local stuffs list: local stuffs

1. story about hawaiian monk seal - chester has died
2. Henry 2
3. Mumia 3rd Circuit Decision
4. Voices Health/Environment News
6. Disappeared News - Turtle Bay tonight on Town Square
7. Audit on the way!
8. Written testimony to Maui island Burial Council-March 27, 2008
9. Poem 38
10. Buy food from local farmers when possible......
11. Fawzi Karim
12. Immigration, Te Tiriti & Sexist Tauiwi
13. Superferry's dry dock pau
14. Is Cheney betting On Economic Collapse?
15. depleted uranium--Army Mar 14 info--comments
16. Colette Machado letter to Honolulu Advertiser - Molokai Ranch closure
caused by angry activists
17. Nature 2, Corps 0 - comment
18. "La'au Point opponents not at fault" - Lee Cataluna article - Honolulu
Advertiser
19. March Madness: Bills, Bikes and More
20. More about Percy Schmeiser
21. Do your part tomorrow, March 29th at 8PM...
22. SCR138 SD1 with amendments requesting a financial and managerial
audit of OHA
23. Voices Health/Environment News
24. Who really pays for health care? - Senior News from Suddenly Senior
25. Army's Depleted Uranium update Pohakuloa
26. Call for Boycott
27. Help stop spread of military radiation in Hawaii
28. HI Superferry: Act. 2 Testimony...Enough Liferafts?
29. Bush seeks financial regulation overhaul
30. SB1789 SD2 Passes out of House Committee on Finance
31. West O'ahu Offers New Healthcare Administration Program in News@UH
32. Julian's Aguon's book; Dover tomorrow
33. Of Power & Empire by Mumia Abu-Jamal
34. LDS Church: Yes to Tourists, No to Locals
35. Rudd To Tell Bush Aussie Troops Out Of Iraq
36. Suit filed in Hawaii to save the earth...
37. More weirdness in Hawaii...
38. Voices Health/Environment News
39. US marine's Haditha case dropped

1. story about hawaiian monk seal - chester has died
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:30:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: ak kelly <keala_kelly@yahoo.com>

[the monk seal keala reported on in this radio piece was found dead on
rabbit island the day the story broadcast. there will be an investigation
as to why he died. he was young, and apparently there was no mention of
emaciation. g]

aloha kakou,

i don't usually send out emails about stories i file, but i think this
one is a little different.

a piece i did about a molting seal on kailua beach will finally come up
for air next week [you can listen to it on-line now] on a really cool
national program called The Environment Report. have a listen when you
get a chance. and if you like it, tell friends... AND send an email to HPR
or the local station where you live to see if they will air the story,
seeing as how it's a local story, too, and it would be nice if hawaii
audiences heard their own stories.

here's the link that goes right to the story:
http://www.environmentreport.org/story.php3?story_id=3962

cheers,

keala
-------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Henry 2
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:02:15 -1000
From: Tane . <Tane_1@msn.com>

We know for a fact that the US troops did not storm the palace gates. As
the photo shows from the archives, they lined up in formation with their
cannons pointing toward the palace and the troops armed and ready to fire
upon the palace. This was a show of intimidation. The actual actions of
Stevens and the conspirators gathered on the steps of ONE of the
government building and not on the inside of the building. The
proclamation was made there and the acceptance by Stevens was completed
without control of the government buildings, the police station, and the
palace guards. Most of Honolulu was unaware of what transpired.

Tane
________________________________________________________________________________

3. Mumia 3rd Circuit Decision
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:10:17 -1000
From: REDVET <redvet@lava.net>

In a cruel blow to justice this morning, March 27, a three-judge panel of
the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the appeal by political
prisoner and Black radical journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal for a new trial. The
panel upheld Mumia's false 1982 conviction for the murder of a
Philadelphia policeman, gained by racist jury selection, coercion of
witnesses, and violation of Mumia's constitutional rights.

The panel's long-awaited decision also said that if the prosecution wishes
to reinstate the death penalty against Abu-Jamal, which was over- turned
by a previous judge, it must hold a new jury hearing, which could
reconsider only Mumia's sentencing, not his conviction. The only
sentencing options are the death penalty or life in prison without the
possibility of parole.

The voices of all of Mumia's supporters need to be lifted immediately to
protest this appalling decision! The ruling ignores a record of racist
bias in this case that is now more than 25 years long. Mumia has been out-
spoken against police misconduct and on behalf of African Americans and
all the oppressed since his teenage years as a member of the Black Panther
Party. It is because he is a leader with integrity and principles that he
became a target of the system. And we cannot afford to let that system
silence Mumia as it has silenced too many of our militant movement leaders
in the past!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Voices Health/Environment News
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:25:03 -0600
From: nimchira <tepaatu@gmail.com>

News from the Health and Environmental Communities.
Published since Nov, 2005
March 27, 2008

In This Issue:

Todays Recalls:

Popular cough remedies for babies are being removed from the shelves amid
fears of potential overdoses.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7315924.stm

Rock 'N Ride Plush Rocker Toys
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2008/rocknride.html

Avon Plush Warming Polar Bears
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2008/avon_polar.html
========

Local artisan stricken with a rare form of leukemia Sienna Zertuche urges
community to sign up for bone marrow registry
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/03_26-4/CAN In
Baltimore, there are three places people can call to set up their
registration: at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins (410-955-8893),
at the Sinai Hospital's Lapidus Cancer Institute (410-601-4710), and at
the Greenbaum Cancer Center at University of Maryland (410-328-1230).
Additional information is online at http://www.bonemarrow.org/ or
http://www.bmtinfonet.org/

Land Deal Could Open Alaska Wildlife Refuge to Oil
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/032608EB.shtml

U.S. may withhold names of retailers in all but 'greatest risk' meat
recalls
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-meat-tainted-agriculture-webmar27,1,6695394.story

Famed NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen tells the depressing story of
government censorship of years of impeccable research.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/80508/

A fourth of American teen girls have an STD. Playing sex police only makes
the problem worse. http://www.alternet.org/sex/80535/

Plastic waste in the oceans poses a potentially devastating long-term
toxic threat to the food chain, marine scientists say.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7316441.stm

MMR: Moment of truth for man behind the scare. The doctor who triggered an
international health scare over the safety of the measles, mumps and
rubella vaccine will take the stand at the General Medical Council today
in an attempt to save his professional reputation.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10799/3057/13530/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5jby51ay9saWZlLXN0eWxlL2hlYWx0aC1hbmQtd2VsbGJlaW5nL2hlYWx0aC1uZXdzL21tci1tb21lbnQtb2YtdHJ1dGgtZm9yLW1hbi1iZWhpbmQtdGhlLXNjYXJlLTgwMTIyMi5odG1s&x=9229412b

Male birth dearth persists on Ontario reserve. A small native community
living in the shadows of Sarnia's chemical valley has had an unusual
distinction: Researchers believe it has one of the most skewed sex ratios
in the world.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10799/3057/13532/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGVnbG9iZWFuZG1haWwuY29tL3NlcnZsZXQvc3RvcnkvTEFDLjIwMDgwMzI3LlNBUk5JQTI3L1RQU3RvcnkvVFBOYXRpb25hbC9PbnRhcmlvLw%3d%3d&x=c5cd96c6

Italy shuts down mozzarella production as cancer-causing toxin fears
spread. Italy shut down production at more than 80 cow farms yesterday
after detecting higher-than-permitted levels of dioxin - a dangerous toxin
that causes skin disfigurement and is linked to cancer.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10799/3057/13534/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvcGFnZXMvbGl2ZS9hcnRpY2xlcy9uZXdzL3dvcmxkbmV3cy5odG1sP2luX2FydGljbGVfaWQ9NTQ3MTExJmluX3BhZ2VfaWQ9MTgxMQ%3d%3d&x=b537cc9c

Practicing Patients
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/magazine/23patients-t.html?ex=1363924800&en=0c717f3bfdacb48a&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

Why Hospitals Want Your Credit Report. Some hospitals are peering into
patients' credit reports, which contain information on people's lines of
credit, debts and payment histories. Other hospitals are contracting with
outside services that predict a patient's income and whether he or she is
likely to walk away from a medical bill.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120580305267343947.html

Big Pharma is up in arms about developing countries importing less
expensive generic versions of their drugs.
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/80488/

THE WATER FRONT: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WATER IS FOR PROFIT? A new documentary
shows the stark reality of trying to make a buck off a basic necessity.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/water/80536/

Have You Seen Those Misleading Lipitor Ads?
http://www.naturalnews.com/022894.html

The Dangers of Using Skin Lightening Creams
http://www.naturalnews.com/022893.html

The End of Antibiotics http://www.naturalnews.com/022892.html

Acupuncture Reduces Post-Surgery Pain While Reducing Need for Pain Drugs
http://www.naturalnews.com/022891.html

Zyprexa Warnings over Weight Gain, Blood Sugar Elevation
http://www.naturalnews.com/022887.html

Corn-based film foils food poisoning bugs. A novel packaging film made
from renewable materials such as corn residues, could help stamp out
Listeria and other food-borne bugs
http://email.newscientist.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBTlv0MjKwg0mKV0Evif0Ep

'Repaired' kidneys could ease organ shortage
http://email.newscientist.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBTlv0MjKwg0mKV0Evit0E4
==========

The FDA issued an Early Communication about recent findings of The Data
Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs Study. Data analyses from
this study indicate a higher risk of heart attack in patients infected
with HIV-1 who were taking Ziagen (abacavir) or Videx (didanosine) as part
of their drug therapy. The study is a large observational study of 33,347
HIV-1 infected patients living in North America, Europe and Australia.
Patients in this study are being followed to evaluate the short and long
term adverse effects of treatment with anti-HIV drugs. FDA continues to
evaluate the overall risks and benefits of abacavir and didanosine. This
evaluation may result in the need to revise labeling for the products.
Until the FDA's review is complete, health care professionals should
evaluate the potential risks and benefits of each HIV-1 antiretroviral
drug their patients are taking. This early communication is in keeping
with FDA's commitment to inform the public about its ongoing safety
reviews of drugs. As soon as this review is complete, FDA will communicate
the conclusions and recommendations to the public.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm
=======

The FDA is conducting a safety review based on study data suggesting there
may be an increased risk of death from cancer in diabetic patients using
Regranex (becaplermin) Gel, a skin product used to heal leg and foot
ulcers. While the review is ongoing, the FDA recommends health care
professionals discuss the potential risks and benefits of using Regranex
with their patients. This early communication is in keeping with FDA's
commitment to inform the public about its ongoing safety reviews of drugs.
As soon as this review is complete, FDA will communicate the conclusions
and recommendations to the public.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm
=======

FDA informed healthcare professionals and patients of the Agency's
investigation of the possible association between the use of Singulair and
behavior/mood changes, suicidality (suicidal thinking and behavior) and
suicide. Singulair is a leukotriene receptor antagonist used to treat
asthma and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and to prevent
exercise-induced asthma. Patients should not stop taking Singulair before
talking to their doctor if they have questions about the new information.
Healthcare professionals and caregivers should monitor patients taking
Singulair for suicidality (suicidal thinking and behavior) and changes in
behavior and mood. This early communication is in keeping with FDA's
commitment to inform the public about its ongoing safety reviews of drugs.
Due to the complexity of the analyses, FDA anticipates that it may take up
to 9 months to complete the ongoing evaluations. As soon as this review is
complete, FDA will communicate the conclusions and recommendations to the
public. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm
=========

If you're over the age of 60 and are underweight, you may be at an
increased risk of developing diabetes, says a recent Japanese report.
Published in the journal Diabetes Care, researchers collected information
from approximately 127,000 non-diabetic men and women ages 40 to 79 years
old. http://www.lifescript.com/NL/41747_20428878.htm
============

The news that is reported is not necessarily the viewpoint of Voices
Health/Environmental News. Nothing within this message should be construed
as endorsing, promoting or abetting any illegal or unethical activity. The
articles in this newsletter are not necessarily the opinion of the editor.
Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to
those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for
research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.
S. C. section 107. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html

Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of International Copyright
Law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html

All copyrights belong to original publisher.Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III
passed by the 105th U.S. Congress. This letter cannot be considered spam
as long as we include: Contact information & a Remove Link Reprinted under
the Fair Use Law: Doctrine of international copyright law.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html

To send news reports, subscribe or unsubscribe send email to:
nimchira@cox.net Specify Voices, the Peoples News, or Voices
Health/Environmental News.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. calvinist puritan fundamentalists who invaded hawai'i in 1820 behind
right wing crusade against sex education in our schools?
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:54:04 -1000
From: pilipo souza <pilipohale@hawaii.rr.com>

Rome is burning! pilipo

----- Original Message -----
From: 'imiola young
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:18 PM

Crazy U.S. Thinking: Rampant Sexually Spread Diseases and No Talk About
Sex!

