of U.S. soldiers as they bring down mosques
and minarets. They saw the marines shooting unarmed, wounded and harmless
civilians that had taken refuge in houses of worship. Though the number of
active Iraqi resistance fighters is no more than 20,000, the U.S. army
fired 1.5 billion small arms rounds in one year, more bullets than can be
manufactured. The very little of what Americans have seen is enough to
demand a Nuremberg-like trial for the President, the Vice President, the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State and their advisors, as well
as top generals in the Pentagon. U.S. citizens have failed to do their
part. They have been silent, and silence is complicity. They are not
prepared to dedicate a fraction of the time wasted on stupid TV programs
to learn a little about world affairs and the serious crimes against
humanity that their government is actually committing.
Americans are generally indifferent and heartless. Americans see wars as
action movies, computer games, exciting and entertaining. The 2,000 pounds
bombs and ballistic missiles raining down on Baghdad were fireworks.
Victims are numbers and their murder is collateral damage.
The question that puzzles me is, "How many more nations should be invaded
and destroyed; how many more cities should be torched and devastated; how
many more millions should be massacred; how many more widows and orphans
should be left without a supporter; how many more Abu Ghraib and
Guantanamo prisons are we going to build; how many more innocents are we
going to torture; how many more international laws and conventions will
our country be violating, before the American conscience can be awakened
and become functional?"
Our "State of the Union" is gloomy and disgraceful. It is true that there
are honorable, caring and courageous American men and women, Christians,
Jews, atheists and others, who strongly protest U.S. policy. It is true
that there are Americans who challenge the benefiters of war.
Unfortunately, they are in the tiny minority. They are seldom seen on
major news networks.
In the meanwhile, Bush continues to allege that we "don't torture" and
that "waterboarding" does not cause permanent damage. Republican and
Democratic senators, who should experience this technique only for a
minute or two, have just confirmed Mukasey as U.S. attorney general,
another victory for (AIPAC), despite the fact that he refused to recognize
"waterboarding" as torture. Mukasey, a Zionist Jew who, as a judge,
sentenced an innocent blind Muslim scholar for life imprisonment for a
crime that he never committed, is now the Secretary of the "U.S.
Department of Injustice." Under the disguise of combating terrorism,
efforts to marginalize Muslims and intimidate non-Muslims of an imaginary
enemy, the Los Angeles Police Department has just announced a program to
"map" Muslim communities. Muslims' population in the greater Los Angeles
is estimated to be a half of a million. According to recent polls, 53% of
the Americans favor expanding the fraudulent ant-terrorism war to include
Iran.
I didn't come here to solicit your support and arouse your sympathy for
Arab and Muslim causes. Americans pass the buck. They cannot escape
responsibility. They put their trust mostly in the hands of criminals, who
do not take the legitimate interests of their country at heart and
instead, cater to Israeli demands.
Arabs and Muslims will survive. Eventually they will liberate their lands,
control their destiny, protect their resources and catch up in the field
of science, and technology. All indications show that the Bush Empire is
collapsing, and Israel, as an apartheid state, will finally disappear. The
year 2007 has been the deadliest for U.S. troops in Iraq, and also
Afghanistan.
Israel was forced to retreat from Lebanon. None of its objectives have
been realized. Hezbollah is stronger now than ever. Military maneuvers
held last week, have shown beyond a doubt the readiness and preparedness
of the Lebanese resistance fighters to defend their country.
Though they are facing 160,000 U.S. troops and 180,000 U.S. mercenaries
that are called contractors, Iraqi resistance has dragged the United
States into a quagmire. Bush has been begging neighboring countries,
including Iran, to give a hand. "Support the Troops" stickers, have been
disappearing, not because Americans are largely against death and
destruction. They want an end to this war because it is costly, and their
money is going down the drain. The real cost is, according to the latest
estimates, 3.5 trillion dollars. Also Americans are not winning.
What is really tragic is that Americans are generally not concerned about
the boys and girls that come home in boxes under the cover of darkness.
They are not photographed. They are not seen. The overwhelming majority
are Blacks, Latinos and poor Whites. According to official figures, which
are too distorted, almost 4,000 of our American sons and daughters have
died in vain, died for Israel and big business. The injured and maimed are
approximately 30,000. Those who suffer brain damage and Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder are approximately 48,000. Soldiers who no longer serve in
the front lines are neglected by the "Commander in Chief" of the U.S.
Army. An estimated 200,000 veterans have been homeless at some point in
the last year. Veterans waiting for their disability claims increased from
325,000 in 2002 to 600,000.
Cooper, the head of the agency in charge of veterans' benefits, an
Evangelist, appointed by Bush, proclaimed that Bible study is "more
important than doing [my] job." Health care for Iraq's veterans will cost
tax-payers 650 billion dollars and is rising.
Bush's claim that the "surge" mission is working, is another big lie.
Operations usually carried out by U.S. death squads have been
intentionally reduced. U.S. military ground missions and engagements have
been greatly decreased. Fewer road bombs have been exploding because
American forces stick to their bases, and no longer roam the streets.
However, airstrikes against heavily populated civilian targets launched in
2007 are four times that of the ones launched in 2006. The U.S. will
eventually cut and run as it did in Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia. Members
of the Iraqi parliament, though they were handpicked by the Americans,
want U.S. troops out, now.
In Afghanistan, Karazai is not actually a president but a mayor of a
heavily U.S. guarded section of Kabul, the capital. Taliban resistance
fighters are regaining strength and winning. The British foreign
intelligence, MI6, has been working on a deal with Taliban. NATO has
rejected U.S. requests for more troops.
I came here, however, to warn you. A serial killer, a mass murderer and a
war criminal and his gang are all on the loose. Americans ought to wake up
to the truth. They are in great danger.
George W. Bush is talking about a Third World War, a "nuclear holocaust",
which may bring an end to life on earth as we know it. "So I've told
people that, if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like
you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge
necessary to make a nuclear weapon," Bush recently declared.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that regularly inspects
Iran's nuclear facilities emphasizes that Iran has no atom bomb
development program. The uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes. Iran
is not a nuclear threat. Many U.S. experts agree. The US National
Intelligence Estimate (NIE), which coordinates the judgments of the US's
16 intelligence agencies, refused to yield to Cheney's demands to remove
dissenting judgments on the Iranian nuclear program.
According to a Nov 11, 2007 news report, Micah Brose, a privately
contracted interrogator working for American forces in Iraq, near the
Iranian border, told the Observer that US military officials are putting
huge pressure on interrogators who question Iraqi 'insurgents' to find
incriminating evidence pointing to Iran.
According to specialists, Bush is a mad man. He is a psychopath. His brain
is damaged as a result of years of alcohol dependency. As a child, he
stuffed firecrackers in the mouths of frogs on his family farm, and left
them to explode. The man hallucinates. He admitted that he talks to God.
He told the Palestinian Authority "President," Mahmoud Abbas, that God
told him to invade Iraq to spread democracy. He is waiting for the green
light from his god to strike Iran. Of course, Bush's god is big business.
He prays for the oil companies and the war industrial complex. He gives
alms in the form of governmental contracts to his friends, who are robbing
the American tax-payers in the billions of dollars. If he is allowed to
push the button, the consequences will be a global disaster. Humanity and
mother earth are at great risk. (A speech at Northeastern University,
Chicago)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
12. A Special Church Service
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:05:27 +1300
From: karaka <tepaatu@gmail.com>
A Special Church Service
Please distribute widely.
Church Service
4.00pm, this Sunday, 25 November
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Cnr Khyber Pass Rd and Burleigh St
Auckland
E nga mana, e nga reo, tena koutou katoa, tena hoki tatou i nga ahuatanga
o te wa.
All New Zealanders are deeply concerned about child abuse.
We know Maori feature prominently in our child abuse statistics and we
need to address this issue. Here' s a snapshot of the Maori situation:
Maori children are twice as likely to be abused as children from other
groups · New Zealand has the third highest rate of infanticide in
the OECD, with around a third of those deaths being Maori children There
are statistically significant differences in the rate of homicide of Maori
and non-Maori children and the differences have widened over the past 25
years
The child most at risk of fatal violence in New Zealand between 1991 and
2000 was less than one year of age, male, and Maori. He was most likely to
die from battering, sustaining head and other fatal bodily injuries
inflicted by one of his parents.
I would like to invite you to a special church service this Sunday at
4.00pm at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, cnr Khyber Pass Rd and
Burleigh St, Auckland. The purpose of this service is to remember those
children who have died and commence community action to bring down the
numbers of Maori children being abused.
The service will feature readings and reflections from: Broadcasters
Carole Hirschfeld, John Campbell and Julian Wilcox Broadcaster and child
advocate Judy Bailey Comedian Mike King Health worker and songstress
Leonie Matoe Hinewehi Mohi
I have invited professionals and community workers to gather for three
days after the service to develop a strategy to reduce the incidence of
Maori child abuse.
I look forward to seeing as many of you s possible at the Service on
Sunday.
Dr Hone Kaa
Enquiries
Anton Blank
Project Manager
09-525 6026
021-406 031
3/29 Ballarat St
Ellerslie
Auckland
anton.blank@xtra.co.nz <mailto:anton.blank%40xtra.co.nz>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
13. Grassroots International
Date: Tues, Nov 20, 2007
From: Gabrielle Welford <welford@hawaii.edu>
This looks like a very interesting organization, lauded by Howard Zinn,
that describes itself as follows:
Grassroots International works to create a just and sustainable world by
building alliances with progressive movements. We provide grants to our
Global South partners and join them in advocating for social change. Our
primary focus is on land, water and food as human rights and nourishing
the political struggle necessary to achieve these rights.
Grassroots is a human rights and international development organization
that supports community-led sustainable development projects.Since 1983 we
have worked in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the Americas,
concentrating our efforts in areas where U.S. foreign policy has been an
obstacle to positive change and where creative grassroots movements build
local solutions to global problems.
Our partnerships recognize that change is successful only when people in
their own communities organize to confront the root causes of their
problems.
Access their website at http://www.grassrootsonline.org.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Thank You, Ehren Watada
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:06:48 -1000
From: viviane lerner <vivlerner@gmail.com>
http://counterpunch.com/terrall11152007.html
November 15, 2007
"So Serious, a Patriot"
Thank You, Ehren Watada
By BEN TERRALL
On November 9 in San Francisco's Chinatown, supporters of Iraq war
resister Lt. Ehren Watada made a presentation to community press and local
activists that included good news for their cause. On November 8, Judge
Benjamin Settle of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of
Washington issued a grant of a preliminary injunction in favor of Lt.
Watada, the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to
the Iraq War.
As people gathered in Portsmouth Square in Chinatown, Watada Support Group
member Ying Lee told me, "At the time that we called the news conference
we did not know that the judge was going to give his decision yesterday."
Lee went on, "The decision was due by today, so he was early ... we are
very appreciative of a United States Federal judge respecting the
constitution and saying the trial cannot proceed."
Lee described Watada as "a young man who out of a patriotic sense of duty
after 9/11 enlisted. ... And he was such a good officer that when he was
stationed in Korea, his commanding officer told him to prepare to be sent
to Iraq, because that was going to be his next station."
Watada studied the background of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Lee continued,
and "he said this war is based upon lies, it's illegal, it's
unconstitutional, it's a violation of the human rights charter, it's a
violation of the Nuremberg Principles which we've adopted, and my oath of
alliegance is to the country and the constitution, and not to one man. So
he tried to resign three times, they wouldn't accept his resignation, the
President wouldn't accept his resignation. He asked to be sent to
Afghanistan, he's not a conscienscious objector, and they refused that, so
he felt he had no choice because he couldn't tell his men to go into a war
that he thought was so wrong that he then took the step of saying I will
not fight in Iraq. He's the first U.S. army officer to do so. And since
then the military has charged him, through a series of court martials,
with refusing to be sent to Iraq and behavior unbecoming to an officer and
a gentleman. And when the court martial occurred, he was not allowed any
witnesses. ... But the army, as the prosecution, had six or seven
witnesses. Each one of them spoke to what a wonderful young man he was,
responsible, perfect officer, and very promotable. ... The judge decided
the trial was not going the way he had wanted it to, and so, he called a
mistrial. In other words, he aborted the trial, and that was in February
of 2007. Since then, the military has been trying to prosecute him again."
Opening the press conference, Chinatown community activist Reverend Norman
Fong set an appropriately upbeat tone in his remarks about the injunction.
Fong enthused, "we're here to keep hope alive, it's going very good!"
The Reverend's comments were translated into Cantonese by a young woman
who also translated other speakers, including three poets. Local activist
Peter Yamamoto, read a poem describing Watada as
"So serious. A patriot.
Young, Asian, and articulate-- Athletic,
good-looking, with short military-cut hair"
Local Attorney David Chiu followed Yamamoto. Chiu said, "As a former
prosecutor, [I would] remind the current prosecutors of their ethical
obligations. Contrary to what you might see on television crime television
shows, the ethical obligation of a prosecutor is not simply to prosecute,
it's not to put people in jail."
Chiu continued, "The ethical obligation is very simple. A prosecutor is
supposed to do justice. And justice in this case is not about putting this
man in jail. ... Justice in this case is about letting a man who's already
gone through a first trial, who's about to be pushed through a second
trial that's unconstitutional, to let Watada go free."
Several rowdy old men playing cards nearby quieted down as San Francisco
poet laureate and radical gadfly Jack Hirschman came to the microphone.
Flanked by activists holding signs which read "Refuse Illegal War/ Thank
You Lt Ehren Watada," Hirschman read a poem he had written for Watada.
That poem, and another read by the city's former poet laureate Janice
Mirikitani, can be heard at indybay.org.
Rev. Fong closed the presentation by noting that Watada's mother Carolyn
"came to Chinatown a year ago and asked for help and we've been doing it
ever since." Rev. Fong concluded, "today we can celebrate a little bit of
sunlight breaking through the fog of war. And all of you know this war is
crazy, it's illegal. And so a little bit of joy, a little bit of love, and
let's give it up for our captain of hope, Lt. Watada. Thank you everybody,
you're all beautiful , we've got to keep doing this."
As many present noted, the struggle for an honorable discharge for Lt.
Watada is not over. The U.S. Army has announced it intends to file briefs
in U.S. District Court to try to prevent Judge Settle's injunction on
behalf of Watada from becoming permanent.
The U.S. military estimates 10,000 soldiers have deserted since the
beginning of the current Iraq war. But dissidents think the number is far
higher. According to the group Courage to Resist , "In the past few years,
tens of thousands of service members have resisted illegal war and
occupation in a number of different ways-by going AWOL, seeking
conscientious objector status and/or a discharge, asserting the right to
speak out against injustice from within the military, and for a relative
few, publicly refusing to fight."
Ben Terrall is a freelance writer based in San Francisco. He can be
reached at bterrall@igc.org
=====---------------------------------------------------------------------
15. The Living Nation Celebrates La Ku`oko`a
From: Pono K
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:46 PM
The Living Nation Celebrates La Ku`oko`a: Hawaiian Independence Day
The Living Nation will celebrate La Ku`oko`a, Hawaiian Independence Day,
on Wednesday, November 28, 5:30 ^Ö 7:30 pm on the grounds of `Iolani
Palace. Melvin Kalahiki, chair of the Living nation, notes that "we are
privileged to remember and commemorate the life and work of Timoteo
Ha`alilio, a national hero, and to highlight the relationship of this
Hawaiian Ali`i and Ambassador to His Majesty, King Kamehameha III."
The original celebration of Hawaii's independence took place during the
Hawaiian Kingdom in 1843, after England and France recognized Hawaii as a
member of the European family of nations, and as an independent country
equal to England, France, and the United States. The day continued to be
an annual celebration from about 1844 to 1895, and for some years
afterward, unofficially.
La Ku`oko`a marks the day, November 28, 1843, that the Ali`i Timoteo
Ha`alilio, sent as part of an envoy by King Kamehameha III, succeeded in
obtaining the signatures of the authorities of Great Britain and France on
a treaty recognizing Hawai`i as a sovereign nation.
Ha`alilio, with the missionary William Richards along as his secretary,
traveled through Mexico on foot and donkey to Washington D.C., where they
met President John Tyler. Ha`alilio and Richards, armed with his
agreement, then went on to Europe, to Belgium, Paris, and London, where
the treaty was finally signed. They returned to the United States to
cement U.S. agreement. On the journey home Ke Ali`i Timoteo Ha`alilio
died, on December 3, 1844.
The Treaty of Independence was a substantial achievement under
international law, recognized by the government of the Kingdom through the
official celebration of La Ku`oko`a. After the overthrow in 1893, the
so-called Republic of Hawai`i government announced that November 28,
1895-a Thursday-would no longer be celebrated as La Ku`oko`a. Instead,
Thanksgiving would become the official national holiday. The po`e aloha
`aina-the thousands of Kanaka Maoli opposed to the illegal haole
government-were incensed. They ignored the government's orders, and
continued to hold celebrations of La Ku`oko`a. At those gatherings, they
told the story of Ha`alilio's journey and significant achievement. James
Kaulia of the Hui Aloha
`Aina said that "the Kanaka Maoli recalled with gladness the restoration
and perpetuation of the independence of Hawai`i, but their happiness was
mixed with feelings of distress because the right to independence had been
snatched from their shoulders." He said, further, "Ke ku nei ke kanaka
Hawaii me he kuewa la, aohe ona aina: The Hawaiian person stands as a
homeless vagabond, one who has no land." The thieves of 1895-1896 not only
deprived the Kanaka Maoli of a national holiday, they enacted laws that
caused the loss of our language and the related loss of our own history.
That process caused us to be deprived of even the memory of this national
holiday.
In our current process of de-occupying, we reject the occupier's holiday,
and resurrect La Ku'oko'a instead.
As a result of the recognition of Hawaiian independence the Hawaiian
Kingdom entered into treaties with the major nations of the world and
established over ninety legations and consulates in multiple seaports and
cities. Celebrating our own holidays is one way to raise consciousness of
a history that has been erased from the standard American textbooks and
from the local Hawaii school system.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. GM SPELLS MURDER
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:01:37 +0000
From: Jenny James <atlantiscol@hotmail.com>
News taken from Schnews
DIAL GM FOR MURDER
A Brazilian anti-GM campaigner has been murdered at a Syngenta GM crop
trial in Paraná, Brazil. Via Campesina (The International Peasants
Movement)^Òs camp at the experimental farm was shot at by security,
killing Valmir Mota de Oliveira, a Movimento Sem Terra (the Brazilian
Landless Rural Workers Movement ^Ö see SchNEWS 505) activist. That morning
150 Via Campesina members had set up camp at Syngenta^Òs site, and at 1pm
a bus full of gunmen arrived and opened fire. Also killed was a security
guard with two other protesters seriously injured.
This is the second time Via Campesina occupied this site, after Syngenta
had previously illegally trialled GM soybeans and corn last year. At the
time this was a victory, with the state governor signing a decree
proposing to turn the farm into a centre for agricultural research to help
rural peasants. Since then, the decree was overturned due to the pressure
of the Rural Society of the West - a reactionary group of pro-agribusiness
large-scale landowners, and other agribusiness interests ^Ö and Syngenta
is pressing ahead with another trial crop. When the MST organised a march
to the farm last November, they were blockaded by the tractors of the
Royal Society, who fired shots in the air and beat the marchers with
sticks, injuring nine.
Now Syngenta have brought in security firm NF Security (has a nice
neo-Nazi ring to it!). The activist killed had been one of three MST
members who'd received death threats from the president of the Rural
Society ^Ö the other two managed to escape. The owner of NF Security has
admitted that he gave the order to attack, and wasn^Òt claiming the
anti-GM protesters were armed. They have a Blackwater-style relationship
as a private security firm to Syngenta and the local large-landowners. NF
^Ö which last month had illegal arms confiscated by federal police ^Ö is
known to hire individuals with violent criminal records to form armed
militias to carry out rural land evictions, for customers like the Royal
Society.
Syngenta are the world^Òs largest agrochemical company, and third largest
commercial seed producer. They caused the largest ever genetic
contamination in the US in between 2001-2004 when its GM Bt-10 corn was
mixed with grain meant for human consumption.
They previously held GM crop trials in the UK ^Ö mostly herbicide tolerant
or insect resistant crops - but, like Bayer and Monsanto, were forced to
abandon plans for more crops in Britain in 2004. Since the mid nineties
direct action campaigners trashing the trial crops and overwhelming
negative publicity has kept them at bay (but the GM threat is back ^Ö see
SchNEWS 583).
See www.viacampesina.org
======================================================================
17. War at Tara, Ireland
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:07:28 +0000
From: Jenny James <atlantiscol@hotmail.com>
WAR ON TARA
The Hill of Tara road protests where digger-diving is thriving (see
SchNEWS 600).....
Despite an ancient ring fort being recently discovered behind Soldiers
Hill, the National Roads Authority have continued work on the destructive
road through the historical heritage site, building during the night to
avoid the attention of cultural conservation activists - but the tactic
has done them little good against the drive and tenacity of the
protesters.
Construction was held up on the first of November when twenty-one
protesters stormed the SIAC (the firm building the roads) offices,
terrorising the guards with badly played penny whistles! The security
cabin was raided by the protesters who gained up-to-date info on the
proposed route, maps, keys and documents revealing the details of workers
and bosses of SIAC; full names and mobile numbers - please feel free to
give them a call and tell them what you think about the destruction of
hundreds of ancient tress, neolithic mounds, a pre-historic wooden henge
and the other 43 ancient sites along the route*. (see below)
En route back from the office occupation, protesters temporarily stopped
eight diggers from destroying more of the archaeologically significant
landscape.
The following day, two digger diving crews stopped five machines in
Colliers Town and barricades were thrown up in the road's path. Meanwhile
at Soldiers Hill, a number of machines were stopped around the newly
discovered ring fort.
One English activist was arrested for refusing to give his name and
address to the police, which you are obliged to do Ireland, but was
released an hour later.
Activists busy digger-diving then received a tip-off that the Minister of
Transport Noel Dempsey was opening a new headquarters of Public Works at
2.30pm in Trim. Eleven protesters got there at 3pm to discover Noel
Dempsey with Top Members of Fianna Fail (Irish Government) just leaving.
They gave them some grief about the illegal motorway with little response
but they did admit to not caring about their heritage. Noel Dempsey then
scurried like a rat down a back street to retreat but was trapped by
protesters, who asked why the suggested re-route which is 50 million Euros
cheaper and 7km shorter isn't being used. Sadly he refused to comment and
was whisked away with a police escort.
However, the chase wasn't over as determined protesters then followed him
to the Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Resort, where they met with forty
others and besieged the complex. One person scaled the first floor balcony
where the reception was taking place, with everyone shouting "Shame on
you!" as Mr Dempsey retreated further into the hotel. Low police numbers
led to the kitchen staff being used to hold the protesters back and when
Mr Dempsey tried to leave he found the front two tyres of his official
black Mercedes had been let down. The transport minister was left with no
wheels. Maybe he should think about using public transport?
While the EU are now taking legal action against the Irish Government,
whose many environmental breaches have lead to thirty-seven different
allegations of legal infringement by the canny Irish state. But all this
will be of the slap-on-the wrist type of action as opposed to actually
stopping the road - that battle is taking place on the ground, and as ever
all comers are welcome.
See www.tarapixie.net www.savetara.com www.tarawatch.org
*Here's those contact details - drop them a line...
Head Men At SIAC UK
Mark Cleary 08681 90323
Liam Shorthall 0868274419
Wills Headman 0879101759
SIAC Spanish Headquarters
Ciaran Feieghery - Chairman of SIAC
Hank Fugarty - Director of SIAC Operations
Grupo Ferrovial S.A.
Principe de Vergara 135
28002 Madrid Spain
Tel no.+34-91 586- 2500
Fax no. +34-91-586-2677
======================================================================
18. The Last Dead Bull On Wall Street.....................
From: HIAHAWAII@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 3:53 AM
Weekend Edition
CounterPunch November 10 / 11, 2007
For Whom the Closing Bell Tolls
The Last Dead Bull on Wall Street
By MIKE WHITNEY
What a week for the stock market. On Wednesday the market took a 360 point
nosedive followed, two days later, by a 220 point belly-flop. By the time
it was over, the trading pits looked more like a sausage-packing plant
than the world's financial epicenter. After the bell, downcast traders
could be seen tiptoeing through the carnage on their way to the local
liquor store to load up on "Stoly" and boxes of Franzia---anything that
would steady their nerves and put the week behind them.
Everyone could see it coming; the train-wreck. It was mostly carry-over
from the night before when Asian stocks took a thumping on reports of
slower growth in the US and growing troubles in the credit markets. That
put the first domino in motion. Fed chief Bernanke's announcement that the
economy will face "a sharp slowdown from the housing market's contraction"
and an "inflationary surge from sharply higher oil prices and the weaker
dollar", didn't help either. His remarks triggered a blow-off in the
currency markets while equities were frog-marched to the chopping-block.
The Shanghai market took the worst hit dropping nearly 5% before the
trading-day ended. Taiwan and Hong Kong followed suit, sliding 3.9% and
3.2% respectively. Share prices in Japan fell 2%. The next morning, Wall
Street crashed. It was a massacre.
This is a bear market now. The last bull was dragged from the Street on
Friday with a harpoon in its chest.
The subprime contagion has now spread beyond the US and Europe to markets
in the Far East. No one is fooled by Bernanke's sunny predictions that the
economy will bounce back next year with a strong showing in the first
quarter. That's baloney and everyone knows it. The economy has stumbled
down the elevator shaft and is just waiting to hit bottom. Consumer
confidence is flagging, housing is falling, foreign capital is fleeing,
and the greenback is one flush away from the sewage-treatment plant.
Bernanke's soothing bromides are meaningless.
"I don't see any significant change in the broad holdings of dollars
around the world. Dollars remain the dominant reserve asset and I expect
that to continue to be the case," Bernanke said to the Congressional
Economic Committee.
Really? So why is the greenback plummeting if people aren't dumping it,
Ben? What an absurd comment. The dollar has lost 63% against the euro and
dropped to record lows against a basket of world currencies. Foreign
central banks and investors have been ditching it as fast as they can
before it loses more value. The dollar's tumble has been the most dazzling
currency-flameout in modern times and Bernanke is acting like he's still
asleep at the switch. It's madness.
The greenback is getting clobbered by the Fed's "low-interest" snake oil
and the gargantuan current account deficit. If Bernanke clips rates again
to bail out the stock market, the dollar will slip into irreversible
respiratory failure. Food and oil prices will shoot to the moon overnight
and the remains of the greenback will be carted off to the nearest
boneyard.