Crazy U.S. Thinking: Rampant Sexually Spread Diseases and No Talk About
Sex! By Lara Riscol, RH Reality Check A fourth of American teen girls have
an STD. Playing sex police only makes the problem worse. Read more Â»
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Disappeared News - Turtle Bay tonight on Town Square
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:58:28 -0400
From: FeedBlitz <feedblitz@mail.feedblitz.com>

"DISAPPEARED NEWS" - 1 NEW ARTICLE -~ www.disappearednews.com

1. Turtle Bay tonight on Town Square
2.More Recent Articles
3.Search Disappeared News

Turtle Bay tonight on Town Square

What's really happening up North with the Turtle Bay buyout? Listen
tonight, Thursday, to Town square on Hawaii Public Radio 5-6 p.m., KIPO,
89.3 FM to learn from members of the Keep the North Shore Country
Coalition what's happening with this project. Host Beth-Ann Kozlovich
will be taking phone calls at 941-3689.....

* Honolulu transit noise: barriers work only if they build them
* Read any good newspapers lately?
* Religion, politics, and presidential candidates
* Sunrise over Halemaumau Crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
* Disappeared News: Winter Soldiers are shunned by the commercial media
________________________________________________________________________________

6. Audit on the way!
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:03:52 -1000
From: Kealii Makekau <kealii8@lava.net>

The senate committee approvals the call for an audit. Heres what it looked
like! [write to kealii for the document.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Written testimony to Maui island Burial Council-March 27, 2008
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:16:20 -0400
From: kaiokauai@aol.com

Aloha kaua e Kekahuna Keaweiwi, aloha kakou apau:

Mahalo for sharing and reinforcing the information for all of us.

Perhaps you (or anyone else) can answer a question I've posed several
times recently, as-yet unanswered, i.e.:

Has the circuit court issued an order granting the plaintiffs' request for
an injunction against the defendants . . . etc, per the state supreme
court's direction?

If not, what are the implications?

`Owau iho no, Kai`opua

-----Original Message-----
From: Kekahuna Keaweiwi <kekahunakeaweiwi@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:16 pm

March 27, 2008

To: Maui Island Burial Council
From: Living being in the HuMan function with the attached name,
Foster Ampong
Ahupua`a O Kahoma/Kanaha, Moku O Lahaina, Mokupuni O
Piilani
Email: kekahunakeaweiwi@yahoo.com
Subject: &nb sp; Lands Lahaina Bypass, Phase 1A to be built on.
Re: Lands are part of the so-called â^À^Üceded landsâ^À^Ý
held in trust for native Hawaiians.

Aloha Ka Kou,

My name is Foster Ampong. I am a Lineal Descendant of Ahupua`a O Kahoma
and Kanaha, Moku O Lahaina. I formal submit to the Maui Island Burial
Council the following facts that have recently come to light and are
necessary to make sound legal recommendations regarding the subject
matter. <snip>
---------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Poem 38
From: Mahealani Wendt
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:03 PM

Looking for Wainiha

One mountain vanishes, and then another,
as rainclouds roll in from the ocean,
and down the range at Hanalei a third peak
loses its place in the new slant of squalls.
How can I tell you where to find Wainiha?

Even the falls darting down the cliffs
will disappear from their vertical tracks
to emerge singing among reeds and moss stone drums.
I can only say that water has its rituals, dark
and inexplicable as the chant of creation.

When you arrive at the twin bridges of Lumaha`i,
stop for awhile. The double stream will hold you
and tell you a legend of gods seeding the flood,
male for the narrow waters,
female for the broad waters.

Look past the gingers and plumerias by the swamp --
flowers are for some other time.
Today is the day for acknowledging rain.
See how it floats the mountains and softens stone,
how gently it takes you into the valley of Wainiha.

-- Reuben Tam
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~---------------------------

10. Buy food from local farmers when possible......
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:57:47 +1300
From: CHOOK <tepaatu@gmail.com>

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Artemis Goldberg" <panthertracker@myself.com>

Have Fun And Save The Planet Think Globally, Eat Locally

We all know that our planet needs our help right now, but we often feel
unsure about what to do, where to make an effort, and what will really
help. The good news is that we can heal the planet on a daily basis simply
by buying and eating food that is grown locally. Food that has been
transported long distances doesn't contain much life force by the time it
gets to your kitchen. Making a commitment to shop, buy, and eat locally is
not only a very important part of creating positive change, it can also be
delicious fun.

One of the best places to begin the adventure of eating locally is a
farmer's market. Stalls brim with fresh fruits and vegetables grown on
nearby farms. Not only is this good for the environment, it's good for the
farmers since they benefit from selling directly to the consumer. The
consumer benefits, too, from the intimate experience of buying food from
the hand of the person who grew it. In addition, the food is fresher and
more diverse. In supermarkets, particular varieties of fruits and
vegetables are favored due to their ability to survive transport to a far
destination. Alternately, at a farmer's market, you will find versions of
the fruits and vegetables you know that will surprise and delight your
senses-green striped heirloom tomatoes, purple cauliflower, white carrots,
and edible flowers, just to name a few.

Make an effort to buy as much of your food as possible directly from local
farmers. You will become one of a growing number of people eating
delicious food to save the planet and having fun doing it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. Fawzi Karim
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:05:06 -0700
From: Tia Ballantine <tiaballantine@earthlink.net>

THE DISSIDENT STUDENT

For years he listens to me
Like the trees listen to the seasons.
With me he crossed the current
To the fountain . . . He never lets me rest, even during my siesta,
Dictating into my tired mouth the most confusing gibberish.
Yet always mindful, as if he was holding back.

One day in my old age, he, blue like a diamond, bursts onto me
Strips off my turban,
Throws my ink and my tattered papers into my face,
And takes off as if for a rendezvous with fate.

For years people never stopped visiting
To console me. I used to indulge them
Without any conviction.
For even now, ever since he destroyed my isolated perch
And left,
I see in his footprints
A path for wisdom beyond my inkpot and my paper.

---Fawzi Karim
---Translated by Saadi Simawe and Melissa Brown
---from: Poetry International 10: Iraqi Poetry Today.
Saadi Simawe, ed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. Immigration, Te Tiriti & Sexist Tauiwi
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:36:55 +1300 (NZDT)
From: Moe/Percy/whanau <manuwai_heihei@yahoo.co.nz>

Kia ora, As a mum I am concerned by the tauiwi who make plays for our
daughters, men who come from traditions that are very sexist. We've fought
long and hard for wahine, and still fight to decolonise against colonised
gender roles exercised by our own. Sexism occurs in Countries where women
have second class status, where they are paid less for the same amount of
work, where baby girls are given up for adoption or drowned, where women
are not allowed to work or get hired/promoted over a man (and stated in
the company manual) where women get sexually harassed so they have to
create single sex public train carts, where girls can^Òt go to school past
a certain age, where women just earned the right to vote. Insert any
country where this comes to mind. Think about all your female non-western
friends who might feel pressure from their parents to marry and have
babies instead of forging their own independence. As long as women are not
viewed as equal to men, they won^Òt be treated with respect Right to vote:
Vietnam (1946), Bangladesh (1972) and a lot of other countries in and
around 1950s after the universal declaration of human rights through the
UN In Asia women^Òs 2nd class status is institutionalised through laws
(inheritance law in India) and the stigma of a divorced woman or girls
born out of inter-racial marriages (Vietnam) or the 1-child policy that
results in boy-girl ratios of 118-100 in villages through infanticide or
orphaning (China). Where women are less, they are viewed and treated as
less. It's time for immigration to be more selective in the types of
people brought in to our lands, for the Crown to honour Te Tiriti and
actually involve tangata whenua in the decision making for immigration. As
some of you prepare to vote this year, what way will you direct your
immigration concerns?

Moe
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

13. Superferry's dry dock pau
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:40:29 -0700
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>

Superferry's dry dock pau as boat plans for restart
The Alakai is set to sail April 23 and will go through an annual
inspection today
Star-Bulletin staff

The idled Hawaii Superferry returned from dry dock yesterday, but a
company official says the repaired commuter vessel is still almost a month
away from plying the seas.

The company is accepting reservations for a planned restart April 23, said
spokeswoman Lori Abe. She did not have further information about the
repair schedule, and company officials did not return calls for comment.

The Alakai slipped into its home port at Pier 19 at Honolulu Harbor
yesterday after being dry-docked since Feb. 13 for an estimated three
weeks of repair.

In March the company extended the repairs to April 22 when they took
longer than expected and the 350-foot catamaran sustained damaged in the
dry-dock process.

Coast Guard spokesman Lt. John Titchen said the company will begin its
annual Coast Guard inspection today and finish with sea trials off Oahu on
Monday.

Inspectors will make administrative checks and review the crew's emergency
procedures.

Titchen said the company had scheduled the inspection for the end of the
dry-docking period.

The company has not told the Coast Guard when it plans to restart service,
but it is not required to give the Coast Guard advance notice, Titchen
said.

He said the security zone, a 100-yard buffer area around the ship that is
off limits, will remain in effect when the ship resumes sailing.

In February, Hawaii Superferry moved up its mandatory annual dry dock from
May to February to take advantage of the off-peak travel season, company
officials said.

The company resumed service to Maui Dec. 13 after a court ordered the
shutdown of the fledgling service in August because of environmental
concerns. The company halted service to Kauai the same month because of
protesters in Nawiliwili Harbor.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~------------------

14. Is Cheney betting On Economic Collapse?
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:56:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: Laweleka <laweleka@yahoo.com>

Unfortunately our Hawaii investors have been duped as well and as much as
we ourselves would like to think there will be something left at the end
of this whole thing there isn't. OHA with their many millions of dollars
have vested interest in the biggest crooks in history. They seem to
continue to think America will save them and the truth is America on its
surface does a good playwright while underneath it all they are looting
people by the masses. When is OHA going to wake up ? OR should the
question be when are Hawaiians going to wake up? Lawe

http://www.rense.com/general81/chenn.htm

Is Cheney betting On Economic Collapse?
By Mike Whitney
3-27-8

Wouldn't you like to know where Dick Cheney puts his money? Then
you'd know whether his "deficits don't matter" claim is just baloney or
not.

Well, as it turns out, Kiplinger Magazine ran an article based on
Cheney's financial disclosure statement and, sure enough, found out that
the VP is lying to the American people for the umpteenth time. Deficits do
matter and Cheney has invested his money accordingly.

The article is called "Cheney's betting on bad news" and provides an
account of where Cheney has socked away more than $25 million. While the
figures may be estimates, the investments are not. According to Tom
Blackburn of the Palm Beach Post, Cheney has invested heavily in a fund
that specializes in short-term municipal bonds, a tax-exempt money market
fund and an inflation protected securities fund. The first two hold up if
interest rates rise with inflation. The third is protected against
inflation."

Cheney has dumped another (estimated) $10 to $25 million in a
European bond fund which tells us that he is counting on a steadily
weakening dollar. So, while working class Americans are loosing ground to
inflation and rising energy costs, Darth Cheney will be enhancing his
wealth in "Old Europe". As Blackburn sagely notes, "Not all 'bad news' is
bad for everybody."

This should put to rest once and for all the foolish notion that the
Bush Economic Plan" is anything more than a scam aimed at looting the
public till. The whole deal is intended to shift the nation's wealth from
one class to another. It's also clear that Bush-Cheney couldn't have
carried this off without the tacit approval of the thieves at the Federal
Reserve who engineered the low-interest rate boondoggle to put the
American people to sleep while they picked their pockets.

Reasonable people can dispute that Bush is "intentionally" skewering
the dollar with his lavish tax cuts, but how does that explain Cheney's
portfolio?

It doesn't. And, one thing we can say with metaphysical certainty is
that the miserly Cheney would never plunk his money into an investment
that wasn't a sure thing. If Cheney is counting on the dollar tanking and
interest rates going up, then, by Gawd, that's what'll happen.

The Bush-Cheney team has racked up another $3 trillion in debt in
just 6 years. The US national debt now stands at $8.4 trillion dollars
while the trade deficit has ballooned to $800 billion nearly 7% of GDP.

This is lunacy. No country, however powerful, can maintain these
staggering numbers. The country is in hock up to its neck and has to
borrow $2.5 billion per day just to stay above water. Presently, the Fed
is expanding the money supply and buying back its own treasuries to hide
the hemorrhaging from the public. Its utter madness.

Last month the trade deficit climbed to $70 billion. More
importantly, foreign central banks only purchased a meager $47 billion in
treasuries to shore up our ravenous appetite for cheap

Do the math! They're not investing in America anymore. They are
decreasing their stockpiles of dollars. We're sinking fast and Cheney and
his pals are manning the lifeboats while the public is diverted with gay
marriage amendments and "American Celebrity".

The American manufacturing sector has been hollowed out by cutthroat
corporations who've abandoned their country to make a fast-buck in China
or Mexico. The $3 trillion housing (equity) bubble is quickly loosing air
while the anemic dollar continues to sag. All the signs indicate that the
economy is slowing at the same time that energy prices continue to rise.

This is the onset of stagflation; the dreaded combo of a slowing
economy and inflation.

Did Americans really think they'd be spared the same type of
economic colonization that has been applied throughout the developing
world under the rubric of "neoliberalism"?

Well, think again. The American economy is barrel-rolling towards earth
and there are only enough parachutes for Cheney and the gang.

The country has lost 3 million jobs from outsourcing since Bush took
office; more than 200,000 of those are the high-paying, high-tech jobs
that are the life's-blood of every economy.

Consider this from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) June
edition of Foreign Affairs, the Bible of globalists and plutocrats:

"Between 2000 and 2003 alone, foreign firms built 60,000
manufacturing plants in China. European chemical companies, Japanese
carmakers, and US industrial conglomerates are all building factories in
China to supply export markets around the world. Similarly, banks,
insurance companies, professional-service firms, and IT companies are
building R&D and service centers in India to support employees, customers,
and production worldwide." ("The Globally integrated Enterprise" Samuel
Palmisano, Foreign Affairs page 130)

"60,000manufacturing plants" in 3 years?!?

"Banks, insurance companies, professional-service firms, and IT
companies"?

No job is safe. American elites and corporate tycoons are loading
the boats and heading for foreign shores. The only thing they're leaving
behind is the insurmountable debt that will be shackled to our children
into perpetuity and the carefully arranged levers of a modern
police-surveillance state.

Welcome to Bush's 21st Century gulag; third world luxury in a
Guantanamo-type setting.

Take another look at Cheney's investment strategy; it tells the
whole ugly story. Interest rates are going up, the middle class is going
down, and the poor dollar is headed for the dumpster. The country is not
simply teetering on the brink of financial collapse; it is being thrust
headfirst by the blackguards in office and their satrapies at Federal
Reserve.
=====------------------------------------------------------------------

15. depleted uranium--Army Mar 14 info--comments
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:15:11 -1000
From: "Cory (Martha) Harden" <mh@interpac.net>

Comments by Dr. Lorrin Pang on March 14 Army info on DU, which I sent
earlier--

^ÓLot of it is terminology which probably is imprecise and renders
interpretaiton confusing, e.g. "deconfliciton". Looks to me like: They
bombed in the Davey Crockett [spotting round] zones. They did air
monitoring (and by this I mean fly over monitoring from the air) looking
at too great a distance and looking for beta and gamma (the correct
sampling methodology would have been straight forward enough). They did
dust count averaging/analysis. This is no way to pick up spikes. Why they
conitnue to discount the CPM [counts per minute] air sampling methodology
is beyond me. They still have not answered my "homework" findings that
very small bits of DU can be picked up by this gamma scout method. They
will give us a health risk report based on their own health threshold
criteria - all along I have asked for comparison to control sites to show
us elevated DU readings, regardless of what cut-off they choose to set.
The bottom line is that they have to convince me that their method is good
enough to pick up DU penetrator contamination if it had been used. So far
I am not convinced.^Ô

My comments-- Page 3 seems to show the edges of the bombing area (yellow)
were on top of the area where the spotting rounds containing DU landed. I
would guess bombs landing on or near the spotting rounds could pulverize
DU into tiny particles, and ignite it, creating DU compounds. The
particles and compounds getting into the air and then into people's lungs
has been reported to cause major health problems.

Cory Harden
Sierra Club, Moku Loa group
PO Box 1137
Hilo, Hawaii 96721
808-968-8965 mh@interpac.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------

16. Colette Machado letter to Honolulu Advertiser - Molokai Ranch closure
caused by angry activists
From: Adam T. Kahualaulani Mick <kahualaulani2@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 8:47 am

Aloha Kakou,
The following is Collette Machado's letter to the
Honolulu Advertiser. I hope it inspires some of you to write letters in
response, and send them in to both the Advertiser and the Star Bulletin.
Mahalo,
Kahualaulani

SENATE SUCCUMBING TO ANGRY ACTIVISTS

The recent closing of Molokai Ranch is a sad story of how the angry and
unreasonable voices of a minority of Moloka'i residents caused the rest of
the Friendly Isle to suffer. After a lengthy consultation with the
community, Molokai Ranch agreed to turn over 50,000 acres to a public
trust to maintain the open space lifestyle of Moloka'i in exchange for the
right to develop a high-quality residential project at La'au Point. The
loud activists caused the politicians to stop the project. Now 120
residents are without jobs and Moloka'i will not be getting the
50,000-acre trust and revenue in perpetuity from the development project.
A similar thing is happening with the OHA proposed settlement. The Senate
is succumbing to angry activists. The settlement is a reasonable
compromise. Leaders can never satisfy everyone. If the Senate does not
like the settlement, then improve it but do not lose this golden
opportunity like Moloka'i did. Life is fragile and full of examples of
where an un-acted upon opportunity today becomes a forever-lost
opportunity tomorrow.

Colette Machado
Trustee, Moloka'i and Lana'i, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
________________________________________________________________________________

Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:07:13 -1000
From: pennysfh@hawaii.rr.com
17. mason bees - warning

[of course penny's right. i knew there was something nagging at the back
of my mind... g]

Aloha all; I noticed the email on Mason bees in the last local stuffs
blog. Mason bees are prohibited for import into Hawaii.

Importing new insects is a challenge for Hawaii for a number of reasons:

1. They may bring new parasites and diseases (ie. the varroa mites that
have now infested hives all over Oahu)
2. They may compete with other pollinators present; especially native ones
3. They may throw off pollination of certain species; ie. increasing
flowering and fruiting cycles.

Mason bees are not too good at widespread, multi-species pollination, but
have a narrow group of species they prefer. Lots of "urban plant species"
(non-native, introduced) used in yards and landscapes in Hawaii which fall
into that category can actually become hardy invasives. Adding a highly
successful pollinator to the mix could tip the balance of a somewhat
successful introduced plant species into the realm of super-invader - as
the plant spreads over the land, so would the mason bees because they
would follow their host plants. That further increases the threat of
introduced species pushing into native habitat and to the displacement of
native pollinators on which our native plant species depend.

Mahalo
Penny
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

17. Nature 2, Corps 0 - comment
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:30:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: Milogic@aol.com

A couple of folks here are attempting to get Hawaii County on the rolls
for this one.
------
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:00:00 -0700
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>

"The peoples of the Towns of Nottingham and Barnstead have acted in
the best tradition of liberty and freedom, and confronted injustice in the
form of a state-permitted corporate assault against the consent of the
sovereign peopleâ^À¦" <snip>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

18. "La'au Point opponents not at fault" - Lee Cataluna article - Honolulu
Advertiser
From: Adam T. Kahualaulani Mick
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 8:57 AM

HonoluluAdvertiser.com
March 28, 2008
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008803280357
La'au Point opponents not at fault
By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Don't blame Walter Ritte.

What, should he have kept his thoughts to himself and just watched as
Moloka'i was turned into another Kapalua or Princeville or Makena? Should
he have kept his mouth shut while more land was developed and more water
secured just so his neighbors could keep their jobs with the company he
felt was planning irreparable damage?

That's un-American. That's un-Hawaiian. And that's wrong.

Ritte and other opponents of the La'au Point development did what they
felt was right. But how can the owner of Molokai Ranch justify its actions
as right?

Blame the owner of Molokai Ranch, GuocoLeisure, for hurting their own
workers, for putting an ultimatum on their huge development plans and then
playing the "Oh yeah? Well forget you guys!" card.

Blame GuocoLeisure for running a business that couldn't support itself as
a ranch or hotel without turning into a real estate developer. This
multi-million-dollar offshore company isn't taking a hit with this
shutdown. The owners won't feel any turbulence.

Molokai Ranch owners ordered the shutdown after plans for a 200-lot luxury
home development at La'au Point hit various snags, in part because of the
efforts of activists to demand answers to questions like, "Hey, where you
folks planning on getting the water for all this, huh?"

Maybe Moloka'i shouldn't be a luxury resort destination. Rich people who
want to "get away from it all" seldom want to truly get away from it ALL.
They want their amenities and conveniences, things that even a
well-stocked Tentalow couldn't offer. Grocery stores and restaurants,
shopping districts and hip nighttime events. The developers' word for that
is "infrastructure." The real word for that is "urbanization."

The reality of selling off hidden Hawai'i to luxury home development is
paving over paradise, taming the untamed acres and structuring a caste
system of the ones who can afford the land and the ones who have jobs
cleaning the mansions.

Kaluako'i hotel has been shuttered for years. The island can't support the
visitor industry at that level, the rent-a-room for a few days level.
Perhaps it can't, or shouldn't, be expected to take on the Hokuli'a vision
of wealthy part-time residents who dabble in the local community.

It is sad and wrong that so many Moloka'i people will be without jobs to
support their families. It is also sad and wrong that for so many Moloka'i
people, the only way to support their families is by taking jobs with a
company that doesn't have the best interests of the island or its people
at heart.

Reach Lee Cataluna at lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.
________________________________________________________________________________

19. March Madness: Bills, Bikes and More
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:37:11 -1000
From: Rep. Thomas Waters <repwaters@capitol.hawaii.gov>

Aloha all! Earlier this month we passed the half-way point of the 2008
Legislative Session, or "crossover," which was when the Senate bills
crossed over to the House and the House bills were sent to the Senate. I
want to keep every one updated on what is going on both inside the
Capitol, and outside in our community.

Sweeping Lanikai

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officers have been stepping up their
issuing of citations in the Lanikai loop area, to help reduce the amount
of illegal parking and to send a warning to potential violators. They are
performing multiple sweeps, during all three watches, each week day, and
are increasing their ticketing even more on weekends.

I asked HPD to perform this citation sweep after receiving several
inquiries about the illegally parked vehicles along Aalapapa and Mokulua
Drives. If you are familiar with this area, you know that illegally
parked vehicles have been a major cause of concern to residents, because
the cars force pedestrians and bicyclists to walk and ride around the
obstruction and into the middle of the roadway, hinder other motorists'
vision of oncoming traffic, often block part of the street, and are a
major cause of traffic congestion.

I would like to extend a warm mahalo to all of you who contacted me about
this issue, and I am pleased that HPD is addressing the situation. If you
have friends or relatives visiting the Lanikai area, please remember to
alert them to park safely and legally!

Bike Lane Bill

The bill I introduced that prohibits cars from parking in bike paths and
carries a $500 fine, HB3249, House Draft 1 (HD1), was recently heard and
passed by the Senate Transportation and International Affairs Committee.
I introduced this bill to help combat the chronic traffic violation issue
in Lanikai, caused by tour buses, rental cars, and limos, and I'm hopeful
that this bill- coupled with the increase in citations- will serve as a
deterrent.

HB3249 HD1 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and I am
optimistic that it will be scheduled for a hearing and will continue
moving through the legislative process. Click here if you would like to
track the status of this bill, or check periodically to find out if it has
been scheduled for a hearing.

Legislature 101: Bills vs. Resolutions

So if you aren't sure what the difference is between a bill and a
resolution, you're not alone. Often times we in the Legislature forget
that many people aren't familiar with our day-to-day terms. Basically, a
bill is a draft of a proposed law presented for approval to the
Legislature, and a resolution (or "reso") is a measure expressing the
will, wish, or direction of the Legislature. A Simple Resolution, such as
HR125 (House Resolution 125), is adopted by a single chamber of the
Legislature, and a House Concurrent Resolution, such as HCR123, (House
Concurrent Resolution 123) is adopted by both chambers of the Legislature.

I thought you might be interested in a few resolutions- listed below- that
I have recently introduced or co-sponsored:

* Autism Health Coverage (HCR62): Requesting the Auditor to assess the
social and financial effects of requiring health insurers to provide
coverage for diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

* Kawai Nui Marsh (HCR219): Requesting the Department of Land and
Natural Resources to regularly consult with Ho`olaulima ia Kawai Nui
to coordinate efforts to protect, preserve, and maintain the natural,
cultural, and scenic resources of Kawai Nui Marsh.

* Juvenile Waiver Process (HCR297): Requesting the Judiciary to convene
a task force to review the Family Court's judicial waiver process
involving juvenile felony defendants.

* Medical Tort Reform (HCR349): Requesting the Legislative Reference
Bureau to study the effects of medical tort reform on access to
health care.

HCR349 is especially significant, because of the importance of retaining
our current physicians and attracting new specialists to our state.
Doctors say there are several factors driving their decisions to give up
on-call shifts, retire early, or leave the state; and that it's not
entirely due to Hawaii's current medical liability laws. The low pay-
when compared to their mainland counterparts- is a big factor; and it's
the same reason why many of our police and teachers decide to move to the
mainland. Government and private medical reimbursements being too low,
the difficult hours, high-risk nature, and high malpractice premiums are
just some of the issues that affect Isle doctors' decisions to leave their
practices. Although I have done plenty of research myself to reach these
conclusions, I introduced HCR349 for a thorough, non-biased study to be
conducted; and I'll be the first to admit I am wrong if it shows that
reform will improve access to healthcare.