September's trade deficit was another blow to the waning dollar. The
Census Bureau reported on Friday that the deficit clocked in at $56.5
billion. That's $684 billion per annum! Bush has been crowing about the
"shrinking deficit", but the numbers are nothing to boast about. We're
still borrowing more than we're producing. We're still living beyond our
means. The lower numbers just reflect the decline in home construction
which is import-intensive. The fact is, we're addicted to debt-fueled
consumption and forgotten that, eventually, the trillions that we've
borrowed from foreign creditors, will have to be repaid. If the dollar is
replaced as the world's reserve currency, then we'll have to pay back $9
trillion of outstanding debt. We might as well hang out the "Foreclosed"
sign right now and get fitted for Chinese workers-suits.
This is from Bloomberg News:
"As the dollar tumbles, concern is growing that its weakness
may augur the end of the U.S. currency's 62-year reign as the
world's specie of choice for trade, financial transactions
and central-bank reserves..The dollar owes its position as
the world's premier international currency to its status as a
haven during times of turmoil, the absence of a suitable
rival, weak domestic demand in other countries and plain old
inertia. Geopolitics also play a role."
Nonsense. Who believes this rubbish? The dollar is the so-called
"international currency" because the Federal Reserve and its well-heeled
patrons are the directors of the US-Euro-Japan banking cabal which is at
the center of the global Fiat money scam. There's nothing more to it than
that. Notice the recent "unilateral" clamp-down on Iran by the US-led
banking syndicate. The action was initiated without UN approval for the
simple reason that the UN, the World Bank, the IMF, the WTO and thousands
of NGOs are just more of the Central Banks' prime properties. Don't expect
the father to ask the child for permission to punish one of his errant
children. The banks are the one's who really call the shots and--behind
the curtain of feigned respectability---they are the driving force behind
the endless wars.
The Fed's plan to "devalue" our way to prosperity appears to have hit a
few ill-placed speed-bumps. The stock market is hanging by a thread and
consumer confidence is at its lowest ebb since the start of the Iraq War.
The falling dollar is expected to put a damper on Christmas spending and
knock equities for a loop. That can't be good for economy--especially when
72% of GDP comes from consumer spending.
We're already begun to see the telltale signs that the consumer is loosing
ground and about to slip into a debt-induced coma.
According to data from the University of Michigan:
"Consumer confidence reached its lowest level in more than
two years this month amid concerns over record-high oil
prices, continued trouble in the housing market and higher
inflationAlthough consumer attitudes deteriorated across the
board, the substantial drop in expectations contributed
heavily to the sizeable decline in the overall index."
The average working stiff doesn't put any stock in Bernanke's palavering.
He sees what's going on for himself every time he pulls up to the gas pump
or goes the grocery store. He doesn't need the University of Michigan to
tell him he's getting screwed; he knows it! The economy is sinking,
inflation is skyrocketing, and the country is adrift. Every farthing in
the public till has been shoveled into a black hole in the Middle East.
Does Bernanke really think working people don't know that? Everyone knows
that. Everyone knows the economy is on life-support; just like everyone
knows the country is collapsing from mismanagement. Even the flag-waving,
war-mongering maniacs on the Wall Street Journal's op-ed page are starting
to shutter from the avalanche of bad news. They see what's going on and
they're scared---scared sh**less.
Unfortunately, the sudden shift in consumer sentiment is the hurting
retailers who depend on Christmas to carry them through the year. We've
already seen the sluggishness in housing and auto sales. Now it's showing
up in retail. Abercrombie, American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Chicos, Dillards,
The Gap and Nordstrom are all reporting sagging sales. Walmart, Lowes and
the other big-box stores are lowering their projections as well. It's
going to be a lean Christmas.
The poor US consumer is finally maxed-out and can't tap into his home
equity anymore for presto-credit. He's mortgaged "to the hilt" and he's
already run up 6 or 7 credit cards to their limit. In fact, credit card
debt is a growing concern for the banks, too.
The commercial banks are the victims' of their own success. After years of
seductive promotions and saturation mailings the credit card industry is
at its zenith leaving consumers with a staggering bill of nearly $1
trillion. ($915 billion) More and more customers are finding themselves
unable to make even minimum payments on their balances and defaults are
piling up at a record pace. This is the next phase of the subprime fiasco
and it has the potential to be nearly as disruptive as the housing
meltdown. The problem is complex, too. After all, most credit card debt in
the last 6 years has been "securitized" and passed on to investors in the
secondary market. (pension funds, hedge funds etc.) That means we can
expect more tremors in the stock market as corporate earnings go south
after credit card-backed bonds are downgraded. It's just more of the same
"structured finance" chicanery; debt stacked on debt, until the whole
edifice caves in.
It's looking more and more like Reagan's "shining city on the hill" was
erected on a mountain of toxic debt. It's a wonder it hasn't sunk already.
The country is headed for recession and there's nothing that Bernanke can
do to stop it. The only question is whether we'll be facing a colossal
economy-busting meltdown like 1929 or a milder 5 or 6-year slump. That's
up to the Federal Reserve. If the Fed chief decides to pit himself against
the falling markets by slashing rates and destroying the currency; then we
are likely to be digging-out for years. But if Bernanke steps aside, and
lets the chips fall where they may, then the pace of recovery will be
quicker.
Whatever choice he makes, there's no avoiding the inevitable downturn. The
hammer is poised to strike the anvil. The stock market will fall, the
over-extended banks and hedge funds will collapse, and the country will go
into a protracted, economic tailspin. That much is certain. Economic
fundamentals can only be shrugged off for so long. When markets correct
it's like a tidal-surge that sweeps-away the deadwood of bad bets and
over-levered investments leaving behind a broad-expanse of empty beach.
Recession is a normal part of the business cycle. It can't be avoided. The
economy needs to unwind so debts can get written off and businesses can
retool for the future. The upcoming recession is shaping up to be worse
than its predecessors---a real doozey.
The damage caused by the Fed's excessive credit has been considerable.
It'll take years to mop up the red ink and set the house aright. The
markets are in a shambles, investors have been battered and confidence is
gone.
Structured finance has been an unmitigated disaster. It needs to be
scrapped. We need a new financial system for a new epoch; a system that is
heavily regulated and supervised to discourage the crooks and con-artists;
a system that it maintains its essential link to the real, productive
underlying economy and avoids the galaxy of complex derivatives,
"securitized" liabilities, and opaque debt-instruments that have brought
on the present crisis; a system that responds to the needs of working
people and takes into consideration the looming problems of environmental
degradation, resource scarcity, and climate change; a system that
reinvests in communities, education and health-care rather than fattening
the bottom-line of corporate racketeers and brandy-drooling elites. It's
time to remove the rotten scaffolding and rebuild the whole contraption
brick by brick.
The system is broken. Maybe Greenspan did us all a favor by blowing it up
with his "low interest" dynamite. Good riddance.
________________________________________________________________________________
19. "Megadisasters: Oil Apocalypse" Tuesday night, November 13th, (9:00
p.m.) History Channel
From: Rohter
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:11 AM
What Am I most concerned about these days ??? people ask me.
Peak Oil is one facet of the grave challenges that will soon be impacting
Hawaii. Within 5 years tourism will drop by 1/3 as huge jumps in oil
prices raise the costs of airfare, food, virtually everything. Economies
around the world will decline too.
ira
--------
Oil Apocalypse
A New Documentary from Filmmaker Martin Kent
Press Release
This week, the price of crude oil is trading at a shocking $96 a barrel.
By year^Òs end, analysts predict petroleum will reach $100. And it^Òs not
going to stop there. The world we^Òve created runs on oil. But energy
experts say the world is running out of oil. Much faster than previously
thought. Demand will continue to outpace supplies, shortages are
inevitable, and the price will only continue to rise dramatically --
causing a ripple effect of disastrous economic, social and political
consequences.
On Tuesday night, November 13th, (9:00 p.m. C), the History Channel will
present Megadisasters: Oil Apocalypse, a documentary that Los
Angeles-based filmmaker Martin Kent is calling ^Óa wake up call,^Ô about
the world^Òs energy crisis. ^ÓWe can no longer count on getting all the
gasoline we need ^Ö and there^Òs no plan B.^Ô
By plan B, Kent is referring to a coordinated system of alternative
energies laid out in his film, that could replace our addiction and
dependence on oil, if society mobilizes quickly to make it happen. It^Òs
long been known that oil is a finite, non-renewable resource, that
pollutes the environment, and now mankind is coming to realize that it is
also most likely causing climate change. With China and India rapidly
industrializing, creating an energy-hungry middle class, demand for oil
will increase from the world^Òs current consumption of 84 million barrels
a day, to 100 million barrels within the next 5 years. Unfortunately,
while oil producers and refiners are scrambling to develop new techniques
and sources of production, as yet there are no sure means to meet the
growing demand.
Oil Apocalypse presents a terrifying set of scenarios. True to the laws of
supply and demand, we are fast approaching the breaking point, when the
imbalance could destabilize the economies and infrastructures of virtually
every nation on the planet. The worst-case scenario, say experts in the
film, is a worldwide depression, which could lead to a world war. Still,
they say it^Òs not too late. But we have to act fast. Says Kent: ^ÓMy hope
is that upon seeing this film, everyone will be inspired to become an
energy activist -- instead of sitting back and hoping that the scientists
and leaders will somehow pull everything together and fix this in the
eleventh hour. The time to act is now.^Ô
Energy experts appearing on camera in Oil Apocalypse include authors
Richard Heinberg, Matthew Simmons, David Goodstein, Kenneth Deffeyes,
Michael Economides and Christine Woodside; Oppenheimer energy analyst
Fadel Gheit, PFC Energy chairman J. Robinson West, RAND Corp.^Òs James
Bartis and Congressman Roscoe Bartlett. Megadisasters: Oil Apocalypse is a
Creative Differences, Inc. production.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~------------------------
20. ***VOE*** Hawaii's political-ad rules could be loosened
From: Rohter
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:25 AM
Posted on: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Hawaii's political-ad rules could be loosened
By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Government Writer
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling last summer on political advertising has
caused the state Campaign Spending Commission to evaluate whether it can
regulate ads by corporations, labor unions and interest groups that do not
expressly call for the election or defeat of candidates.
The court, citing the First Amendment right to free speech, ruled that
advertising restrictions in a federal campaign-finance law were
unconstitutional if applied to issue advocacy in the weeks before
elections.
The ruling protects ads, even those that appear blatantly partisan, unless
they are direct appeals to vote for specific candidates or ballot
questions.
The state Campaign Spending Commission is expected to decide at a meeting
today how to apply the court's ruling in Hawai'i.
Barbara Wong, the commission's executive director, has recommended that
the commission dismiss a complaint against several fishermen who took out
full-page newspaper ads last November critical of the Lingle
administration without registering as a political action committee or
following the advertising criteria in the state's campaign-finance law.
LOSS OF DISCLOSURE?
The commission had initially determined in April that the ads should be
regulated as political advertising and called for further investigation.
Wong said if the commission adopts her recommendation, which was made
reluctantly based on the court's ruling, it would mean that interest
groups would be free to spend unlimited amounts of money on these types of
ads without any regulation.
"You're going to have these ads appear in the paper and it's not going to
say who is behind it," Wong said. "You're going to lose that disclosure."
Most ads for political campaigns in Hawai'i are paid for by candidates or
political action committees, and the spending is disclosed in reports to
the Campaign Spending Commission. But there are examples of interest
groups taking out ads or doing advocacy that is issue-oriented but appears
to favor specific candidates.
In 2002, shortly after the ad restrictions in the federal campaign-finance
law took effect, Hawai'i Right to Life went to federal court to get an
exemption from the law so it could run radio and newspaper ads in the
special elections to replace the late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink. The ads
discussed the need to appoint anti-abortion federal judges and identified
John Carroll, a former Republican state senator, as a "pro-life
candidate."
The Supreme Court, since its landmark ruling in Buckley v. Valeo in 1976,
has upheld political contribution limits, reporting requirements and some
advertising restrictions under the belief that money can have a corrupting
influence on election campaigns. But the court has consistently been
reluctant to limit political spending by interest groups - or people who
use their own wealth - because of the First Amendment.
A federal campaign-finance law passed by Congress in 2002 prohibited
corporations, labor unions and some interest groups from advertising that
mentions political candidates 30 days before primaries and 60 days before
general elections. The restriction does not apply to separate corporate or
union political action committees, which are required to disclose
contributions and spending.
GUIDELINES ISSUED
The Supreme Court in 2003, after a legal challenge, upheld the ad
restrictions as they applied to express advocacy that helps specific
candidates or ads that were the functional equivalent.
But in June, in Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life,
the court ruled 5-4 to distinguish issue advocacy from express advocacy on
First Amendment grounds. The ruling provided guidelines for determining
the difference, finding that ads are issue advocacy unless there is no
reasonable interpretation other than the ads are an appeal to vote for or
against specific candidates.
The ruling found that, when deciding which ads should be protected, "the
court should give the benefit of the doubt to speech, not censorship."
Ira Rohter, a political science professor at the University of
Hawai'i-Manoa, said it is obvious that many issue ads are really partisan
appeals for candidates and should be regulated so people know who is
attempting to influence elections. "I don't understand this splitting of
hairs," he said. "I guess, I ask, is there a certain concept called common
sense?"
But state Sen. Sam Slom, R-8th (Kahala, Hawai'i Kai), said restrictions on
issue ads intrude on free speech and do "a disservice to individuals who
can raise legitimate issues."
NOT ALWAYS CLEAR
The Campaign Spending Commission has struggled with the difference between
issue advocacy and express advocacy in the past and, like the Supreme
Court, has sided with free speech over regulation.