The resolution requests the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) to study
the effects of medical tort reform on access to health care and to submit
a report of its findings to the Legislature no later than twenty days
prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009. In working towards
the goal of ensuring consumer access to affordable, quality health care in
this State, it is necessary to obtain an understanding of how rising
medical malpractice premiums might affect access to health care and the
practice of medicine on the whole by looking at states with varying
medical tort reform laws and examining available data in Hawaii. LRB is
requested to review available information concerning the benefits and
burdens to states that have adopted medical tort reform, or medical
liability reform, and to include in its report:

* Trends over time of physician relocation into or away from rural and
shortage areas in those states.

* Changes in the number of specialist physicians entering or leaving
those states.

* Increases or decreases in malpractice insurance premium rates for
physicians in those states and associated causes.

· An analysis of the Hawaii Medical Claims Conciliation Panel (MCCP),
which currently reviews claims brought against doctors, and consists of
three members: a chairperson, an attorney and a doctor who is of the same
specialty as the health care provider named in the claim.

* Changes in the number of specialist physicians currently practicing
in Hawaii.

* Trends over time of specialist physicians entering or leaving Hawaii.

* To the extent available, the current salaries and medical malpractice
insurance costs for physicians in Hawaii, contrasted with physicians
in other states.

If you would like to learn more about any of these resolutions, you can
track them on your own by visiting the Capitol website.

Please contact my office if you have any questions, or if you need
additional information. If you would like to be removed from my email
list- and I hope you don't- please email me back and tell me so. Have a
great weekend!

Sincerely,

Tommy Waters
State Representative, District 51
Lanikai, Waimanalo
Email: repwaters@capitol.hawaii.gov
Tel: 808-586-9450
Fax: 808-586-9456
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

20. More about Percy Schmeiser
From: Cassandra Lista
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 3:51 PM

WEB PROGRAM OF THE WEEK:
INTERVIEW WITH CANADIAN FAMILY FARMER WHO
DEFEATED GOLIATH MONSANTO

Saskatchewan Farmer, Percy Schmeiser, has spent the last
decade bogged down in court battles with the Monsanto
Corporation. Monsanto originally sued Schmeiser for
unintentionally growing the company's patented canola seeds,
even though the biotech plants that were growing in
Schmeiser's field were there due to drift and contamination.
The courts originally ruled in favor of Monsanto, saying that
regardless of contamination, a farmer cannot grow patented
seeds. But Schmeiser recently counter-sued Monsanto, claiming
the company should be liable for the damages that their
property causes others. Last week, Monsanto settled out of
court and paid Schmeiser what it cost to have the invading
biotech plants removed. Listen to this radio interview with
Percy Schmeiser shortly after the landmark settlement:

http://www.cjly.net/deconstructingdinner/032008.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

21. Do your part March 29th at 8PM...
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:52:14 -0500 (EST)
From: James Ray <jamesray@jamesray.com>

Something big is happening March 29th at 8PM...

There's a huge global event taking place tonight. I know it's late notice,
but it's really just that important.

By now you're aware that I'm extremely committed to keeping our planet in
an ever-increasing state of harmony through health, vibrancy and
abundance, which is why I've committed myself and my business to being
green and asked you to do the same.

Now I'm asking you to step up to the plate tomorrow night...

So here's the scoop. It's called Earth Hour, and it's so simple to
participate, yet it's powerful beyond imagination. You won't even believe
the impact you'll make.

How? By turning off all lights for just one hour tomorrow night, Saturday,
March 29, starting at 8PM (your local time).

That's right, for just one hour.

This event was created by the World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia in
2007... and the impact it created was so huge that it's blossomed to a
global event within only a year. Last year, it reduced Sydney's energy
consumption by a whopping 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent of
taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year!

Well, they're doing the same thing tomorrow night, but this time it's
global and with many more millions of people around the world involved.
Imagine the impact!

Please join me in bringing harmony to the earth tomorrow night. Go
ahead, turn out those lights!

For more information about Earth Hour and what you can do, watch the video
below or visit www.earthhour.org.
----

Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:09:18 -1000
From: Viviane Lerner <vivlerner@gmail.com>

2 1/2 mn. video on site.
=========
http://www2.earthhourus.org/
Earth Hour - North America
On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world
in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights
for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in
one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In
2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic
organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for
Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will
participate, including the US flagships^Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and
San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. View
cities involved around the world.

We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to
turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local
time)^whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in
a big city or a small town.

What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas.

Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our
planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change.
Don^t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.

One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!
--------

Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:16:41 -1000
From: Laweleka <laweleka@yahoo.com>

I just found out about this event where millions of people around the
world are joining together to make a statement about climate change by
turning their lights off for an hour. It's called Earth Hour and I just
signed-up to participate-I thought it might be something you'd want to
sign up for too. Earth Hour is on March 29 from 8 - 9 p.m. local time, and
it looks like it's going to be really big. So far 25 cities around the
world are taking part, including Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San
Francisco in the U.S.

And remember - Lights Out on March 29!
________________________________________________________________________________

22. SCR138 SD1 with amendments requesting a financial and managerial
audit of OHA
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:35:22 -1000
From: Kealii Makekau <kealii8@lava.net>

How can you assist? 1) Submit your testimony in SUPPORT of
SCR138 SD1 with Amendments & 2) Cut and paste the text of
this email and forward to your network encouraging them to
send in testimony in SUPPORT of SCR138 SD1 with Amendments.

Update:

Pertaining to SCR138 SD1, requesting a financial and
managerial audit of OHA, the Senate (4-0) passed the
resolution with amendments (removing the current whereas
clauses and replacing it with language from the OHA 2005
audit that can be found at

http://hawaii.gov/auditor/Overviews/2005/05-03%20overview.pdf

<http://hawaii.gov/auditor/Overviews/2005/05-03%20overview.pdf>
). The resolution now moves to WAM (Ways and Means).
Testimony in SUPPORT now needs to be directed to WAM. The
resolution is requesting that M. Higa complete the regularly
scheduled audit according to HRS 10-14.55 on time and submit
prior to the 2009 Opening Session.

OHA opposed SCR138 SD1. OHA used the time to argue for the
Ceded Land Settlement, rather than addressing SCR138 SD1
requesting a financial and managerial audit of OHA. According
to the committee members, SCR138 SD1 was submitted to the
House by Hawaiian beneficiaries who shared concerns about
OHA's fiscal and management practices. Hawaiian beneficiaries
voiced concerns about the amount of funds expended on OHA's
agenda and propoganda, rather than expending funds on
bettering the lives of beneficiaries. The committee members
confirmed that the House unfortunately missed the submittal
due date, because a key member was ill and forced them to
remain out of the office.

Here are the votes:

3/27/2008 S The committee(s) on AHW recommend(s) that the
measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AHW were as
follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Tokuda, Gabbard, Kokubun, Slom;
Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2
Excused: Senator(s) English, Hee.
Sending testimony:

Testimony in SUPPORT for SCR138 SD1 with amendments is needed
and has been drafted below for your use. Please feel free to
cut and paste the text below to your email and submit to the
Ways and Means (WAM) Committee. Please use all three email
addresses below when sending in your SUPPORT testimony.

testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
<mailto:testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov> ,
senbaker@Capitol.hawaii.gov, sentsutsui@Capitol.hawaii.gov
<mailto:sentsutsui@Capitol.hawaii.gov>

Example One

The Senate
Twenty-Fourth Legislature
Regular Session of 2008
State of Hawai`i

March 28, 2008

To Senate Committee:

Ways and Means
Chair Rosalyn H. Baker and Vice Chair Shan S. Tsutsui

Subject: Testimony in Support of to SCR138 SD1 with
Amendments (Financial and Management Audit of the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs)

The Senate deserves applause for moving SCR138 SD1 with
amendments requesting a financial and management audit of the
Office of Hawaiian Affairs forward. The requested audit is
about trust accountability and transparency owed to the
native beneficiaries and the community-at-large.

OHA Trustees and Administration have a fiduciary
responsibility and obligation to act exclusively in the
interest of native beneficiaries. The request of a financial
and management audit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will
provide native beneficiaries with an open and honest "report
card," pertaining to the trust derived from the public land
trust. Therefore, I submit my testimony in support of SCR138
SD1 with amendments.

Sincerely,

Name
City & State

Example Two

The Senate
Twenty-Fourth Legislature
Regular Session of 2008
State of Hawai`i

March 28, 2008

To Senate Committees:

Ways and Means
Chair Rosalyn H. Baker and Vice Chair Shan S. Tsutsui

Subject: Testimony in Support of to SCR138 SD1 with
Amendments (Financial and Management Audit of the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs)

SCR138 SD1 with amendments requesting a financial and
management audit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs
demonstrates the Senate's responsibility to ensure that
Chapter 10 of the Hawai`i Revised Statutes is being
administered appropriately. The audit of the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs is about due diligence. Thus, I support
SCR138 SD1 with amendments.

Sincerely,

Name
City & State
________________________________________________________________________________

23. Voices Health/Environment News
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:49:35 -0600
From: nimchira <tepaatu@gmail.com>

News from the Health and Environmental Communities.
Published since Nov, 2005
March 28, 2008

In This Issue:

Todays Recalls:

Bounty Fresh, LLC. Recalls Cantaloupe Because of Possible Health Risk-All
boxes also contain the Chestnut Hill Farms logo.
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/bountyfresh03_08.html

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. Recalls Whole Cantaloupes Grown by
Agropecuaria Montelibano, Honduras, Due to Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/chiquita03_08.html

The FDA notified consumers of a recall of, and advised them not to
purchase or consume, the liquid dietary supplement products, Total Body
Formula in the flavors of Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar, or Total Body
Mega Formula in the Orange/Tangerine flavor. The Florida Department of
Health recently provided reports to the FDA on 23 individuals who
experienced serious reactions to these products seven to 10 days after
ingestion. In all cases, the reactions included significant hair loss,
muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain and fatigue. FDA laboratories are
analyzing samples of the products to identify the cause of the reactions.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm

Spokane Produce Recalls Cut Cantaloupe Products Because of Possible
Product Risk - Spokane Produce, Inc. of Spokane, Washington is recalling
Garden Patch, Yokes, and Rosauers Classic labels of various products of
fresh cut and cut fruits containing cantaloupe, because they have the
potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause
serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly
people, and others with weakened immune systems.
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/spokaneproduce03_08.html
=========

Sleep Apnea Can Be Dangerous-Prompt diagnosis and treatment essential.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/03/geezer053.html

Warming affects trees, streams in West - Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080328/ap_on_sc/warming_west

Tourists drawn to Hawaii volcano burst - Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080328/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_kilauea_eruption

An historic document from the 124,000-member American College of
Physicians certifies the medical value of marijuana.
http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/80582/

Tens of thousands of veterans suffer from severe mental and physical
injuries. A new documentary tells one soldier's story.
http://www.alternet.org/movies/80607/

School-gate fast food ban urged Schools are urged close their gates at
lunch to prevent children swapping their school meal for a takeaway.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7317389.stm

Global warming felt more in Western U.S. The American West is heating up
faster than any other region of the United States, and faster than the
Earth as a whole, according to a new analysis of 50 scientific studies.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10824/3057/13575/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5sYXRpbWVzLmNvbS9uZXdzL25hdGlvbndvcmxkL2xhLW5hLWNsaW1hdGUyOG1hcjI4LDAsNDM2NDcwNS5zdG9yeQ%3d%3d&x=9cf7b626

As uranium firms eye N.M., Navajos are wary. Twenty years after uranium
mining ceased in New Mexico amid plummeting prices for the ore, global
warming and the soaring cost of oil are renewing interest in nuclear power
-- and in the state's uranium belt.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10824/3057/13579/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vd3AtZHluL2NvbnRlbnQvYXJ0aWNsZS8yMDA4LzAzLzI3L0FSMjAwODAzMjcwMzQzMi5odG1s&x=323a8170

Study links Parkinson's to pesticide exposure.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10824/3057/13581/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ndWFyZGlhbi5jby51ay9zY2llbmNlLzIwMDgvbWFyLzI4L3BhcmtpbnNvbnMuZGlzZWFzZQ%3d%3d&x=b110150d

Warning on plastic's toxic threat.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10824/3057/13583/0/?u=aHR0cDovL25ld3MuYmJjLmNvLnVrLzIvaGkvc2NpZW5jZS9uYXR1cmUvNzMxNjQ0MS5zdG0%3d&x=ecd3
3310

Long-forgotten storage tanks could lie under Austin. Nearly 1,000 old,
unregulated underground storage tanks could sit beneath the streets of
downtown Austin, a city study has found.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10824/3057/13585/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGF0ZXNtYW4uY29tL25ld3MvY29udGVudC9uZXdzL3N0b3JpZXMvbG9jYWwvMDMvMjgvMDMyOHRhbmtzLmh0bWw%3d&x=64545fdf