In a 1998 advisory opinion, published during the controversy over same-sex
marriage, the commission found that informational ads are protected by the
First Amendment even when the distinction from express advocacy appears
marginal.
"The disturbing consequences of this distinction is that it makes it
possible for electioneering to proceed under the guise of education,
thereby exempting it from the disclosure, disclaimer and contribution
limit restrictions put in place to serve the public's interest," the
commission found. "An organization might publish, 'Candidate X favors
heterosexual marriage,' rather than 'Vote for candidate X, she favors
heterosexual marriage.'
"By publishing the former as an informational ad, the organization could
avoid all requirements of public accountability associated with the
express advocacy of the latter. We are not certain that the public's
interest is served by this distinction, but are required to acknowledge
and accommodate it."
The complaint before the commission today involves full-page ads in The
Advertiser and the Star-Bulletin by "Hawai'i's Concerned Fishermen and
their Ohana" two days before last November's elections. The ads stated
that "the current state administration does not support fishing in
Hawai'i" and claimed the state Department of Land and Natural Resources
mismanages ocean resources and favors Mainland and special interest groups
over local fishermen. The ad urged fishermen to vote to make a difference.
Patricia Tummons, editor of the newsletter Environment Hawai'i, filed a
complaint alleging the fishermen failed to register as a political action
committee, failed to include their address in the Star-Bulletin
advertisement, and failed to file disclosure reports.
WAS RULED POLITICAL AD
The commission initially found in April that the timing of the ad two days
before the election, the statement about the "current administration," and
the call to vote made it a political ad subject to regulation even though
it did not mention Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.
The ad was paid for by several fishermen, including those with ties to the
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and the Pacific
Islands Fisheries Group.
Some of the fishermen had been critical of fishing regulations by the
Department of Land and Natural Resources and the department's leadership
under Peter Young, who was not confirmed for another term as director last
session by the state Senate.
Roy Morioka, the former chairman of WESPAC, said the fishermen decided to
take out the ads after hearing a department official say fishermen did not
vote.
"It was just a bunch of guys sitting around having a few beers, saying,
'Are we going to let that happen?' " Morioka said.
Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Ira Rohter
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~--------------------------
21. Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:08:20 +1300
From: karaka <tepaatu@gmail.com>
Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:01:51 -0800 From: "Arthur J. Miller"
<bayou@blarg.net>
I would point out that the language used sees a difference between force
and violence: "`homegrown terrorism' means the use, planned use, or
threatened use, of force or violence." Since it is worded in the way that
it is there can be force that is not violent or there is no point in using
the word force. Does non-violent direct action use force? Well if you have
a non-violent blockade that is a force of action that seeks to force
something to take place. King used non-violent force to create social and
political change. A strike or boycott does seek to force something to
happen. The WTO protests used the force of massive bodies to try to force
rejection of the WTO. This act does not speak to self-defense. Does that
mean to advocate or use self-defense is to them terrorism? It is hard to
tell what they mean by force, but it is clear, since they use the words
often: "force or violence", that they seek to suppress more than just
violence. This law goes after not just the acts of "force and violence"
but also the ideologies behind the advocation of "force and violence",
which they seek to suppress. Arthur J. Miller
DISTRIBUTE WIDELY ALERT!!! Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2007
Please do everything you can to spread the word about this Act. It has
passed the House already and has been referred to the Senate Committee on
Homeland Security. It is possible that the bill will be referred out of
Committee next Wednesday and brought to the Senate floor.
This Act in large part targets the Left and elevates even non- violent
direct action to a crime punishable under terrorism laws. We have already
seen this with the Green Scare and this reads to me to be extending
terrorism laws to all forms of protest. The language in here talks very
clearly about "coercive" not just violent acts, and it speaks about
ideological motivation and "social change." REALLY SCARY!
At this point it seems to me the best strategy is to call the Senate
Committee members, the switchboard number is 202-224-3121 and ask to be
connected to their offices . These are the members of the committee:
Joseph I. Lieberman Chairman (ID) (CT) Susan M. Collins Ranking Member
(ME) Carl Levin (MI) Ted Stevens (AK) Daniel K. Akaka (HI) George V.
Voinovich (OH) Thomas R. Carper (DE) Norm Coleman (MN) Mark L. Pryor (AR)
Tom Coburn (OK) Mary L. Landrieu (LA) Pete V. Domenici (NM) Barack Obama
(IL) John Warner (VA) Claire McCaskill (MO) John E. Sununu (NH) Jon Tester
(MT)
Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007
AN ACT To prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Violent Radicalization and Homegrown
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. PREVENTION OF VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM.
(a) In General- Title VIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U. S.C.
361 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle:
`Subtitle J--Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism
`SEC. 899A. DEFINITIONS.
`For purposes of this subtitle:
`(1) COMMISSION- The term `Commission' means the National Commission on
the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism
established under section 899C.
`(2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term `violent radicalization' means the
process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the
purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political,
religious, or social change.
`(3) HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism' means the use,
planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or
individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the
United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or
coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United
States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social
objectives.
`(4) IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE- The term `ideologically based violence'
means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a
group or individual to promote the group or individual's political,
religious, or social beliefs.
`SEC. 899B. FINDINGS.
`The Congress finds the following:
`(1) The development and implementation of methods and processes that can
be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and
ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating
domestic terrorism.
`(2) The promotion of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and
ideologically based violence exists in the United States and poses a
threat to homeland security.
`(3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization,
ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in t he
United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of
terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.
`(4) While the United States must continue its vigilant efforts to combat
international terrorism, it must also strengthen efforts to comb at the
threat posed by homegrown terrorists based and operating within the United
States.
`(5) Understanding the motivational factors that lead to violent
radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence is a
vital step toward eradicating these threats in the United States.
`(6) Preventing the potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated
terrorists domestically cannot be easily accomplished solely through
traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and can
benefit from the incorporation of State and local efforts.
`(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and
ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious
beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race,
ethnicity, or religion.
`(8) Any measure taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown
terrorism, and ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism in the
United States should not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights,
or civil liberties of United States citizens or lawful permanent
residents.
`(9) Certain governments, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and
Australia have significant experience with homegrown terrorism and the
United States can benefit from lessons learned by those nations.
`SEC. 899C. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENT
RADICALIZATION AND IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE.
`(a) Establishment- There is established within the legislative branch of
the Government the National Commission on the Prevention of Violent
Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism.
`(b) Purpose- The purposes of the Commission are the following:
`(1) Examine and report upon the facts and causes of violent
radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in
the United States, including United States connections to non- United
States persons and networks, violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism,
and ideologically based violence in prison, individual or `lone wolf'
violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based
violence, and other faces of the phenomena of violent radicalization,
homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence that the Commission
considers important.
`(2) Build upon and bring together the work of other entities and avoid
unnecessary duplication, by reviewing the findings, conclusions, and
recommendations of--
`(A) the Center of Excellence established or designated under section
899D, and other academic work, as appropriate;
`(B) Federal, State, local, or tribal studies of, reviews of, and
experiences with violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and
ideologically based violence; and
`(C) foreign government studies of, reviews of, and experiences with
violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based
violence.
`(c) Composition of Commission- The Commission shall be composed of 1 0
members appointed for the life of the Commission, of whom--
`(1) one member shall be appointed by the President from among officers or
employees of the executive branch and private citizens of the United
States;
`(2) one member shall be appointed by the Secretary;
`(3) one member shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
`(4) one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
`(5) one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;
`(6) one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of
Representatives;
`(7) one member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;
`(8) one member shall be appointed by the ranking minority member of the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;
`(9) one member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and `(10) one
member shall be appointed by the ranking minority member of the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
`(d) Chair and Vice Chair- The Commission shall elect a Chair and a V ice
Chair from among its members.
`(e) Qualifications- Individuals shall be selected for appointment to the
Commission solely on the basis of their professional qualifications,
achievements, public stature, experience, and expertise in relevant
fields, including, but not limited to, behavioral science, constitutional
law, corrections, counterterrorism, cultural anthropology, education,
information technology, intelligence, juvenile justice, local law
enforcement, organized crime, Islam and other world religions, sociology,
or terrorism.
`(f) Deadline for Appointment- All members of the Commission shall be
appointed no later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this
subtitle.
`(g) Quorum and Meetings- The Commission shall meet and begin the
operations of the Commission not later than 30 days after the date on
which al l members have been appointed or, if such meeting cannot be
mutually agreed upon, on a date designated by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives. Each subsequent meeting shall occur upon the call of the
Chair or a majority of its members. A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
meetings.
`(h) Authority of Individuals to Act for Commission- Any member of the
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action that the
Commission is authorized to take under this Act.
`(i) Powers of Commission- The powers of the Commission shall be as
follows:
`(1) IN GENERAL- `(A) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE- The Commission or, on the
authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for
the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings and sit and act at
such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and
administer such oaths as the Commission considers advisable to carry out
its duties .
`(B) CONTRACTING- The Commission may, to such extent and in such amounts
as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the
Commission to discharge its duties under this section.
`(2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Commission may request directly from any executive
department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent
establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, information,
suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this section.
The head of each such department, bureau, agency, board, commission,
office, in dependent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the
extent practicable and authorized by law, furnish such information,
suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon
request made by the Chair of the Commission, by the chair of any
subcommittee created by a majority of the Commission, or by any member
designated by a majority of the Commission.
`(B) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DISSEMINATION- The Committee and its
staff shall receive, handle, store, and disseminate information in a
manner consistent with the operative statutes, regulations, and Executive
orders that govern the handling, storage, and dissemination of such
information at the department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office ,
independent establishment, or instrumentality that responds to the
request.
`(j) Assistance From Federal Agencies-
`(1) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION- The Administrator of General
Services shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis
administrative support and other services for the performance of the
Commission'sfunctions.
`(2) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES- In addition to the assistance
required under paragraph (1), departments and agencies of the United
States may provide to the Commission such services, funds, facilities, and
staff as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law.
`(k) Postal Services- The Commission may use the United States mails in
the same manner and under the same conditions as departments and agencies
of the United States.
`(l) Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act- The Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.
`(m) Public Meetings-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall hold public hearings and meetings to
the extent appropriate.
`(2) PROTECTION OF INFORMATION- Any public hearings of the Commission
shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of
information provided to or developed for or by the Commission as required
by any applicable statute, regulation, or Executive order including
subsection (i)(2)(B).
`(n) Staff of Commission-
`(1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION- The Chair of the Commission, in
consultation with the Vice Chair and in accordance with rules adopted by
the Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director
and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to
carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of
chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule
pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may
exceed the maximum r ate of pay for GS-15 under the General Schedule.
`(2) STAFF EXPERTISE- Individuals shall be selected for appointment as
staff of the Commission on the basis of their expertise in one or m ore of
the fields referred to in subsection (e). `(3) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES- `(A) IN GENERAL- The executive director and any employees of
the Commission shall be employees under section 2105 of title 5, United
States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90
of that title.
`(B) MEMBERS OF COMMISSION- Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to
apply to members of the Commission.
`(4) DETAILEES- Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the
Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and during such
detail shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her
regular employment without interruption.
`(5) CONSULTANT SERVICES- The Commission may procure the services of
experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United
States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person
occupying a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section
5315 of title 5, United States Code.
`(6) EMPHASIS ON SECURITY CLEARANCES- The Commission shall make it a
priority to hire as employees and retain as contractors and detailees
individuals otherwise authorized by this section who have active security
clearances.
`(o) Commission Personnel Matters-
`(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS- Each member of the Commission who is not an
employee of the government shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed
the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a
position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title
5, United States Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in
the actual performance of the duties of the Commission.
`(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES- While away from their homes or regular places of
business in the performance of services for the Commission, members of the
Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from
their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services
for the Commission.
`(3) TRAVEL ON ARMED FORCES CONVEYANCES- Members and personnel of the
Commission may travel on aircraft, vehicles, or other conveyances of the
Armed Forces of the United States when such travel is necessary in the
performance of a duty of the Commission, unless the cost of commercial
transportation is less expensive.
`(4) TREATMENT OF SERVICE FOR PURPOSES OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS- A member of
the Commission who is an annuitant otherwise covered by section 8344 or
8468 of title 5, United States Code, by reason of membership on the
Commission shall not be subject to the provisions of such section with
respect to membership on the Commission.
`(5) VACANCIES- A vacancy on the Commission shall not affect its powers
and shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was
made. The appointment of the replacement member shall be made not later
than 60 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
`(p) Security Clearances- The heads of appropriate departments and
agencies of the executive branch shall cooperate with the Commission to
expeditiously provide Commission members and staff with appropriate
security clearances to the extent possible under applicable procedures and
requirements . `(q) Reports-
`(1) FINAL REPORT- Not later than 18 months after the date on which the
Commission first meets, the Commission shall submit to the President and
Congress a final report of its findings and conclusions, legislative
recommendations for immediate and long-term countermeasures to violent
radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence, and
measures that can be taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown
terrorism, and ideologically based violence from developing and spreading
within the United States, and any final recommendations for any additional
grant programs to support these purposes. The report may also be
accompanied by a classified annex.
`(2) INTERIM REPORTS- The Commission shall submit to the President and
Congress--
`(A) by not later than 6 months after the date on which the Commission
first meets, a first interim report on--
`(i) its findings and conclusions and legislative recommendations for the
purposes described in paragraph (1); and
`(ii) its recommendations on the feasibility of a g rant program
established and administered by the Secretary for the purpose of
preventing, disrupting, and mitigating the effects of violent
radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and,
if such a program is feasible, recommendations on how grant funds should
be used and administered; and
`(B) by not later than 6 months after the date on which the Commission
submits the interim report under subparagraph (A), a second interim report
on such matters.
`(3) INDIVIDUAL OR DISSENTING VIEWS- Each member of the Commission may
include in each report under this subsection the individual additional or
dissenting views of the member.
`(4) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY- The Commission shall release a public version of
each report required under this subsection.
`(r) Availability of Funding- Amounts made available to the Commission to
carry out this section shall remain available until the earlier of the
expenditure of the amounts or the termination of the Commission.
`(s) Termination of Commission- The Commission shall terminate 30 day s
after the date on which the Commission submits its final report.
`SEC. 899D. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENT RADICALIZATION
AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES.
`(a) Establishment- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish or
designate a university-based Center of Excellence for the Study of Violent
Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States (hereinafter
referred to as `Center') following the merit-review processes and
procedures and other limitations that have been previously established for
selecting and supporting University Programs Centers of Excellence. The
Center shall assist Federal, State, local and tribal homeland security
officials through training, education, and research in preventing violent
radicalization and homegrown terrorism in the United States. In carrying
out this section, the Secretary may choose to either create a new Center
designed exclusively for the purpose stated herein or identify and expand
an existing Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence so that a
working group is exclusively designated within the existing Center of
Excellence to achieve the purpose set forth in subsection (b).
`(b) Purpose- It shall be the purpose of the Center to study the social,
criminal, political, psychological, and economic roots of violent
radicalization and homegrown terrorism in the United States and methods
that can be utilized by Federal, State, local, and tribal homeland
security officials to mitigate violent radicalization and homegrown
terrorism.
`(c) Activities- In carrying out this section, the Center shall--
`(1) contribute to the establishment of training, written materials,
information, analytical assistance and professional resources to aid in
combating violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism;
`(2) utilize theories, methods and data from the social and behavioral
sciences to better understand the origins, dynamics, and social and
psychological aspects of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism;
`(3) conduct research on the motivational factors that lead to violent
radicalization and homegrown terrorism; and
`(4) coordinate with other academic institutions studying the effects of
violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism where appropriate.
`SEC. 899E. PREVENTING VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM
THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.
`(a) International Effort- The Secretary shall, in cooperation with the
Department of State, the Attorney General, and other Federal Government
entities, as appropriate, conduct a survey of methodologies implemented by
foreign nations to prevent violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism
in their respective nations.
`(b) Implementation- To the extent that methodologies are permissible
under the Constitution, the Secretary shall use the results of the survey
as an aid in developing, in consultation with the Attorney General, a
national policy in the United States on addressing radicalization and
homegrown terrorism.
`(c) Reports to Congress- The Secretary shall submit a report to Congress
that provides--
`(1) a brief description of the foreign partners participating in the
survey; and
`(2) a description of lessons learned from the results of the survey and
recommendations implemented through this international outreach.
`SEC. 899F. PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES WHILE PREVENTING
IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM.
`(a) In General- The Department of Homeland Security's efforts to pre vent
ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism as described here in
shall not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, or civil
liberties of United States citizens or lawful permanent residents.
`(b) Commitment to Racial Neutrality- The Secretary shall ensure that the
activities and operations of the entities created by this subtitle are in
compliance with the Department of Homeland Security's commitment to racial
neutrality.
`(c) Auditing Mechanism- The Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Officer of
the Department of Homeland Security shall develop and implement an
auditing mechanism to ensure that compliance with this subtitle does not
violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, or civil liberties of any
racial, ethnic, or religious group, and shall include the results of
audits under such mechanism in its annual report to Congress required
under section 705 .'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act
is amended by inserting at the end of the items relating to title VIII the
following:
`Subtitle J--Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism
`Sec. 899A. Definitions.
`Sec. 899B. Findings.
`Sec. 899C. National Commission on the Prevention of Violent
Radicalization and Ideologically Based Violence.
`Sec. 899D. Center of Excellence for the Study of Violent Radicalization
and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States.
`Sec. 899E. Preventing violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism
through international cooperative efforts.
`Sec. 899F. Protecting civil rights and civil liberties while preventing
ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism.'.
Passed the House of Representatives October 23, 2007. Attest: Clerk.
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1955
AN ACT
To prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes.
END
--------------------------------------------------------------------
22. The Peace Center -join us @ Makua Flats.doc
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:45:43 -1000
From: MarshaRose <mrjoy@hawaii.rr.com>
Join Us!
At
The Justice and Reconciliation Center
19 N. Pauahi Street
Honolulu's Chinatown 96817
The Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center
Invites you to join in the community clean up at
Makua Flats
Friday November 23, 2007
9:00 am
There is no better way to work off the extra pounds and inches you
acquired on Thanksgiving day than to join in the clean up of Makua Flats-
Farrington Hwy - Waianae.
For more information call Dr. Ha'aheo Guanson 330-3771
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
23. Deepak Chopra in Hawaii January 2008 - Sponsorship Opportunity
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:45:43 -1000
From: Global Media Productions <info@globalmediaproductions.com>
This is an invitation to be a sponsoring partner in presenting an exciting
event January 28, 2008 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu . . .
AN EVENING WITH DEEPAK CHOPRA
International Best Selling Author
On Body/Mind Medicine
SPONSORED BY....
It will be in the main ballroom that seats over 2000 people. This event
will certainly be a HUGE draw as it has been over 15 years since Deepak
has appeared in Oahu.
This is a unique opportunity to have maximum exposure, showcase your
business to your target market, and be associated with the most credible
and biggest name in the field.
Sponsorships are available...........if you have a lot of money
Aloha,
Fred Spanjaard
Executive Producer
Global Media Productions
Tel./Fax (808) 875-8820
fred@globalmediaproductions. com
www.globalmediaproductions. com
840 Kupulau · Wailea, HI 96753 · Office 808-875-8820 · Cell
808-283-5365
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
24. Maori MP Hone Harawira on NZ's "Terrorism" Bill
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:41:01 -1000
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>
"I Will Not Sit Quietly By While State Forces Terrorise My People."
Hone Harawira
Mr Speaker, over the past couple of days, comments I made about this
Terrorism Suppression Bill seem to have generated some heated debate from
politicians, both inside and outside of this House.
So I thought I'd recap on my comments, so the House was absolutely crystal
clear about what I actually said, and here it is .
"I will not sit quietly by, while State forces terrorise my people. If
this requires of me that I speak out against the rule of law that would
impose terror on Mâori communities in this country, then I will speak out.
I will speak out against it in this chamber, on television, in newspapers,
and anywhere else I possibly can."
And I stand by those comments today, in spite of all the personal abuse I
have had from someone who called for and signed up to a Code of Conduct
which states that: "we will debate the issues raised and refrain from
personal attacks" and then twice in as many weeks, issued press releases
abusing me as a person and insulting my position as an MP.
I stand by those comments, because they reflect the feelings within many
Maori communities, all round the country.
I stand by those comments because they reflect the feelings of New
Zealanders who are proud to stand up for their rights, and who respect the
right of all New Zealanders to do so as well.
I stand by those comments because neither I, nor the Maori Party, will
allow our views to be silenced by those who think the only good Maori is a
dead one.
And I stand by those comments, because, unless somebody has changed the
rules in the last couple of days, and I know that some of the petty little
players in this House have been desperately climbing onto the "let's do
whatever we can to shut this Harawira up and get some media for ourselves"
bandwagon, I have the right as an elected member of this House of
Representatives, as do the rest of my colleagues in the Maori Party, to
speak freely on any issue that affects this country and it's citizens.
So let's look at what this whole Terrorism thing means. What exactly is
terrorism and who are we talking about when we call people terrorists?
People in this House say that the Taleban are terrorists. And my question
is, is that the Taleban that was funded by the Americans to throw the
Russians out of Afghanistan, or, as if there's 2 different groups, is that
the Taleban who turned around and said "and now you Yankee warmongers can
get out of here as well!"
And Saddam Hussein. Is that the Saddam Hussein who was bankrolled by the
Americans in the war against Iran, or is that the Saddam Hussein who told
the Americans to get out of his country?
Or is it the terrorism of the United States 7th Cavalry, operating under a
clear mandate from their masters in Washington in the 1870s, to crush
everything that stood in the way of the land-hungry, gold-crazy settlers,
and to round up, and hunt down and kill where necessary, any natives who
stood in their way?
And when we talk about the fight against terrorism, I recall attending a
conference in Canada - the United Nations Expert Seminar on Treaties,
Agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and
Indigenous Peoples - held in Hobbema, Canada last year, where I was
given this picture of Geronimo and his warriors carrying guns, and the
caption below which read:
HOMELAND SECURITY . FIGHTING TERRORISM SINCE 1492
And I ask, is that the kind of fight against terrorism that we're talking
about here?
Or is it the terrorism of the apartheid regime of South Africa, and I like
many others in this House, will never forget the image of a young man
running through the streets of Sharpeville carrying a young girl, killed
by government-sponsored agents of terror; an image which helped shape an
understanding in the minds of thousands of New Zealanders, that our
passion for rugby should never again be sullied by links to
state-sponsored terror and state-sponsored murder.
Or is it the terrorism of those who lied to the whole world about Weapons
of Mass Destruction which were never found, and the link between Al Qaeda
and Saddam Hussein which was never proved, so they could invade Iraq to
get control of the oilfields?
Mr Speaker, when a member of this House characterises terrorism as the
importation of deadly diseases, the murder of innocent civilians, and the
wholesale theft of a people's lands and territories, is he referring to
the terrorism of the colonial invasion of Aotearoa, because you'd have to
be deaf, dumb and blind not to see those very terrorist activities in our
own history?
Mr Speaker, when we think of this Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill,
all I ask is that we put aside the blinkers of the red, white and blue and
be honest about the reality of terrorism, in all its forms.
The Maori Party is no apologist for the regimes of either the Taleban or
Saddam Hussein Mr Speaker, but neither are we so blind as to vote for a
Bill clearly designed to punish those who would challenge injustice in
Aotearoa.
Mr Speaker, Nicky Hagar, author of The Hollow Men, says that since the
passing of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002, people taking part in
ordinary protests have found they are being subjected to much heavier
policing.
He reckons that police are now routinely removing computers, charging
people well out of proportion to the original activity, and using far more
draconian measures against people exercising their legitimate right to
protest.
He even pointed out how protestors had been charged with wilful damage for
writing in chalk on a footpath, outside Marian Hobbs' office for heaven's
sake !!!
This country is faced by the terror of silence; those who would silence
the voice of radical protest, of vocal dissent and of genuine opposition;
those who would tell us "wait, just wait, the police know what they're
doing."
And then there's those of us who would sit silently by, muttering about
how those so-and-so's deserved it, but secretly terrified that our
children might be the next ones to get picked up, and I am reminded of
those famous words from Pastor Martin Niemoller who said of the Nazi
purges of the Second World War:
First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out, because I was
not a Communist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not
speak out, because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the
Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. And then they came
for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak out for me.
So no, we will not be terrorised into silence on this, or any other issue
that so hugely impacts upon our people.
And for all those who think that the Maori Party stands alone, listen to
these testimonies:
Archdeacon Hone Kaa and the Anglican Church itself, have criticised the
authorities for their actions, and said that "there is no excuse for
women, children and the elderly being subjected to terror".
Reverend John Thrupp of the Presbyterian Church spoke of the overwhelming
hurt and sense of anger amongst the people of Ruatoki, the innocent people
being held at gun point, the children being frightened out of their wits
by police with guns, and the kids being stranded by police arresting their
parents.
Te Teira Davies, a highly respected Ringatu Minister who was arrested,
taken from the college where he works, and questioned, for daring to know
Tame Iti.
Maaaate, you can call the Maori Party whatever you like, but when the
church starts criticising police action, you knoooooow that something's
wrong.
So when members of this House criticise the Maori Party and the Green
Party for standing against state terrorism, I gotta ask all of you .
Do you really think it's acceptable behaviour for the state to use armed
and masked gunmen to blockade communities, smash into people's homes, hold
innocent people at gun point, frighten children with guns, arrest and hold
people without bail, and suppress all information on those cases?
Mr Speaker, any freedom-loving New Zealander, Maori, Pakeha, Pasifika,
Asian, whatever, would be horrified by the call for us to simply sit back
and say nothing about the overkill of the recent police terror-raids, and
the denial of basic human rights to our fellow citizens.
We are not dumb; we are not blind; we are not deaf; and we will not be
silenced.
Mr Speaker, they say that in dictatorships, denying legal rights to
terrorism suspects is normal, but in countries like Aotearoa with a
history of political tolerance and non-violent protest, - it is a
development we must rage against with all our might.
On the 29 March 2007 I said in this House that the Maori Party will oppose
the use of terror to impose one-eyed nationalistic misconceptions of
religion and governance on any people, whether committed in the name of
Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda or in the name of George Bush and the United
States of America.
Today I repeat that statement. The Mâori Party will oppose terrorism in
all its forms, be it international terrorism or state terrorism, and we
will stand alongside our people whenever our lands, our communities, and
our people are threatened.
8 November 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------
25. TAHITI GROUP SEEKS TO UNITE PACIFIC CHIEFDOMS - comment
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:39:31 -1000
From: Lorenz R Gonschor <gonschor@hawaii.edu>
Aloha e ke kumu,
eia no ko'u mana'o e pili ana no Ku Ching laua 'o Kalfi Moala.