Neglected toxic waste plume worries neighborhood. A toxic plume of
industrial waste discovered by workers building the Pinellas Trail 17
years ago is now coursing through groundwater beneath parks, playgrounds
and hundreds of homes, according to samples drawn from test wells.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10824/3057/13590/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dzIudGJvLmNvbS9jb250ZW50LzIwMDgvbWFyLzI3L25lZ2xlY3RlZC10b3hpYy13YXN0ZS1wbHVtZS13b3JyaWVzLW5laWdoYm9yaG9vZC8%3d&x=48ab8228

Contaminated homes denied funds. It was one thing for Leatrice Roberts to
find out that the government had sold her a townhome built on top of a
waste dump. But then, at age 74, she learned that the Road Home can't buy
her out because the land is contaminated.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10824/3057/13595/0/?u=aHR0cDovL2Jsb2cubm9sYS5jb20vdXBkYXRlcy8yMDA4LzAzL2NvbnRhbWluYXRlZF9ob21lc19kZW5pZWRfZnVuZC5odG1s&x=5b995bf7

Lead found in donated venison at food shelves. Minnesota food pantry
shelves will halt distribution of venison donated by hunters after lead
particles were discovered in ground venison at North Dakota food pantry
shelves.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10824/3057/13596/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFydHJpYnVuZS5jb20vc3BvcnRzL291dGRvb3JzLzE3MDcyMDk2Lmh0bWw%3d&x=3e609dd2

Broken Ice in Antarctica http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032808H.shtml
==========

Diabetic Latinos Shouldn't Embrace a U.S. Diet - According to a study from
the Medical University of South Carolina, diabetic Latinos living in the
U.S. may be healthier if they stick to their traditional foods rather than
adopting an American diet. http://www.lifescript.com/NL/41749_20428878.htm
===========

On March 27, 2008, FDA approved a new HIV diagnostic test, the VITROS
Anti-HIV 1+2 Reagent Pack and VITROS Anti-HIV 1+2 Calibrator, manufactured
by Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics. The VITROS Anti-HIV 1+2 Reagent Pack and
VITROS Anti-HIV 1+2 Calibrator is an in vitro chemiluminescent immunoassay
intended for the in vitro qualitative detection of antibodies to human
immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 in human serum and plasma using the
VITROS ECi/ECiQ Immunodiagnostic System.

The results of the VITROS Anti-HIV 1+2 assay, in conjunction with other
serological evidence and clinical information may be used as an aid in the
diagnosis of infection with HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 in persons with signs or
symptoms of, or at risk for, HIV infection.

The assay is highly sensitive and specific for the detection of anti-HIV
types 1 and 2 antibody. The VITROS ECi/ECiQ Immunodiagnostic System is
fully automated, reducing the potential for operator errors, with
redundant checks to ensure integrity of the system. This automation allows
for increased efficiency and convenience.

FDA-approved assays for diagnosis and donor screening for HIV are listed
at http://www.fda.gov/cber/products/testkits.htm
=============

Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of International Copyright
Law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html

24. Who really pays for health care? - Senior News from Suddenly Senior
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:19:24 -1000
From: pilipo souza <pilipohale@hawaii.rr.com>

Aloha kakou,

Just to clear up your vagueness of Medicare and while in the position. You
see, by the time we become age 70 we have spent the past 5 years in
confusion. By 70 we are suppose to be of the indoctrination that well
anything is better than nothing. And if the Lord blesses you with good
health and you don't abuse his blessing you won't know and are truly
blessed. But I know of people who are paying 50 to 60 percent of their
income in medication to keep their miserable state of life going.

Tip of the Day: Wal-Greens online has great savings on Vasoline. Replace
coca- cola and milk with garlic and ginger. Your farts will stink but you
feel great! We have been indoctrinated it is bad to fart in public. That
is bull shit. For 65 years I farted in secret, by myself. Not anymore.
Since 65 I feel so much better and feel great and less gatherings around
me.

Oh yes, BOHICA you too!
pilipo

----- Original Message ----- From: Frank Kaiser
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:08 PM

Who really pays for health care?
By Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Victor R. Fuchs
Chicago Tribune, March 27, 2008

Who really pays for health care in the United States?

Americans believe employers pay the bulk of workers' premiums, government
pays for Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance
Program and individuals pay some premiums as well as deductibles and
co-pays. This is wrong. Business, government and individuals do not share
the financial responsibility for health coverage. Individuals bear the
full cost of health care through lower wages and taxes.

Employers like to say--and often believe--that they pay for health care.
They complain that the huge increases in health-care costs are coming out
of their bottom lines--as if costs come out of profits. Union leaders also
like to have their members think that health benefits are a bonus on top
of wages and that the leadership is negotiating hard to get them the free
benefit.

Employers sponsor health insurance for the majority of Americans, but that
is not the same as employers bearing the cost for workers' health
insurance. Wages and fringe benefits, such as health insurance, are simply
components of overall worker compensation. When employers provide health
insurance to workers, they may define the benefits, select the health plan
to manage the benefits and collect the funds to pay the health plan, but
they do not bear the ultimate cost. What is labeled as employers'
contribution to the health-insurance premium is really paid for by
employees through lower wages and take-home pay.

Looking at the facts This cost-wage trade-off is usually well hidden from
employers and workers, but many studies show that it is a painful reality
for average Americans. For instance, over the last 30 years,
health-insurance premiums have increased by 300 percent after adjustment
for inflation. During that time, after-tax corporate profits per employee
have increased 200 percent, while workers' average hourly earnings,
adjusted for inflation, decreased by 4 percent. Rather than coming out of
corporate profits, the increasing cost of health care has resulted in
relatively flat wages for 30 years.

To illustrate, consider Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Safeway Inc. Wal-Mart, a
non-unionized retail giant, is notorious for skimpy health benefits. From
2004 through 2006, its after-tax profits averaged 1.9 percent of sales.
Safeway, a highly unionized supermarket chain, offers generous health
benefits that cost more than 2 percent of sales. But in 2004 through 2006,
its after-tax profits averaged 1.8 percent of sales, virtually the same as
Wal-Mart. The difference between Wal-Mart and Safeway in the provision of
health benefits is not found in the companies' profits.

Another way to see this is to compare the change in workers' wages with
the change in health-care costs. Why were the mid-1990s such good economic
times for average Americans? Between 1994 and 1999, the growth in
health-care costs was low and therefore wages went up. But from 1988 to
1991 and 2001 to 2004, health-care costs went up rapidly, sending wages
down.

What about Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP? The government's funds for health
care don't come from governors, senators, representatives or the
president. When government pays for increases in health-care costs, it
taxes current citizens, borrows--asking future taxpayers to foot the
bill--or reduces other state services that benefit citizens. Health-care
costs are now the single largest state expenditure, exceeding even
education. Recently, as costs for Medicaid and other government
health-care programs have increased faster than tax receipts, states have
resorted to cutting the funds for education, forcing the substantial
recent rise in tuition and fees for state colleges. Middle-class families,
falling victim to rising health-care costs, are finding it harder to pay
for their children's education. Time to get serious So, what does the
trade-off mean?

First, Americans need to forget about the myth of a free lunch. Workers
are not getting something from employers while paying nothing. They are
paying for their health insurance, including the premiums supposedly
contributed by their employers.

Second, to help the struggling middle class, we need to get health-care
costs under control. There is no way to have a sustained rise in
middle-class incomes without restraining the growth in health-care
expenditures. Similarly, if we want government to invest in better primary
education and more affordable colleges we need to find a way to hold down
the cost of health care. We are robbing our children to pay for medicine.
We need to rewrite the social contract in America. We need to get
employers out of providing health insurance. It is one of the most
inefficient ways to get people covered, and it impedes efforts to keep
costs down.

Instead, we need to provide all Americans with a standard benefits package
regardless of their income, employment status, health status or age. This
will provide Americans invaluable peace of mind, defuse labor-management
conflict and get people to focus on value and determining whether more
health care is worth the added costs. Keeping costs sane How do we get
health-care costs under control? We need to eliminate the overuse of
medical tests and treatments. For instance, studies have shown that
doctors perform more than twice as many Caesarean sections in Miami and
Fresno, Calif., as in Minneapolis, even after taking into account the
differences among patients--with no improvement in the health of mothers
or babies. Similarly, many studies show that more hospitalizations, use of
specialists and frequent tests do not lead to improved survival rates or
quality of life--just much higher costs. Further we need to use
cost-effective medical care when there are options.

This is obvious for prescribing generic drugs rather than similar
brand-name drugs, but it is also true for tests and treatments. Most
important, patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart
failure and emphysema account for 70 percent of health-care costs. We need
more coordinated care with fewer specialists involved to keep these
patients taking their medications, adhering to their diets and other
treatments, and staying out of hospitals where costs are high.

Achieving these changes will not be easy, but three policy changes will
set the necessary foundation. First, an Institute for Technology and
Outcomes Assessment is critical to collecting information comparing the
effectiveness and costs of different medical interventions. That data will
allow doctors to choose the most effective treatments. Second, we need a
crash program to institute electronic medical records. Today, only 15
percent of doctors and 25 percent of hospitals have computerized records.
The government has to provide financial incentives and mandate that within
five years all doctors and hospitals have interoperable electronic medical
records.

Finally, we need to change how we pay doctors and hospitals. Most doctors
are paid fee-for-services, that is they get money for doing more tests and
procedures and not for coordinating care and ensuring high quality medical
care. Doctors need to be paid on the basis of performance and patient
outcomes.

Controlling health-care costs is not easy, but for average Americans it is
the only way to sustainably increase wages. And if we do it right, it will
actually improve the quality of health care.

Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel is chair of the department of bioethics at The
Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health. Victor R. Fuchs is a
professor of economics (emeritus) at Stanford University. Copyright ©
2008, Chicago Tribune
************************* ----------------------------------------------

25. Army's Depleted Uranium update Pohakuloa
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:12:50 -1000
From: Kyle Kajihiro <keboi@aol.com>

It includes maps of 4 "confirmed DU locations" and a map of temporary
bombing zone for B2 bombers to supposedly avoid DU areas. Looks like
despite the denials of any risk, the Army is actually making adjustments
that accede to the community demands. [write to kyle for the update.]
------------------------------------

26. Call for Boycott
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:53:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: George N. Rishmawi <abunimir@yahoo.com>

Dear Friends, I thought this would be of interest,, These are calls from
PACBI to prominant artists to refuse to be part in celebrating the
dispossesion of the Palestinians in 1948 and the destruction of their
villages. Please circulate as wide as you can,,, Thank you George
==========

Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
PACBI
UPDATE No. 25
March 27, 2008
PACBI Letters, and Press Releases

Appeal to U-2's Bono: It's all About Justice: Don't Honor Israel!

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
(PACBI) has learned that you have been invited by Israeli President Shimon
Peres to take part in a conference ... ...more
http://www.pacbi.org/press_releases_more.php?id=674_0_4_0_C

Beatles, don't let it be! Palestinian Dispossession and Israeli Apartheid
are no Cause for Celebration Open Letter to the Beatles

Forty-three years ago, the government of Israel banned your performance in
the country for fear you would corrupt the minds of Israeli youth. Now,
Israel is extending an apology and an invitation to you, hoping you will
forget the past and agree to help celebrate its 60th "birthday." The
Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
(PACBI) urges you to say no to Israel, particularly since the creation of
this state 60 years ago dispossessed and uprooted hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians from their homes and lands, condemning them to a life of
exile and destitution. More...
http://www.pacbi.org/press_releases_more.php?id=655_0_4_0_M

-----------
George N. Rishmawi
The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People (PCR)
Director
Phone: +972(0)2-277-2018 Fax: +972(0)2-277-4602
+970-599-833-888 (cell)
+972-(0)544-351-339 (cell)
www.pcr.ps , www.imemc.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

27. Help stop spread of military radiation in Hawaii
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:06:04 -1000
From: Viviane Lerner <vivlerner@gmail.com>

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/910617757
Help stop spread of military radiation in Hawaii
Sponsored by:
Malu `Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action
Please help save Hawaiian Paradise from the threat of military
radioactive contamination!

To all local, state, and federal officials of Hawaii,

We, the undersigned, request that all live-fire and aerial bombings of the
entire Hawaii Island Pohakuloa military range be immediately stopped until
a thorough, objective and independent survey has been funded (via the
military budget) and completed, along with remediation of contaminated
soils, in order to assure safety of troops, tourists, and residents.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Sincerely,

Malu `Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

28. HI Superferry: Act. 2 Testimony...Enough Liferafts?
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:26:22 -1000
From: Brad Parsons <mauibrad@hotmail.com>

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2008
HI Superferry: Act. 2 Testimony...Enough Liferafts?