Me ke aloha oiai'o
Taaroa
----
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:23:23 -1000
From: Lorenz R Gonschor <gonschor@hawaii.edu>
Aloha and Malo e lelei, Ku and Kalafi.
I am disappointed at the devaluating statements you both made about at a
group of Polynesian leaders and activists who recently met at Taputapuatea
marae on the island of Raiatea. Being a good friend of the event's
organizer Teriihinoiatua Joinville Pomare, I attended the meeting,
together with Toni Auld Yardley who came as a representative of the
Kamehamehanui line of Maui. Having seen the meeting first hand and
maintaining close contacts with the organizers, my impression and my
judgements on the people involved are very different from those expressed
in the quoted press article. The term "self-proclaimed descendants of
royal families" is an insult coined by the apparently unsympathetic
journalist(s) who wrote the article, and would never have been used by any
of the participants themselves. For most of the participants the term
should be considered slanderous and totally disrespectful.
None of the participants proclaimed themselves anything. The two ariki nui
representing Aotearoa were King Tuheitia of the Tainui confederation, and
Tumu Te Heuheu of Ngati Tuwharetoa, both officially acknowledged leaders
of their respective iwi, and highly respected throughout New Zealand (ten
thousands of people showed up for the funeral of Tuheitia's mother Queen
Teatairangikahu last year, and thousands for his coronation earlier this
year). In addition, Tumu Te Heuheu is also the current chairman of the
UNESCO World Heritage committee. That is very far away from anything
self-proclaimed! Representing the Cook Islands were Ada Rongomatane Ariki
(president of the House of Ariki) and High Chiefess Pa Ariki, both of them
officially acknowledged traditional leaders, as well as the prime minister
Jim Marurai himself. Nothing self-proclaimed here either. Then there were
two Kanak high chiefs from New Caledonia, one of them a member of the
Customary Senate, both acknowledged and politically recognized traditional
leaders as well. The same is true for the representatives of Wallis and
Futuna, princess Malia Kulimoetoke of 'Uvea (Wallis) island, granddaughter
of the recently deceased King of 'Uvea and possible successor to the
throne, and a talking chief from the chiefdom of Sigave on Futuna. Also on
the list of participants was the Head of State of Samoa, Tuiatua Tupua
Tamasese Efi, who unfortunately cancelled his participation two days
before the event due to the political instability in Tahiti at that time.
When I met him two weeks ago here in Honolulu at a lecture at the UH law
school, he expressed his apologies for not coming, and his continuing
interest in the follow-up.
As for the representatives from Tahiti and the outer islands of French
Polynesia, it is true that they are neither universally acknowledged nor
politically recognized, but they never claimed that they were. They are,
however, descendants of ari'i families, with genealogies to prove it, and
there is nothing self-proclaimed in stating that fact. Joinville is indeed
the great-great grandnephew of the last king of Tahiti Pomare V. That is
what he stated himself to be, the descendant of the Pomare family, but he
never proclaimed himself King of Tahiti or anything like that.
So much for the alleged "self-proclamation" of the leaders who attended
the meeting. You furthermore deplored an alleged lack of activism of the
participating ali'i descendants. Again, nothing could be further away from
the truth. Besides their genealogy, most if not all of the participants
have a record of community service, political activism or both. For
instance, Maori King Tuheitia is an educator and has played a key role in
the Kohanga Reo Maori language immersion school program, and with him
travelled a class of one such school from his home iwi area. Nothing more
needs to be said about Tumu Te Heuheu who has been involved in cultural
preservation and now heads the UNESCO world heritage committee. Several of
the representatives who came from Rapa Nui, besides being decendants of
the ariki families, are also key activists in both the cultural
renaissance and the political independence movement of their home island.
And most if not all of the Tahitian representatives h ave a record of
community activism in fields such as political rights, land rights, arts
and culture ec. Joinville himself has been known for both land occupations
and political activism (anti-nuclear and pro-independence) since the
1980s. One of the main issues of his association of Tahitian chiefly
families is land titles. They are pressuring France to honour its treaty
obligations (France promised to leave the Tahitian land tenure system
intact, but it imposed French civil law instead) and restore confiscated
lands to their true owners.
Besides networking between the chiefly families, the meeting had a strong
cultural agenda, which was outlined in the declaration signed by the
participants. The main points in that declarations were: - commitment to
cultural and spiritual values, and passing them down to future
generations. - determination to develop, and participate in, the
renaissance of those values. - determination to unify the peoples of
Polynesia in order to strengthen their common identity and its widespread
recognition. - request the Marae Taputapuatea to be inscribed on the
UNESCO world heritage list. In order to achieve these goals, future
meetings and the formation of a permanent working group were agreed upon.
The declaration makes it obvious that the participants clearly did not
simply celebrate themselves but affirm their commitment to the
preservation and development of the cultural heritage of Polynesia.
Perhaps the most important aspect in all of that is the preservation and
guardianship of sacred sites throughout Polynesia, with Taputapuatea at
its centre. Again, someone who takes up the responsability of guardianship
of a sacred site he or she is connected to through genealogy cannot be
"self-proclaimed".
It is true that there has been some controversy around the role and
position of ari'i in the occupied/colonized island countries of Eastern
Polynesia, as opposed to the sovereign island countries of Western
Polynesia, where traditional leadership remains intact. When I asked Roti
Make, one of the organizers of the Taputapuatea meeting, about that
controversy, she gave me the following explanation:
"Western Polynesia was colonized by the British and is now independent.
Their traditional systems were never taken apart by the British, and now
they are independent and still respect their traditional leaders. But we
in Eastern Polynesia have been colonized by three republics (US, France
and Chile), who messed up and eventually destroyed our traditional system,
and then indoctrinated into our heads that foreign idea of republicanism,
so that so many of us now have a reflex of criticism towards everything
chiefly or royal".
I am sure the meeting at Taputapuatea and its follow-up is not the one and
only key event for cultural development in the Pacific, but it surely made
an important contribution, and should be appreciated for that instead of
being slandered or ridiculed.
Me ke aloha oiai'o
Lorenz
---------------------------------------------------------------------
26. Paul Buchanan: A Comment on Terroris Conspiracy
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:01:32 +1300 (NZDT)
From: Marakita Mehmet <maraki_tanga@yahoo.co.nz>
Monday, 5 November 2007, 10:41 am
Opinion: Paul G. Buchanan
A Comment On Terrorist Conspiracy
By Paul G. Buchanan
11-5-07
The subject of terrorism in New Zealand has taken on the character of
political theater, as a form of tragic comedy where important questions of
rights and rules serve as the backdrop to what will be a long journey
through the courts for those arrested and accused of planning the first
domestic act of terrorism in this country (the bombing of the Rainbow
Warrior being an instance of state sabotage undertaken by the French). To
clarify the debate given continued evidence suppression and putting legal
wrangles aside, the question as to whether at least twelve of the Urewera
17 were involved in a terrorist conspiracy reduces to four fundamental
principles: capabilities, preparation, planning and targets in the
construction of a terrorist plot. Beyond that, it is a matter of ideology
and law.
Capabilities refer to the right weapons and the required amount of
training to successfully undertake such an operation. Conventional armies
usually take three months to train recruits in the rudimentals of
organized combat. New Zealand reserve forces, in the form of
^Óterritorials,^Ô train regularly to maintain basic competence (i.e.
shooting straight, staging ambushes, engaging in land navigation etc.).
Osama bin-Laden^Òs ^Óterrorist training camps^Ô in Afghanistan lasted four
to six months, as did the development of guerrilla cadres in revolutionary
Cuba. Urban guerrilla warfare such as that conducted by the Provisional
IRA against British occupation of Northern Ireland requires precision
training in small group and individual tactics with an emphasis on secrecy
given the dense strategic environment in which cadres operate. That takes
time and effort. There is more to developing a competent armed capability
than weekend exercises, and the problematique of such operations usually
requires full time dedication to it.
With regards to those currently detained under suspicion of plotting a
terrorist act, the question is simple. Would a few weekend excursions
practicing live fire para-military drills in the bush make for a competent
terrorist cadre? If some of the accused had military training in
explosives and firearms, then it is feasible that the potential was there.
For the majority of those arrested who have no military training, it would
seem a stretch to believe that they could carry out a terrorist act
(unless they were to be suicide bombers, in which case courage and
conviction rather than training is the requirement). Among the group are a
librarian, a filmmaker, a young renaissance woman, a 19-year-old student
and a well-known Maori activist. There are twins in the group, and their
older sister. There is someone with criminal connections and an uncertain
state of mind. None of them appear suicidal and most of the non-Tuhoe are
known to be pacifists as well as left-wing activists. The weapons
allegedly to be used (most were found in the vicinity of Ruatoki) are not
formidable. So-called ^Óspud guns^Ô can be misconstrued as grenade
launchers. Semi-automatic rifles and shotguns are common hunting weapons.
Home made napalm in the form of jellified petrol or kerosene-paraffin/
detergent mixes are commonly made and used in rural communities for a
variety of innocent purposes. So is fertilizer and chlorine in industrial
quantities. Even if they have the potential to be used for untoward ends,
making improvised explosives or incendiary devices in and of itself does
not demonstrate terrorist intent or capability.
Nor is the possession of military equipment. Purchasing military regalia
and camouflage survival gear is common to hunters, reenactment societies,
collectors and fetishists. Buying military weapons (such as AK-47s) on the
black market or stealing them from armories is a firearms violation, with
the number of weapons purchased and degree of criminal intent determining
the severity of the punishment. Although the procurement of military
weaponry is certainly cause for alarm and should be taken seriously,
possession or use of these weapons may or may not be connected with a
terrorist conspiracy. Buying weapons on the Internet for the purposes of
committing acts of political violence could well be handled under the
Mental Health Act.
The second baseline for ascertaining potential for a terrorist attack is
degree of preparation. Lengthy preparations usually need to be made if
terrorist operations are to be successful. These would include determining
points of entry and exit to the kill zone, surveillance of targets in
order to garner intelligence on routines, movements and security,
stockpiling of weapons and materials, completing combat training,
establishing escape routes, monitoring police communications, engaging in
detection and avoidance counter-measures, etc.
Assuming they had the capabilities to undertake a terrorist act, at what
stage of preparation was the Urewera 17? How far along were they in their
training and build-up to the event? How much operational and
communications security was being practiced? Were the cadres moving
between safe houses, dispersing their weapons caches, and engaging in
counter-detection maneuvers? Were all 17 involved in the plot, or was
there a core element that surrounded itself with hangers-on and
dilettantes? From what has been revealed so far, apparently 12 individuals
are being considered for charges under the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act,
which makes it a rather large conspiracy if in fact the charges prove
true. That would require a considerable degree of preparation, secrecy and
coordination.
If the basic elements of a terrorist conspiracy existed, attention should
turn to the planning of an attack. At what stage of planning were the
alleged plotters? For example, were they loading a panel truck or van with
a load of petrol jelly and chlorine wired for remote detonation in the
Viaduct? That would be a clear indication of terrorist intent. Give that
the police acted quickly on October 15 in response to some precipitant,
one can assume that planning had entered its penultimate, if not final
stages. After all, that is where proof of intent can be most clearly
ascertained.
Distribution of sniper rifles and Molotov^Òs amongst cadres for an assault
on a foreign or domestic political figure might constitute proof of
conspiracy to murder, but does necessarily constitute proof of terrorism.
Political assassinations^×regicide or tyranicide in the case of heads of
state^×are not necessarily terrorism. For terrorism to be at play, the
intent of the perpetrators would be to sow irrational fear and dread
amongst the adult majority in order to make them psychologically malleable
to the political will of those who organised the attack. Would the killing
of a single political figure induce chaos, or at least pervasive fear
amongst the New Zealand population? That may be a source of morbid jokes
in Kiwi political society, but is an important nuance that the police have
chosen to overlook.
Which brings up the issue of targets. Spreading widespread irrational fear
and panic is the goal of the terrorist enterprise. Although it is a
heinous crime, killing a political dignitary does not constitute a
terrorist act. For that to happen the attack would have to involve
innocent civilians in everyday places. Planning to bomb Britomart at rush
hour, or to explode incendiary devices in a Wellington traffic tunnel, or
to launch a machine gun and firebomb attack on a political rally in which
a politician is addressing the crowd, or the scenario of an attack on the
Viaduct entertainment district on a Friday night would all constitute
terrorism. Planning for any of these types of operations would clearly be
proof of terrorist intent. Police interrogations of the suspects will say
much about this, and from the police perspective, confessions of such
intent would be priceless.
There is a larger context to the issue of terrorism in Aotearoa. Terrorism
has a subject, object and a target. The target is the immediate objective,
acting as a precipitant to mass action based upon long simmering
socio-economic and cultural grievances. The subject is the general
population, who need to be ideologically uprooted and disoriented so that
counter-hegemonic ideological campaigns can be successfully launched. The
object is to achieve political control, or at least to destabilize the
political status quo.
In order for things to work according to the terrorist plan, there must be
a clearly defined ideological project. Ideological viability is the
ultimate determinant of whether terrorism, or armed struggle approaches in
general, have a potential for success. That ideological or
counter-hegemonic alternative has to secretly resonate at the economic,
social and political levels within the hearts of the polity in question.
That is a product of history.
Given its modern history, armed struggle in New Zealand is futile because
the ideological terrain is not conducive to success. There are not enough
societal contradictions to produce compound fractures of the economic base
and socio-political superstructure that result in an organic crisis of the
New Zealand state. Even Leninists and Trotskyites ^Öa label that has been
applied to some of the accused--understand that fundamental contradictions
have to be present before the revolutionary vanguard can use armed
struggle techniques to advance their cause.
In contemporary New Zealand drawing attention to political claims via
armed means will result in a uniformly negative reaction by the majority.
Rather than garner supporters and engender more acts of violent collective
action, it will alienate potential followers and steel the resolve of the
political elite. This is true regardless of the claim, be it indigenous
separatist or class-based in nature (pre-modern or modern, as it were).
Rosa Luxemburg, Antonio Gramsci, Mao Tse Tsung, Ho Chin-Minh, Franz Fanon
and Regis Debray all noted that counter-hegemonic struggles are more
ideological than physical, and that the physical battlefield had to be
constructed according to the lay of the socio-economic, political and
cultural environment, not just the lay of the land. Nothing indicates at
this point that perpetrating a terrorist act would generate broad support
for a political cause in this country. Even if they had been plotting to
undertake some sort of political violence, the Urewera 17 would have
failed to understand the basic realities of counter-hegemonic strategy.
In assessing the potential for terrorism in New Zealand attention should
be paid to the problem of creating a separate body of law that deals with
"political crimes," in which the normal rules of natural justice and
transparency do not apply. Like so-called ^Ógateway drugs,^Ô creating a
category of ^Óterrorist^Ô crimes represents the beginning of the road
towards criminalising political dissent. When terrorist conspiracy charges
can be laid based upon ^Óintent^Ô and ^Ócredible threat,^Ô (as is the case
under the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA)) it behooves the
authorities to offer proof that at a minimum, the capabilities,
preparations, planning and targets involved unequivocally demonstrate
both.
What is of concern to civil libertarians is that the Terrorism Suppression
Act is broad enough to construe terrorist intent even if the four elements
of a terrorist conspiracy are virtually non-existent, and even if there is
little ideological support for the cause being espoused. That would appear
to be the situation of the Urewera 17. But a hard fact remains. Although
the TSA makes things easier for the police when it comes to laying
terrorism charges, the real criteria by which any alleged terrorist
conspiracy should be judged are the objective facts, not the letter of
that particular Law. Hard evidence, in the form of the baselines mentioned
above, will be important criteria upon which a jury will decide whether a
terrorist conspiracy occurred. The Solicitor General needs to be cognizant
of this as he considers laying charges under the TSA against this
heterogeneous group of political dissidents, because if the evidence is
not conclusive then the law itself, to say nothing of public confidence in
the judgment of the police, will be seriously undermined.
*************
Paul G. Buchanan studies unconventional warfare and its underlying causes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
27. Tuhoe Tribe maori Hikoi marches on poaka [pigs] commissioner
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:12:47 +1300
From: karaka <tepaatu@gmail.com>
------ Forwarded Message
[IMAGE]
The Tuhoe hikoi march down Lambton Quay. Photo / NZPA
Updated 3:15PM Wednesday November 14, 2007
By Edward Gay <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/index.cfm?a_id=341>
Protesters from the Tuhoe Hikoi have marched up Molesworth St to Police
Commissioner Howard Broad's office.
They were met by a four-deep police cordon armed with batons.
Protesters dressed in camouflage gear and some with masks and taiaha
performed a haka outside the office, before returning to Parliament
grounds.
Earlier, a Hikoi of 20 vehicles was greeted outside Parliament by a crowd
of around 200 supporters who performed a haka.
The group made a detour to protest outside the Ministry of Maori Affairs
building on Lambton Quay, before heading to Parliament.
The marchers were greeted by a number of MPs from the Maori Party and the
Green Party.
Many protesters carried the Maori sovereignty flag, some wore bandanas
over their faces, while others held signs slogans such as "Rule of
Aotearoa No State Terrorism".
Protesters shouted angrily about what they called an invasion of their
lands.
The Government, particularly the Prime Minister and the Maori Affairs
Minister Parekura Horomia, came in for a roasting.
Many marchers are dissatisfied with the response of Labour's Maori caucus
and are demanding an apology from the Government for the raids.
However they did not have it all their own way.
Among them was a solitary middle-aged woman bearing a placard calling for
people to support the police.
Her presence raised eyebrows amongst the protestors, however they appeared
happy to let her make her point.
Meanwhile, Tuhoe spokesman Tamati Kruger said there had been a range of
reaction to the masks worn by some hikoi members.
He said the masks were aimed at making members of the public understand
what residents of Ruatoki went through during the police raids.
"You ask people, would you be angry if someone in a mask turned up at your
place, woke you up, pointed guns at your children and your wife. Would you
be entitled to be a little bit angry?"
He said wearing masks was part of the "theatre of education" but didn't
always work.
"People just feel further intimidated and less sympathetic and that's a
risk one takes," Mr Kruger said.
Mr Kruger said the Terrorism Suppression Act was wrong, and that
legislation claiming to protect people would actually erode civil rights.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
28. Maori Radio Waatea on the Tuhoe Tribe Terrorism Raids
From: "tepaatu@hotmail.com" <jankaraka@yahoo.co.nz>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:07:32 +1300
Were the police right with their actions in Ruatoki?
YES: 22%
NO: 78%
Maatakiri Te Ruki: He mihi miharo teenei ki a koutou ngaa kaiwhakaapaaoho
e tuku mai ana i ngaa koorero huhua o te waa kaainga, he rawe te rangona
atu mai teenei whenua o ngaa taangata moemoea, ahakoa kei konei ahau e
noho mai ana, kei reira tonu te waa kainga toku ngakau, teenaa rawa atu ki
a koutou katoa!
Current Affairs
Paakiwaha is an exciting weekly current affairs programme with a Maori
perspective.
Paakiwaha is hosted by Willie Jackson and broadcast by Radio Waatea with
funding from New Zealand On Air.
Sports commentator Ken Laban gives his sports roundup for each week and
Qantas media award winner and political reporter Duncan Garner tells us
his predictions every week.
So tune into this lively, thought provoking and debate packed programme!
Paakiwaha with Willie Jackson
Monday 10.00am - 12.00pm
email: williej@waatea603am.co.nz
John Minto
Solicitor Generals Statement
Joris De Bres
Removal of Treaty Principles Deletion Bill
Moana Jackson Part 1
Part 2 His resignation from Police College
Willie also talks with Kingi Taurua about his interview with Tame Iti
Listen in to Te Wiki Kua Taha, tonight from 8 til 11pm with host Jim
Perry....
Meremere Tu Ahiahi, current affairs in Maori, weekday evenings from
7-8pm with host Kingi Taurua....
Different opinions. Different methods. One goal. Talkback on Waatea
603AM. Monday - Thursday 8-11pm.
To have your panui broadcast on Waatea fax your panui to 09 275 8060 or
email to panui@waatea603am.co.nz.
Waatea News - Te Reo Maori - every hour on the hour 7am-7pm / Waatea
News in English 8am and 8pm Monday - Friday
Listen in to Te Wiki Kua Taha, tonight from 8 til 11pm with host Jim
Perry.... © Waatea 603 AM. All Rights Reserved. Terms & Conditions Powered
by StreamWeb Limited
------ Forwarded Message
From: <pipstop@actrix.co.nz>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:51:04 +1300 (NZDT)
Tame Iti was interviewed i te reo this morning. The interview will
be posted hopefully soon.
Posted currently are recent interviews by Willie Jackson concerning
the raids with:
* Reverend Hone Kaa
* John Minto
* Greg O'Connor, President of The Police Association (who veilingly
calls Willie's views terror-biased by being "dangerous.")
@
http://www.waatea603am.co.nz/CurrentAffairs.aspx
---------------------------------------------------------------
29. Mainland firm buys Oahu military contractor
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:17:03 -1000
From: Richard Rodrigues <HPFgrants@lava.net>
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2007/11/19/daily35.html?f=et71&ana=e_d
Kailua-based Complex Solutions Inc. was bought by Camber Corp. on
Wednesday, November 21, 2007.
Complex Solutions (CSI) offers training and education for civilian and
military organizations in the areas of peace operations, terrorism,
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The company, founded in 2000,
has offices in Kailua and Monterey, Calif.
In August, Complex Solutions received a $17.7 million contract for
"technical and educational support services" for the Naval Postgraduate
School's Civil Military Relations education and training program.
[According to the August PBN article: "The contract includes a base year
and four one-year options. If fully exercised, the total estimated value
of the contract would be $92.6 million."]
Financial terms of the Camber acquisition were not disclosed.
Camber Corp., based in Huntsville, Ala., provides training and education
to government and commercial customers and has 70 locations worldwide.
"Being a member of the Camber family will significantly improve the
opportunities for our employees to grow and expand their personal careers
in a diverse and dynamic company like Camber," said Complex Solutions
chairman John Otte in a news release.
Camber Corporation
Annual Revenue: N/A
635 Discovery Dr
Huntsville, AL 35806
(256) 922-0200
www.camber.com
FYI, Camber Corporation Executives include:
Joe Alexander [President and Chief Operating Officer]
Mike Whyte [CFO & Vice President]
Wayne Blockel [CIO & Vice President]
Bill Bewley [Vice President]
Bob Sigl [Vice President]
--
Richard M Rodrigues Jr
Grantmaking Program Coordinator
Hawai'i People's Fund
808-845-4800
810 N Vineyard Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96817
http://www.hawaiipeoplesfund.org
Change, Not Charity^Á
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30. SPECIAL "Twelve Oils" Invite - Sat. Dec. 1 afternoon - RSVP please
From: Stephanie Fitzpatrick <slf-makiki@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:49:07 -1000
Come Enjoy 12 special Essential Oils - perfect for this season!
â^Ø^Å "12 OILS OF THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES/THE ANCIENT WORLD" â^Ø^Å
What: Twelve Oils of the Ancient Scriptures/the Ancient World
When: Sat. Dec. 1, 2007 1:30 - 4:30pm. Come between 1 and 1:30pm
Where: 1929 Makiki Street - mauka of Nehoa Str. - on-street parking
Why: to enjoy the healing scents of highest quality essential oils!
How: You will experience each of these oils, be relaxed and intrigued by
them, and learn how they were used in the past, and used currently
Come experience 12 special essential oils, of highest therapeutic quality,
made by Young Living Essential Oils. The oils include: Cassia, Cedarwood,
Cistus/Rose of Sharon, Cypress, Frankincense, Galbanum, Hyssop, Myrrh,
Myrtle, Onchya, Sandalwood (Aloes), and Spikenard. Famous oils and not,
all well-loved, valuable, potent, fragrant, healing. Many of these oils we
associate with this Holiday Season. You will leave relaxed, refreshed, on
a cloud! . $15 per person; reservations needed. Phone Stephanie:
946-2379.
Light Refreshments will be served.
*SPECIAL: Would you like one of these oils for yourself? For an extra $5
- for $20 total - you could be one of 12 people who get to take home one
of these oils! Here is what you do: contact me at least a week ahead of
time, let me help you learn something about one of the 12 oils, present
the information to us all on that day (you may read it aloud) and you
could be one of 12 special people who will get to take home one of these
oils! Such a deal!
Come have a fun, scent-ful, enjoyable learning and pleasurable experience!
Call Stephanie at 946-2379 to say you (and family/friends) are coming!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31. Island Burial Council - Need representatives for Waianae, Ewa, Kona
and Wailuku - Please respond
From: Marilyn Leimomi Khan
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 12:40 PM
Th Governor's Office is seeking nominations of individuals to serve on the
Island Burial Councils, in particular, in the areas of Waianae, Ewa, Kona
and Wailuku. Everyone welcomed to submit nominations.
For the Hawaii, Maui, and O'ahu Councils, in particular, and the clubs
located in the areas mentioned, could you advise whether there are any
potential candidates who meet the specified qualifications below in your
community. The State urgently needs help with the Burial Councils.
Mahalo for your kokua.
Leimomi
----- Original Message ----- From: Eric.Barsatan@hawaii.gov
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 12:25 PM
Hi Leimomi,
Hope all is well..... As I mentioned before, my office is experiencing
some challenges in finding individuals to serve on the Island Burial
Councils. We have several openings across the state but the focus right
now is finding a regional representative for the following districts --
Waianae, Ewa, Kona and Wailuku.
Section 6E-43.5(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) states, "Regional
representatives shall be selected from the Hawaiian community on the basis
of their understanding of the culture, history, burial beliefs, customs,
and practices of native Hawaiians."
Regional Representatives must meet the following minimum qualification
criteria:
* Individuals must have a demonstrated knowledge of burial practices,
protocol and burial sites from experience that may be based upon any
of the following: actual participation in traditional Hawaiian
burials, or mentorship and training received from elders in
traditional Hawaiian burials.
* Individuals must have a cultural link or tie to the area the
individual is selected to represent. The connection may be obtained
by currently residing or having previously resided in the district
and having knowledge of the cultural customs and burial practices
within that district, or having a recognized lineal or cultural claim
to burials in the district. At a minim the representatives must
currently live on the island they represent.
* Individuals must be able and willing to serve and attend monthly
burial council meetings which may last an entire business workday.
Thank you in advance for your help. Please feel free to call anytime at
586-0783 if you have any questions.
________________________________________________________________________________
32. Please Make a Quick Call to Rep Abercrombie
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:01:35 -1000
From: lcruz <palolo@hawaii.rr.com>
if you support clean elections (voter owned elections), this is an easy
thing to do. takes a moment only. just leave a message... lc
----- Original Message ----- From: Voter Owned Hawaii
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 2:10 PM
Can you make a quick call to Representative Abercrombie and ask him to
co-sponsor the Fair Elections Now Act?