First, there was a lot of good testimony, esp. on Kauai, but the following
written testimony is what I was given. In particular I am looking at the
point brought up regarding adequate numbers of liferafts onboard and
whether liferafts or lifeboats would be required at sea. At a minimum, one
would think there should be enough liferafts for full passenger capacity
on the vessel. First, a useful and interesting cite from the Legislative
web site. Notice it is called the 'Superferry Bill' and not 'a large
capacity ferry vessel company' bill,
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/archives/2007b/:

2007 Second Special Session Superferry Information
HB1 Superferry Bill
SB1 Superferry Bill
Superferry Testimony
Senate Order of the Day 10-29-2007
Maui Courts Superferry Transcripts Sept. 20 - Oct. 9, 2007

From: Richard Hoeppner, March 19, 2008, afternoon testimony for Act. 2,
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/splsession2007b/bills/GM126_.PDF:

'This hearing is an effort in futility, it is a sham, as is Act II that
requires it. Act II is a bastardization of the rule of law and a
prostitution of the legislative process. There are currently two cases
filed with the Hawaii Appeals Court to determine it^Òs constitutionality,
which [should] make this process irrelevant.

The Act itself makes this process irrelevant under Part III, which relates
to this EIS by stating: ^ÓNothing in this Part shall be deemed or
construed to impose a condition precedent to any activity authorized under
Parts I, II, or IV of this act.^Ô

This process is One Million Dollars wasted, and will have NO effect on any
impacts to our environment.

The Governor has thus far blocked an Audit required under Part I, Page 4,
Line 5, relating to how the State determined the exemption for an EIS on
the Superferry. That Audit could also make this process irrelevant, and
[this] should be delayed until that Audit is completed.

If you insist on carrying out a False EIS, then the Act itself demands
that you earn your Million Dollars.

The Act itself lists effects that are likely to be caused by Superferry.
In Part II it lists what effects the Governor must consider on Page 16,
lines 5 through 15. These same effects are listed in Part IV, page 45,
lines 1 through 13, showing the impacts that the task force is to
consider.

Why should you not be required to cover the same issues that the Governor
and the Task Force are required to consider, and they are:

1. Ocean life and marine animals and plants, including a whale avoidance
policy and procedures
2. water resources and quality
3. harbor infrastructure
4. vehicular traffic
5. public safety and security
6. controlling the spread of invasive species
7. cultural resources, including hunting, fishing, and native Hawaiian
resources
8. economic consequences and impact
9. other natural resources and community concerns

Item (5) line 10 of Page 16 lists ^ÓPublic safety and security^Ô which
hasn^Òt been talked about very much. With Superferry history of
seasickness and floors afloat with vomit because they ran out of barf
bags, there has to be a health issue that should be examined.

If Superferry hits a[...] whale and causes more damage to the auxiliary
rudders, could the hulls be cracked to an even greater extent, causing the
craft to sink? The Coast Guard distinguishes between ^Ólife boats^Ô and
^Ólife rafts^Ô for ocean going vessels. Does Superferry have sufficient
safety craft on board to accomadate the number of passengers it is capable
of carrying? These are issues you must examine.

I [Rich] have [recently] questioned Superferry personnel and to their
knowledge, life vests and '8 to 10 inflatable life rafts are all they have
available....'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liferaft#Liferaft_versus_Lifeboat

Read Act II, the unconstitutional Superferry bill, and you will see what
DOT^Òs own law requires that you do.'

I, Brad, am still researching the above point regarding liferafts and have
a call into people who should know to find out more on this.

Also, Rich Hoeppner had another very interesting statement presented on
July 7, 2007, at the 3rd HSF Meeting w/the Kauai community required by the
Senate. There were about 150 people in attendance at that time:

'There are so many unanswered questions regarding the Hawaii Superferry.
How can so many presumably intelligent people not see the difference
between the Superferry operation and that of Young Brother^Òs and Matson
lines? Both of the latter have been in operation for over a hundred years,
1900 and 1862, have proven themselves effective without causing problems
and without which the outer islands could not function. Everybody knows
the impacts of these companies on the Hawaiian Islands and it is accepted
by all.

The Superferry operation on the other hand is new, unproven, and totally
unique. No other craft sailing Hawaiian waters travels at even half the
speed, no other craft accommodates up to 250 drive on/drive off private
vehicles, no other craft [would dock] at all four major ports on a daily
basis, and no other craft utilizes the narrow catamaran hulls which can be
deadly to whales, as evidenced by similar craft in the Canary Islands.
Nobody knows what the environmental and cultural impact of the Superferry
will be on our islands, except possibly Superferry promoters, causing them
to resist the EIS.

More important than any of the above information, is the integrity and
truthfulness of the people involved in the promotion of this project. They
still advertise their operation as affordable and convenient, with weekend
fares at $52 per person and $65 per car. In very fine print is the mention
of a fuel surcharge based on marine diesel oil (MDO) priced at $300 per
metric ton, with a 2% rise in fare price for each 10% rise is in MDO. They
also know that the present MDO price is $585. It was as high as $790 just
a few months ago and is on the rise since the elections. Is this
deceptive, or outright dishonesty? [MDO is well over $900 per metric ton
right now, 3/29/08, three times the pricing cost that HSF originally
calculated, see: http://www.bunkerworld.com/markets/prices/]

1. They advertise how great it will be for the small farmer from Kauai to
take his produce to Honolulu on the Superferry. That small farmer will
have to pay $1,360 to get his truck and produce to Oahu and back, will get
into Honolulu at 9:30PM from Kauai, will have to pay for a Hotel, and have
only until about 1:30PM the next day to get rid of his produce. He will
have to sell a hell of a [lot] of Papaya to cover that cost. Those
traveling from Oahu to Maui will have to be at the port to be inspected by
about 4AM; that is anything but convenient. Again, where is the honesty?

They advertise that their boat is eco-friendly. I went to a Chamber of
Commerce meeting last week where Superferry was the star. They had a new
folder with allegedly all new information. It was much of the same
information, same claims they have been making about studies and
cooperation with agencies, but again, generalities with no details; the
appendix was not included.

They did have an Austal specification sheet for the Auto Express 107,
their craft, but one very important specification was eliminated form
their Austal sheet. The fact that their superferry burns 1,981 gallons of
diesel fuel per hour, or nearly 12,000 gallons round trip Oahu to Kauai
and back. Is that eco-friendly and does their elimination of that detail
from the spec sheet give an indication of how honest they are, or is it
just one more indication of their deceitful tactics.

2. Mr. Fukanaga claims he and his staff determined that Superferry was
entitled to an exemption from an EIS. Is that true or did the order come
from his boss, Governor Lingle? How did Lehman, Garibaldi and others know
they would get fast track treatment to invest millions without going
through normal channels. The state environmental board has said that this
exemption was wrong. Mr. Fukanaga, did you do an investigation before you
exempted them from an EIS, and invested $40M for barges and ramps at our
docks that can only be utilized by a Superferry type craft? Did you check
the backgrounds of the people involved in Superferry to determine past
history as CEOs, CFOs and VPs in prior ventures?

Were you aware of the background of Mr. Lehman, Chairman of the Board of
Superferry? Is this the same John F. Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy
under Reagan [...]? Is this the same John F. Lehman that was a co-author
of Project for a New American Century, promoting policies that produced
the catastrophe of Iraq, and who was a member of the 911 Commission that
many people think was a white wash of what happened at the twin towers?

Is Mr. Garibaldi the same John Garibaldi that was CFO of Hawaiian Airlines
shortly before they declared bankruptcy, and then accepted an enormous
severance package?

3. Is Mr. O^ÒHalloran the same Terry O^ÒHalloran who is chairman of the
Whale Sanctuary Advisory Committee that approved a whale avoidance policy
of two people with binoculars watching for whales? How convenient to be on
the Sanctuary Advisory Committee and be Director of Business Development
for Superferry. Does this obvious conflict of interest indicate lack of
integrity?

Is Mr. White, Vice President of Superferry, the same Terry White who is
also on the Whale Sanctuary Advisory Committee, and was involved in the
American Classic Cruise Lines that filed the largest bankruptcy in the
history of a U.S. Maritime Administration backed loan, the same U.S.
agency backing a $140M loan for the Superferry.

Did you check the background and financial interests of another superferry
VP, Tig Krekel? Is this the same Tig Krekel who has been President, Vice
President, or CEO, of Corporations such as Boeing Satellite Systems,
Hughes Space and Communications, and Aerospace Equipment Systems group of
Allied Signal? Is this the same Tig Krekel who is involved with a company
named Sea Launch, which launches satellites form the equator directly
south of Hawaii?

Mr. Fukanaga, did you ask for an accounting of financial viability of the
nearly $300M project before committing $40M of harbor funds? Is your
promotion from head of Hawaii Harbors to head of Department of
Transportation justified if you didn^Òt? Many people don^Òt think so.

4. Why did the people who initiated the Superferry operation choose a
vessel 107 meters, 350 feet in length with a capacity of 282 cars and 866
passengers when the former CEO of Austal, Mr. Alan Lerchbackeer
recommended a 73 meter craft with less capacity, less expensive, cheaper
to operate, and less polluting? He also had concerns about the financial
viability, stating that with the current vessel, they will need 400 to 500
passengers per trip to break even. Superferry now estimates [then
estimated] they will have average loads of 400 passengers and half the
vehicles it is capable or carrying. Why did they design the ferry with
roll on/roll off decks so high off the water requiring $40M in dock
modifications? Why the fuel capacity of 56,800 gallons just to do
inter-island travel?

Is this an intentional design for bankruptcy? Will Lehman and Krekel then
purchase the vessels for pennies on the dollar for their intended use?
[...] Many people are questioning the financial viability of the
Superferry operation. Will it end up in bankruptcy with the taxpayers
holding the bag for nearly $200M. Do you think these people are the least
bit interested in the culture or environment of Kauai?

5. With the Senate Bill #1276 headed for the House, it may die there, or
even if it passes the House in it^Òs watered down version, our wonderful
Governor will have final say with a veto, BUT I am sure the over $25,000
in contributions to her last political campaign by individuals connected
with Superferry will not influence her decisions about the bill passing,
which has been backed by Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai County Councils,
and the State Senate. If Senate Bill #1276 would pass the house without
being killed by one single individual, House Rep. Joseph Souki, Governor
Lingle^Òs veto would be going against every single political body in the
State of Hawaii, except Oahu Council.

There is one step left, and it is probably the only thing Superferry will
understand, that is legal action on all the errors they have committed
over the last four years. They say that has already been attempted and
they won, but they leave out the fact that one case is still pending at
the State Supreme Court, and to this date, no court has heard arguments
about the Endangered Species Act or the Marine Mammals Act, and there are
legal entities waiting to see what happens with SB1276. As Yogi Berra
said, 'It ain^Òt over till it^Òs over.''

Richard Hoeppner, July 7, 2007

OK, I'll try to find more on the liferafts. Aloha, Brad
________________________________________________________________________________

29. Bush seeks financial regulation overhaul
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:14:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Laweleka <laweleka@yahoo.com>

If we think things are bad now this is the final throw of our being
suppressed as a Kingdom. This is what will stop OHA and any Hawaiian
program from excelling as it was no doubt meant to be from the very
beginning of course being under STATE and FEDERAL regulations. All the
more reason why OHA, and Hawaiian Programs need to be independent of the
STATE and FEDERAL authorities and we as a nation need to get out of the
clutches of giving any degree of authorities to anyone other then the
Kingdom. Lawe

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080329/ap_on_go_pr_wh/fed_overhaul

Bush seeks financial regulation overhaul

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer 2 hours, 58 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is proposing a sweeping overhaul of
the way the government regulates the nation's financial services industry
from banks and securities firms to mortgage brokers and insurance
companies. ADVERTISEMENT
[b?P=FdPuXkWTVvoKGt.uQemhFQ_bSP1T1Ufugz4ADp12&T=1jgkhsc04%2fX%3d1206813502%2fE%3
d83018502%2fR%3dnews%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d2.1%2fW%3dH%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d900363417%2fH%3
dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJuZXdzIiBjb250ZW50PSJnb3Zlcm5tZW50O21vcnRnYWdlIGJyb2tlcnM7aW5zdXJ
hbmNlO2dpdmU7RmVkZXJhbCBSZXNlcnZlO0ZlZDtmaW5hbmNpYWwgbWFya2V0O2NyZWRpdDtpbnZlc3R
tZW50O2Jhbms7bG9hbnM7bW9ydGdhZ2UgbG9hbnM7Q3VycmVuY3k7c3RvY2s7dHJhZGluZztGdXR1cmV
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lO0RlcHJlc3Npb247ZW52aXJvbm1lbnQ7cmVmdXJsX3VzX2Y2NTRfbWFpbF95YWhvb19jb20iIHJlZnV
ybD0icmVmdXJsX3VzX2Y2NTRfbWFpbF95YWhvb19jb20iIHRvcGljcz0icmVmdXJsX3VzX2Y2NTRfbWF
pbF95YWhvb19jb20i%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dDB519345&U=13bfkn0p7%2fN%3dCzTuBUWTWUU-
%2fC%3d571921.12511341.12863569.1442997%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d5295913] The plan
would give major new powers to the Federal Reserve, according to a 22-page
executive summary obtained by The Associated Press. The Fed would be given
broad authority to oversee financial market stability. That would include
new powers to examine the books of any institution deemed to represent a
potential threat to the proper functioning of the overall financial
system. The proposal, which will be outlined Monday in a speech by
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, is certain to set off heated debates
within different sectors of the financial services industry and in
Congress, where some Democrats are likely to complain that the proposal
does not go far enough to crack down on abuses. The administration divided
its recommendations into short-term goals that could be adopted quickly,
intermediate recommendations and an "optimal" regulatory framework, which
contains a radical restructuring of how the government supervises banks
and other financial institutions. The recommendations are the product of a
yearlong review that was begun in an effort to modernize the government's
regulatory structure so that the country's financial services industries
could better compete in a fast-changing global economy. The plan also
seeks to address problems that have been brought to light in recent months
since a severe credit crisis began roiling financial markets last August.
That crisis has already claimed as its biggest victim Bear Stearns, the
nation's fifth-largest investment bank, which came to the brink of
collapse before a government-arranged purchase by JP Morgan Chase & Co. "I
am not suggesting that more regulation is the answer, or even that more
effective regulation can prevent the periods of financial market stress
that seem to occur every five to 10 years," Paulson will say in the
remarks he will deliver on Monday. But the plan does seek to address
problems highlighted by the current crisis in which the Fed in an
unprecedented move has begun making direct loans to securities firms in an
effort to shore up a system badly shaken by billions of dollars of losses
stemming from sour mortgage loans. The proposal would allow the Fed, in
its new role as "market stability regulator," to dispatch examiners to
check the books not just of commercial banks but of all segments of the
financial services industry. The administration proposal would also
consolidate the current scheme of bank regulation by shutting down the
Office of Thrift Supervision and transferring its functions to the Office
of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates nationally chartered
banks. The plan recommends that the Securities and Exchange Commission,
which regulates stock trading, be merged with the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission, which regulates futures trades for oil, grains and
various other commodities. The plan would create a national regulator for
the insurance industry, which is now largely governed by the states, and
would create a Mortgage Origination Commission to try to address the
abuses exposed in the current tidal wave of mortgage defaults. The role
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues have been playing
to shore up the financial system would be formalized in the administration
plan by giving Fed officials greater power to detect where threats might
be lurking in the system. The proposal is certain to generate intense
scrutiny in Congress and within the financial services industry, where
past efforts to change how regulation is handled have met with fierce
resistance. Many Democrats in Congress are already pushing tougher
proposals that would impose much stricter regulation in an effort to crack
down on abuses exposed by the current credit crisis. Sen. Charles Schumer,
D-N.Y., said he believed Paulson's plan offered some valid suggestions.
"In broad outlines, we agree with large parts of Secretary Paulson's
plan," Schumer, chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, said in a
statement. "He is on the money when he calls for a more unified regulatory
structure, although we would prefer a single regulator to the three he
proposes." Under Paulson's approach, the long-term goal would be to
designate the Fed as market stability regulator and to have a financial
regulator who would focus on financial institutions that operate with
government guarantees such as providing deposit insurance. The
administration plan, which was first reported by The New York Times on its
Web site Friday night, also proposes a business conduct regulator who
would be in charge of overseeing consumer protection issues. The initial
reaction from the securities industry was also positive. "Treasury has
delivered a thoughtful and sweeping plan which should provoke intense
discussion, debate and potential legislative changes," said Tim Ryan,
president of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
"Our present regulatory framework was born of Depression-era events and is
not well suited for today's environment where billions of dollars race
across the globe with the click of a mouse," Ryan said in a statement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

30. SB1789 SD2 Passes out of House Committee on Finance
From: "info" <info@olelo.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 2:36 AM

> Aloha,
>
> Thank you to all of you who were able to submit testimony in support of
> SB1789 SD2. Late this evening (Friday), after hearing many PEG access
> supporters provide heartfelt testimony about the value of PEG access in
> Hawaii on Wednesday, the House Committee on Finance passed the bill
> without amendments.
>
> An overwhelming amount of people submitted testimony in support of an
> exemption for PEG access services from the State's procurement process.
> Very few submitted testimony against. Although we were successful again
> in this on-going effort, there is still more work to be done. We will
> provide you with additional information early next week. We wanted to
> provide you with a quick update, and to thank you for your continued
> support and advocacy of PEG Access in Hawai'i.
>
> Mahalo a nui loa,
> Keali'i Lopez
>
> Keali`i S. Lopez
> President and CEO
> `Olelo Community Television
> 1122 Mapunapuna Street
> Honolulu, HI 96819
> Tel: (808) 834-0007
> Fax: (808) 836-2546
> www.olelo.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

31. West O'ahu Offers New Healthcare Administration Program in News@UH
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:02:51 -1000
From: UH Announce <announce@HAWAII.EDU>

West O'ahu offers new healthcare administration program^×in the March 31
edition of News@UH now online at
http://www.hawaii.edu/newsatuh/2008/0211/index.php

^Õ Davianna McGregor^Òs Na Kua'aina: Living Hawaiian Culture wins best book
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

32. Julian Aguon's book; Dover tomorrow
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:41:35 -0500
From: revolutionbks@yahoo.com

Sunday, March 30, 3-5pm (Tomorrow)
Showing of "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial"

There will be a showing of the Nova show on the Dover Pennsylvania trial
that ruled that "Intelligent Design" was re-packaged creationism. The show
is a re-enactment of the trial, along with lots of personal interviews
with people involved. It's very well-done and is a very good explanation
of "Intelligent Design." As you may know, there is a new movie being
released called "Expelled" arguing that Intelligent Design should be
taught in science classes. It is going to be released in April. The Nova
show is a great rebuttal to the film.

Julian Aguon's book, "What We Bury at Night," has arrived! Julian gave a
wonderful talk and reading at Revolution Books last Thursday. More than 60
people came together to celebrate the book release and share great food
and conversation. But the book had been miss-shipped by the distributor
and wasn't there. It has now arrived. Those who ordered books will have
theirs delivered Monday. Others can pick the book up at the store.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

33. Of Power & Empire by Mumia Abu-Jamal
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:46:00 -1000
From: REDVET <redvet@lava.net>

Of Power & Empire
[col. writ. 3/22/08] (c) '08 Mumia Abu-Jamal

There is still over half a year until election day, and it is unclear
who will prevail.

For argument's sake, let us suppose Sen. Barack Obama (D. - IL)
becomes the history-maker of the hour.

What does that mean?

Well, it depends on whom you ask. For some Americans, it means a true
social transformation in the nature of the nation. For others (especially
those who consider themselves white supremacists) it means a nightmare
come to life.

For international observers, it will be seen as both change and
chance; change in how America is perceived; and a chance for a new road in
U.S. foreign policy.

Some will view it with amazement; others will greet it with relief.

But when I was asked about it recently, my reply was brief; "It means
a brown, new, pretty face for the empire. The present President is seen
as an idiot, and the face of American bellicosity. This guy has brought
so much chaos to bear, that they need a new face -- and Obama brings a new
face.

The interviewer, a foreign journalist, sounded somewhat shocked, but
there it is.

In manner and attitude, the U.S. empire brings to mind the Empire of
Rome.

In ancient Rome, elections were made by proclamation, and acclamation.

That means the would - be emperor would proclaim his right to rule, and if
the Senate (which theoretically represented the People), and more
importantly, the Army, acclaimed that right, the candidate was hailed as
true emperor.

That's the theory, at least, but in reality the army often named
emperors, and everybody else went along with their choice. They chose men
of varying abilities and characters. Some, like Maximin, were brutes much
like the military men who nominated them.

Others, like Nero and Caligula, were madmen, pure and simple.

As the great English historian, Edward Gibbon, in his classic The
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (London: Penguin
Classics, 200 [orig. 1776] wrote of the army as maker of emperors:

The daring hopes of ambition were set loose from the
salutary restraints of law and prejudice; and the meanest of
mankind might, without folly, entertain a hope of being raised by
valour and fortune to a rank in the army, which a single
crime would enable him to wrest the sceptre of the world from his
feeble and unpopular master. After the murder of Alexander
Severus, and the elevation of Maximin, no emperor could think
himself safe upon the throne, and every barbarian peasant of the
frontier might aspire to that august, but dangerous station.
[p.91]

An empire is a lot like a machine, an it matters little who pushes the
button. Empires need figureheads, and figureheads are notoriously
interchangeable -- for the question is, can the machine do, what the
machine does?

In essence, can it work?

A president, no matter how powerful, does not the nation make.

They are, in many ways, the bully-in-chief, who can command not only
military power, but the power to decide which issues will be deemed
important.

But, as we've seen, there are limits to their power. They actually
don't control the economy, for one thing; for another, there are limits to
military power, as Iraq has shown, above all.

With the economy in free-fall, oil prices tripled since the war
started, steroids, medicines, and human waste in drinking water, schools
barely functional, the presidential race seems almost like the latest
distraction.

As for the machine of imperial politics--does it work-for you?

--(c) '09 maj
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

34. LDS Church: Yes to Tourists, No to Locals
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:15:25 -1000
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>

Housing plan dropped
Affordable housing project in Laie ditched
By Kristen Consillio
kconsillio@starbulletin.com

An affiliate of the Mormon church has scrapped plans to build up to 650
homes on Oahu's North Shore.

Hawaii Reserves Inc., the land management company of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints which purchased 890 acres in Malaekahana
between Laie and Kahuku to build a master-planned affordable-housing
community, decided its plan isn't feasible after working on conceptual
plans, countless estimates and feasibility studies.

However, the company is moving forward with a project to replace the
48-room Laie Inn with a 220-room hotel, which is expected to be operated
by Marriott International Inc. The hotel, estimated to cost between $30
million and $35 million, is expected to break ground by mid 2009 and open
in 2010, said Eric Beaver, Hawaii Reserves president and chief executive
officer.

The housing project was estimated to cost between $300 million and $400
million, with infrastructure alone expected to total $200 million, he
said.

"It gets harder and harder to make those kinds of projects pencil," he
said, adding that the credit crunch has exacerbated the situation. "That,
coupled with fairly moderate support in the community, everything combined
to say this is not the right time to be pursuing this."

Pane Meatoga Jr., president of the Laie Community Association, said the
community is in dire need of affordable housing, with as many as 20
percent to 30 percent of multifamily households living in a single-family
unit.

"It's sad because we worked hard all these years, over 20 years trying to
get a housing project and then to go this far and then stop the project,"
Meatoga said. "But to me it's a blessing in disguise because it gives us
an opportunity to stand on our own two feet."

"If or when Hawaii Reserves revisits another housing project depends on
market factors, the political climate, community support and costs, which
become unaffordable after land, infrastructure, material, labor and
administrative expenses are factored into an affordable housing
development, Beaver said.

"That is the crisis in Hawaii how do you build something that's
affordable?" he said.

Kaaawa resident K.C. Connors said she feared HRI's development would have
caused even more traffic jams on Kamehameha Highway and change the rural
character of the area.

"We're just ecstatic because we didn't want the plan," she said. "It
looked to us that their housing plan would make one huge town all the way
from Laie to Kahuku we thought this would ruin the country."

"Aaron Campbell, a partner of Malaekahana Hui West LLC, which is planning
to build affordable homes on 455 acres it owns on the Kahuku end of
Malaekahana, North of the Hawaii Reserves parcel, said the company's
decision to withdraw its plan reflects the difficulty of affordable
housing in Hawaii.

"It is difficult because most developers make their margins on the
building and if you're going to provide an affordable product you need to
get land at a good price, build infrastructure at a good price and build
homes at an affordable price," said Campbell, a 1989 Kahuku High School
graduate. "It's very difficult but, whether or not the economy is bad
right now, the fact remains that people need housing, it's not going to go
away."

"Hawaii Reserves, which owns a total of 6,500 acres in Malaekahana and
Laie, bought 663 acres for about $10 million in 2003 and another 227 acres
for nearly $4 million last year for the proposed residential development,
which ran from Kamehameha Highway up to the mountains.

The company plans to renovate the Laie Shopping Center and hold on to the
parcels slated for development, which are currently being used for
agricultural and grazing operations.
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~----------------------

35. Rudd To Tell Bush Aussie Troops Out Of Iraq
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:10:11 -1000
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>

Rudd To Tell Bush Aussie Troops Out Of Iraq
Saturday: March 29, 2008
(Sydney Morning Herald)

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was expected to tell U.S. President
George W. Bush today that his country will withdraw its troops from Iraq,
the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Rudd and Bush are meeting in Washington, D.C.

"The challenge for the future is how do we partner with America and other
friends and allies in providing other forms of assistance to the
Government of Iraq," Rudd said after arriving in Washington. "I'm
confident of our policy setting and I'm confident we'll do so in close
co-ordination, consultation and harmony with ... the United States."