Rep Abercrombie's Phone Number is 541-2570 (Oahu)
Sample Call:
"Hi, my name is ___________ and I'm calling to ask Representative
Abercrombie to please co-sponsor the Fair Elections Now Act. Thank you."
We will keep you updated on the progress of this request.
Help For Fair Elections
One thing is sure: the more expensive elections get, the less access us
taxpayers have when it comes to influencing the laws that govern our
schools, health care, and other important structures.
Activists around the country are coming together to demand a public
funding option for candidates when it comes to elections. This way,
legislators can have the choice of running for office in a way that
doesn't require them to spend 50% of their time raising money from oil,
tobacco, alcohol, chemical companies, and the like.
Please stay dialed in. We will keep you updated on everything going on
with this campaign!
Thank you for helping!
Voter Owned Hawaii and the Coalition For Clean Elections
808-457-8622
http://voterownedhawaii.org
Can you make a tax deductible contribution? If so, either:
1. Make a check out to Hawaii Elections Project and mail it to
P.O. Box 62095 / Honolulu, HI 96839-2095 , OR
Thank you!
________________________________________________________________________________
33. Map of Military occupied areas in Hawai'i
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:56:47 -1000
From: viviane lerner <vivlerner@gmail.com>
http://www.nohohewa.com/map/
Military occupied areas in Hawai'i
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34. Update: Pa'ahao Makahiki Opening- Arizona 2007
From: kanikapu@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:21 PM
Aloha Aina,
This is Andre, back home, aina under my feet and feeling good inside. Hale
Pa'ahao Makahiki in Arizona was maika'i loa, a total and complete success.
It was a struggle to get all of the resources, logistics and coordination
together. A lot of stress and sometimes grief, it was by no means easy and
it pushed me to the brink of giving up, actually due to all the pilikia
involved, I tried to give up and make this our last trip but da braddahs
would not accept our resignation, they rejected it. They want and need
every single ounce of love and support that they can get and challenged me
to not give up on them and to be honest I couldn't find it within me to
walk away, not now... Not after the friendships we have all made and the
progress and healing that's been accomplished. In the end it all paid off,
every hardship and headache was worth it. To see the gratitude, commitment
and sincerity in these Hawaiian men was awesome. The serene and peaceful
expressions on the faces of these men who have been condemned and
sometimes forgotten, says it all..
They are our ohana, they are human beings, they are Hawaiians.
I could go on and on but the 868 pictures we took tell more than I could
ever hope to write. We have posted the pictures on a public website photo
storage service. They can be accessed and downloaded. Prints can be
ordered and purchased from this site by friends and ohana. We hope to
reach out to family members so they can see their loved ones. Pictures of
inmates are not easy to get so as you will see, there's a lot of hamming
it up, we got some halewood models in there. The men just wanted their
ohana to be able to see them, some for the first time in years.
The site can be accessed at this link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Pohaku.o.kane
Approximately 200 men from 2 facilities (that sit side by side)
participated in the ceremonies. I carved them an Akua Loa out of 'ohia and
kauila with full adornments as a gift from Pohaku o Kane. 11 ukulele's, 1
guitar amp, approximately 250 Hawaiian books, 1 ipu heke, malo's and
lava-lava's, lauhala mats, cd's and dvd's, Hawaiian food and various
ceremonial implements were delivered as our ho'okupu to them. Mahalo to
all who donated these items. Also to Debbie Nakanelua and Hawaiian
Airlines for helping with shipping.
As you will see, we took a lot of pictures of the Akua Loa, normally we do
not do this but this time we felt that an exception was warranted as it is
necessary to tell this very important story and for the men, they needed
it. A you will see the Akua Loa being held with one hand, like an 'ihe.
That has been corrected.
For the first time, Ho'okuku, tournament games were held with great gusto
and lots of aloha. I negotiated with the Warden to be able to give prizes
of lava-lava style wraps and Hawaiian music Cd's to the winners. They were
very happy and proud to be recognized with awards.
Funding is always a struggle, we were asked repeatedly by the men if we
were coming back in Feb for closing. We would like to but have run out of
funding options, if anyone has any ideas please let us know.
Mahalo to everyone for all forms of support.
aloha aina, andre & pohaku o kane
________________________________________________________________________________
35. Kaua`i TV sports producer attacked by ITT security at Mana beach
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:40:25 -1000
From: Kyle Kajihiro <keboi@aol.com>
ITT is one of the military contractors at the Pacific Missile Range
facility on Kauai. Outrageous!
Begin forwarded message:
From: Andy Parx <andyparx@yahoo.com> Date: November 14, 2007 6:52:20
PM HST Kaua`i TV sports producer attacked by ^ÓITT security^Ô at Mana
beach by Andy Parx (PNN) -- Popular Kaua`i kids^Ò-sports TV producer
Robert ^ÓBob^Ô Sato was accosted today in Mana by eight gun-toting
ITT-uniformed individuals and had his camera ruined while setting up for a
shoot for a surfing program.. The incident occurred about 9 a.m. on an
off-Navy base beach, just mauka of the race track. Sato said he called
the police to report the incident and later in the day was ticketed for
^Ódisturbing the peace^Ô at his house. Sato says the ITT personnel
said they were there doing ^Ótarget practice^Ô by shooting into the ocean
and demanded he leave. Sato says he told them he was working on his
program filming water sports with children. Sato says when he said he
wouldn^Òt leave and started taping the leader of the group yelled ^ÓI^Òm
gonna throw that camera in the ocean^Ô. Sato says he was then physically
accosted by the ^ÓITT-security^Ô labeled polo-shirted brigade and his
camera was torn from his hands with concurrent repeated demands to
^Ó:gimme the tape... gimme the tape^Ô Sato says he did however recover
the tape and expects to play it on his regular program ^ÓFoundations of
the Future For Youth^Ô on Kaua`i public access Channel 52 ^Ówithin a week
. . . if not in a few days,^Ô The clip is also awaiting posting on
U-Tube although Sato says he ^Óneeds help^Ô to post the already digitized
and filed footage of the assault. . After reporting the event to Kaua`i
Police Sato says he went home and kept calling KPD. So did ITT according
to Sato^Òs telephone conversations with the police. Finally when an
officer did arrive to, what Sato thought, take his report he says he was
^Óread my rights^Ô and then, not arrested but given a ticket for
^Ódisturbing the peace^Ô . The police officer, Sato says,. would not
listen to anything he had to say, processed him and left. Sato has a
court date for Dec 14. Sato can be reached at Bob Sato classic@aloha.net
ITT and the Kaua`i County Spokesperson were not available for comment
at press time. -----------------30------------ c2007 Parx News Net
(PNN), Andy Parx
________________________________________________________________________________
36. Dialogues on Nationhood
Date: Tues, 20 Nov, 2007
From: lcruz <palolo@hawaii.rr.com>
aloha all, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs passed a reso at
convention in 2006 to sponsor a series of talk story gatherings on
nationhood. up until now no one has had time to follow up on these
dialogues, but the first one is scheduled for saturday 9 - noon, nov. 24,
2007 @ Chaminade University, Henry 102 (see attached flyer).
if you're interested in having a dialogue or if you're curious about what
we'll be doing and would like to sit in, please join us. we'll
participate in an exercise using props to physically build a structure (or
series of structures)--we're practicing!
for more info or to reserve a space, email or call me.
lynette
284-3460
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~------------------------
37. Disappeared News - 3 new articles
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:34:04 -0500
From: FeedBlitz <feedblitz@mail.feedblitz.com>
"DISAPPEARED NEWS" - 3 NEW ARTICLES - www.disappearednews.com
1. Superferry bill ruled not unconstitutional, injunction lifted
2.Do whales prefer 13 knots or 10 knots?
3.Follow the Superferry trial via Akaku and blogs
4.More Recent Articles
5.Search Disappeared News
Superferry bill ruled not unconstitutional, injunction lifted
by Larry Geller I'll leave the details to the paid reporters, I've got
to do some other things this afternoon. Probably other bloggers will
have something to say as well. Joan Conrow is quickâ^À^Ôsee her post
here. Plaintiff attorneys may file a motion to recover fees, the judge
did not rule that they could not be paid because the law changed.
Certainly there will be an appeal, most likely there....
Do whales prefer 13 knots or 10 knots?
by Larry Geller No one has asked the whales, obviously. But after
attorney Isaac Hall said something (which I did not hear but read about
in the live blogging over at Planet Kauai I thought I would check
further. Charley's note was: [Attorney Isacc Hall:] Just informed today
that DLNR has issued new whale policy that safe speed is 10 knots. So I
called Jeff Walters, the whale sanctuary...
Follow the Superferry trial via Akaku and blogs
by Larry Geller I am trying to multitask and watch the Superferry trial
on Maui via Akau's streaming video. Thanks to Akaku for doing this. While
you are over on their web page, consider making a donation to support
them. They've been doing a superb job, and no commercials! If you can't
stay tuned, check in at the Planet Kauai blog where the hearing is being
live-blogged by Charley Foster. Once...
More Recent Articles
* Watch out for Superferry backlash
* Senators condoning torture
* And you thought Sicko is old news?
* Kucinich interview on progress of his impeachment resolution
* Monsanto digs in on Molokai
________________________________________________________________________________
38. UH Manoa to conduct survey and assessment of underwater munitions
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:58:25 -1000
From: Kyle Kajihiro <keboi@aol.com>
Chemical weapons dumping meets UARC...
http://www.hawaii.edu/cgi-bin/uhnews?20071114072818
UH Manoa to conduct survey and assessment of underwater munitions
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Contact: Gary Ostrander, 956-0813
Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education
Posted: November 14, 2007
The University of Hawaii at Manoa has been awarded $1.975 million to
support the U.S. Department of Defense^Òs efforts to assess the potential
risk to human health and the environment of an historic chemical warfare
material disposal site about 5 miles south of the entrance to Pearl Harbor
in waters greater than 1,000 feet deep.
A full array of state-of-the-art technologies owned and operated by UH
Manoa^Òs School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) will be
employed to assess the location and condition of the disposal site. The
program will map the seafloor with high resolution sonar followed by
direct observation of any sea-disposed chemical warfare material found
using either remotely operated underwater vehicles or three-man research
submarines deployed using UH research vessels.
Researchers will collect water, seafloor sediment and biological samples
in the vicinity of the disposal sites and at control sites up- current and
away from the munitions disposal site. Chemical analysis for munitions
constituents, including military chemical agents, will be performed on
sediment, water, and biological samples.
"The University of Hawaii is a recognized leader in the field of
underwater research and has successfully partnered with the Department of
Defense on previous research efforts, including a survey in conjunction
with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of an
underwater munitions disposal site off Oahu. I am confident that UH
Manoa's leadership of this groundbreaking joint pilot project will succeed
in establishing the preliminary procedures for determining whether sea
disposed military munitions pose a hazard to human health and safety or
adversely impact on the local marine aquatic environment," said Tad Davis,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety, and
Occupational Health.
At the Department of Defense^Òs request, the UH will also develop and
prove out methodologies for surveying and sampling other historic
munitions sea disposal sites. Between 1919 and 1970, the armed services
disposed of military munitions and containers of bulk chemical agent in
coastal waters off the United States, including the island of Oahu.
Dr. Gary Ostrander, UH Manoa Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate
Education, praised the Department of Defense for its ongoing efforts to
determine whether sea-disposed military munitions poses a threat to human
health and the environment and for the selection of the UH as a partner,
stating that the School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology has both
extensive expertise and resources in underwater exploration and marine
biology needed to ensure the program^Òs success.
The program was funded through the efforts of Hawaii^Òs Congressional
delegation.
^ÓThis is a very important first step in determining the risks posed by
military munitions disposal sites to our coastal waters,^Ô states U.S.
Senator Daniel K. Inouye. Congressman Neil Abercrombie adds, ^ÓIn taking
the lead with this pilot effort we believe other states with similar sites
will greatly benefit from the methodologies developed by the University of
Hawaii.^Ô
The Department of Defense contracted the University of Hawaii to perform
the program. The UH will partner with Environet, Inc., a local
environmental consulting firm, to complete the assessment. Additionally,
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will consult with the
Department of Defense and University of Hawaii on scientific matters, and
the U.S. Army^Òs Edgewood Chemical Biological Center will provide chemical
safety and analytical support to this project.
###-----------------------------------------------------------------------
39. Kaua`i TV sports producer attacked by ITT security at Mana beach -
comment
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:12:29 -0800
From: Deborah Berman Santana <santana@mills.edu>
Aloha,
ITT has a long and sordid history. It began with two Danish brothers (who
had grown up in the Danish colonies in the Virgin Islands) in Puerto Rico
after the US invasion and occupation of PR (they also founded the Rotary
Club there). ITT stands for International Telephone and Telegraph. They
expanded throughout the 20th century to own communications in many Latin
American countries (all the while with close collaboration with the US
military and industrial complex). They provided lousy service in Puerto
Rico until the PR govt finally expropriated it in 1970. (Unfortunately the
PR govt sold it to GTE/Verizon during the 1990's, even though it was
profitable and efficient.) ITT later branched into other services, most
notably military weapons systems. They no longer speak of their early
history, but Puerto Ricans remember them well.
un saludo boricua,
Deborah
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gabrielle Welford, Ph.D.
freelance writer, editor, teacher
welford@hawaii.edu
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.412 / Virus Database: 268.18.4/705 - Release Date: 2/27/2007
0 comments:
Post a Comment