Rudd said Australia instead would focus on increasing humanitarian and
financial aid for Iraq, and training units of that country's security
forces outside of the country.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bush-alone-on-iraq/2008/03/28/1206207407916.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

36. Suit filed in Hawaii to save the earth...
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:24:56 -1000
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>

...but just more `precautionary principle' nonsense like that anti-GMO
stuff...
m
-------

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/29/us/29collider.span.jpg
Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times

Part of a detector to study results of proton collisions by a particle
accelerator that a federal lawsuit filed in Hawaii seeks to stop.
By DENNIS OVERBYE
Published: March 29, 2008

None of this nor the rest of the grimness on the front page today will
matter a bit, though, if two men pursuing a lawsuit in federal court in
Hawaii turn out to be right. They think a giant particle accelerator that
will begin smashing protons together outside Geneva this summer might
produce a black hole or something else that will spell the end of the
Earth - and maybe the universe.

Scientists say that is very unlikely - though they have done some checking
just to make sure.

The world's physicists have spent 14 years and $8 billion building the
Large Hadron Collider, in which the colliding protons will recreate
energies and conditions last seen a trillionth of a second after the Big
Bang. Researchers will sift the debris from these primordial recreations
for clues to the nature of mass and new forces and symmetries of nature.

But Walter L. Wagner and Luis Sancho contend that scientists at the
European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, have played down the
chances that the collider could produce, among other horrors, a tiny black
hole, which, they say, could eat the Earth. Or it could spit out something
called a "strangelet" that would convert our planet to a shrunken dense
dead lump of something called "strange matter." Their suit also says CERN
has failed to provide an environmental impact statement as required under
the National Environmental Policy Act.

Although it sounds bizarre, the case touches on a serious issue that has
bothered scholars and scientists in recent years - namely how to estimate
the risk of new groundbreaking experiments and who gets to decide whether
or not to go ahead.

The lawsuit, filed March 21 in Federal District Court, in Honolulu, seeks
a temporary restraining order prohibiting CERN from proceeding with the
accelerator until it has produced a safety report and an environmental
assessment. It names the federal Department of Energy, the Fermi National
Accelerator Laboratory, the National Science Foundation and CERN as
defendants.

According to a spokesman for the Justice Department, which is representing
the Department of Energy, a scheduling meeting has been set for June 16.

Why should CERN, an organization of European nations based in Switzerland,
even show up in a Hawaiian courtroom?

In an interview, Mr. Wagner said, "I don't know if they're going to show
up." CERN would have to voluntarily submit to the court's jurisdiction, he
said, adding that he and Mr. Sancho could have sued in France or
Switzerland, but to save expenses they had added CERN to the docket here.
He claimed that a restraining order on Fermilab and the Energy Department,
which helps to supply and maintain the accelerator's massive
superconducting magnets, would shut down the project anyway.

James Gillies, head of communications at CERN, said the laboratory as of
yet had no comment on the suit. "It's hard to see how a district court in
Hawaii has jurisdiction over an intergovernmental organization in Europe,"
Mr. Gillies said.

"There is nothing new to suggest that the L.H.C. is unsafe," he said,
adding that its safety had been confirmed by two reports, with a third on
the way, and would be the subject of a discussion during an open house at
the lab on April 6.

"Scientifically, we're not hiding away," he said.

But Mr. Wagner is not mollified. "They've got a lot of propaganda saying
it's safe," he said in an interview, "but basically it's propaganda."

In an e-mail message, Mr. Wagner called the CERN safety review
"fundamentally flawed" and said it had been initiated too late. The review
process violates the European Commission's standards for adhering to the
"Precautionary Principle," he wrote, "and has not been done by `arms
length' scientists."

Physicists in and out of CERN say a variety of studies, including an
official CERN report in 2003, have concluded there is no problem. But just
to be sure, last year the anonymous Safety Assessment Group was set up to
do the review again.

"The possibility that a black hole eats up the Earth is too serious a
threat to leave it as a matter of argument among crackpots," said
Michelangelo Mangano, a CERN theorist who said he was part of the group.
The others prefer to remain anonymous, Mr. Mangano said, for various
reasons. Their report was due in January.

This is not the first time around for Mr. Wagner. He filed similar suits
in 1999 and 2000 to prevent the Brookhaven National Laboratory from
operating the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. That suit was dismissed in
2001. The collider, which smashes together gold ions in the hopes of
creating what is called a "quark-gluon plasma," has been operating without
incident since 2000.

Mr. Wagner, who lives on the Big Island of Hawaii, studied physics and did
cosmic ray research at the University of California, Berkeley, and
received a doctorate in law from what is now known as the University of
Northern California in Sacramento. He subsequently worked as a radiation
safety officer for the Veterans Administration.

Mr. Sancho, who describes himself as an author and researcher on time
theory, lives in Spain, probably in Barcelona, Mr. Wagner said.

Doomsday fears have a long, if not distinguished, pedigree in the history
of physics. At Los Alamos before the first nuclear bomb was tested, Emil
Konopinski was given the job of calculating whether or not the explosion
would set the atmosphere on fire.

The Large Hadron Collider is designed to fire up protons to energies of
seven trillion electron volts before banging them together. Nothing,
indeed, will happen in the CERN collider that does not happen 100,000
times a day from cosmic rays in the atmosphere, said Nima Arkani-Hamed, a
particle theorist at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

What is different, physicists admit, is that the fragments from cosmic
rays will go shooting harmlessly through the Earth at nearly the speed of
light, but anything created when the beams meet head-on in the collider
will be born at rest relative to the laboratory and so will stick around
and thus could create havoc.

The new worries are about black holes, which, according to some variants
of string theory, could appear at the collider. That possibility, though a
long shot, has been widely ballyhooed in many papers and popular articles
in the last few years, but would they be dangerous?

According to a paper by the cosmologist Stephen Hawking in 1974, they
would rapidly evaporate in a poof of radiation and elementary particles,
and thus pose no threat. No one, though, has seen a black hole evaporate.

As a result, Mr. Wagner and Mr. Sancho contend in their complaint, black
holes could really be stable, and a micro black hole created by the
collider could grow, eventually swallowing the Earth.

But William Unruh, of the University of British Columbia, whose paper
exploring the limits of Dr. Hawking's radiation process was referenced on
Mr. Wagner's Web site, said they had missed his point. "Maybe physics
really is so weird as to not have black holes evaporate," he said. "But it
would really, really have to be weird."

Lisa Randall, a Harvard physicist whose work helped fuel the speculation
about black holes at the collider, pointed out in a paper last year that
black holes would probably not be produced at the collider after all,
although other effects of so-called quantum gravity might appear.

As part of the safety assessment report, Dr. Mangano and Steve Giddings of
the University of California, Santa Barbara, have been working intensely
for the last few months on a paper exploring all the possibilities of
these fearsome black holes. They think there are no problems but are
reluctant to talk about their findings until they have been peer reviewed,
Dr. Mangano said.

Dr. Arkani-Hamed said concerning worries about the death of the Earth or
universe, "Neither has any merit." He pointed out that because of the
dice-throwing nature of quantum physics, there was some probability of
almost anything happening. There is some minuscule probability, he said,
"the Large Hadron Collider might make dragons that might eat us up."
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---------------------

37. More weirdness in Hawaii...
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:48:10 -1000
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>

...this time at a Christian missionary school in Kona, a real hotbed for
terrorist activity...
m
-------

A police Special Response Team member on the ground floor watches a second
floor room during a training exercise at the University of the Nations. -
Photo By Baron Sekiya West Hawaii Today

What if?

Police SRT, fire department, students simulate campus shooting scenario

By Local And Wire Sources Saturday, March 29, 2008 6:58 AM HST

A training exercise by the police Special Response Team on the University
of the Nations campus was held Friday. The exercise simulated a gunman
holed up in one of the dorm rooms after he had shot several people on
campus. The police, SRT and county fire department, along with staff and
students of the campus, were involved in the Friday morning exercise.

Members of the police Special Response Team move into position to where a
mock gunman simulates being holed up at the University of the Nations
during a training exercise on campus. - Photo By Baron Sekiya West Hawaii
Today
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

38. Voices Health/Environment News
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:45:09 -0600
From: nimchira <tepaatu@gmail.com>

News from the Health and Environmental Communities.
Published since Nov, 2005
March 29, 2008

In This Issue:

Fosamax Linked to Serious Abnormal Bone Fractures
http://www.naturalnews.com/022895.html

Aspartame and Brain Tumors http://www.NaturalNews.com/011804.html

New Understanding of the Role of Testosterone in Women
http://www.naturalnews.com/022900.html

Tracing Pesticides in Children From Ingestion to Elimination
http://www.naturalnews.com/022897.html

Five states are locked in fierce competition over a proposed bioterror lab
host to the world's most feared human and animal pathogens.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/80576/

A Brazilian judge orders Rio de Janeiro to use private hospitals to cope
with a surge in cases of dengue fever.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/americas/7320036.stm

'Funding stranglehold' on science Science and innovation is being stifled
by the government, says shadow chancellor George Osborne.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7319854.stm

Into the breach - Clark Fork, Blackfoot rivers punch through Milltown Dam.
Milltown Dam, a 100-year-old landmark that came to symbolize the economic
prosperity and environmental destruction of Montana's mining industry,
came down Friday.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10860/3057/13618/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5taXNzb3VsaWFuLmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlcy8yMDA4LzAzLzI5L25ld3MvdG9wL25ld3MwMS50eHQ%3d&x=08db5b57

Warnings of lead in venison irk hunters.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10860/3057/13620/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9hcG9ubGluZS91cy9BUC1WZW5pc29uLUxlYWQuaHRtbA%3d%3d&x=119767b9

Hormone worries halt plastic baby bottle sales.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10860/3057/13622/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jYW5hZGEuY29tL3Nhc2thdG9vbnN0YXJwaG9lbml4L25ld3MvbmF0aW9uYWwvc3Rvc
nkuaHRtbD9pZD1hMDEyMTdmMC02ZmNkLTRmMDctYjMzMy1kODBjY2M5MGE0ZTk%3d&x=f6a6837f

WTO said to rule against EU in beef hormone dispute.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10860/3057/13625/0/?u=aHR0cDovL2lodC5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZXMvMjAwOC8wMy8yOC9idXNpbmVzcy93dG8ucGhw&x=1d2e38b4

Rare medical investigation unfolds.
http://newsletters.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/10860/3057/13636/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb3N0YnVsbGV0aW4uY29tL25ld3NtYW5hZ2VyL3RlbXBsYXRlcy9sb2NhbG5ld3Nfc3RvcnkuYXNwP2E9MzM1MjA4Jno9Mg%3d%3d&x=dbf85de3
============

Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of International Copyright
Law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html

39. US marine's Haditha case dropped
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:45:12 -1000
From: Viviane Lerner <vivlerner@gmail.com>

>>"I believe Tatum's real life experience and training on how to clear a
room took over, and his body instinctively began firing while his head
tried to grasp at what and why he was firing," Paul Ware, a lieutenant
colonel, said.

"By the time he could recognise that he was shooting at children, his
body had already acted."<<

Patriarchy's training and "body" has got to go!
========
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DA82686A-76D1-410A-9732-22A47A20D2A1.htmS
ATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2008
US marine's Haditha case dropped

Frank Wuterich still faces court-martial on nine counts of manslaughter
in the Haditha killings [Reuters]

Military prosecutors have dropped all charges against a US marine accused
of killing unarmed Iraqi women and children in the town of Haditha in
2005.

Stephen Tatum, a lance corporal, is the fifth out of eight Haditha
defendants to have charges dropped in a case that has brought
international condemnation of US troops in Iraq.

The dismissal on Friday comes just a day before Tatum was due to face a
court martial on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless
endangerment and aggravated assault over his role in the killings.

However, in a statement released from the Marines Camp Pendleton base
outside San Diego, the military said charges against Tatum had been
dismissed "in order to continue to pursue the truth seeking process into
the Haditha incident".

In a statement, Jack Zimmerman, a defence lawyer, denied that Tatum had
struck a deal with prosecutors that would see him testify against Frank
Wuterich, a fellow marine, in exchange of immunity.

Wuterich, a staff sergeant, is accused of being the ringleader and faces
court-martial on nine counts of voluntary manslaughter later this year.

No 'testimony deal'

"We emphasise that lance corporal Tatum will testify truthfully if called
as a witness, but there is no deal for his testimony," Zimmerman said.

"It became clear to the experienced prosecution team that the right thing
to do was to dismiss all charges.

"We believe the evidence shows that lance corporal Tatum reacted to an
enemy attack the way he was trained to do," Jack Zimmerman defense lawyer

Tatum was due to face trial for shooting dead two unarmed children when
marines cleared houses near the scene of a deadly roadside bombing in
Haditha, 260 kilometres west of Baghdad, on November 19, 2005.

Four soldiers were initially charged with murder and four officers accused
of covering up the incident.

Immediately after the violence the marines said in a press statement that
15 Iraqis and a US marine had been killed as a result of the roadside
bomb.

An investigation by Time magazine later found that most of the casualties
were killed when marines swept through three houses near the site of the
bombing.

The findings prompted a wide-ranging internal investigation.

Manslaughter charge

However, since charges against the eight marines were first announced in
December 2006, prosecutors have struggled to make the allegations stick.

In Wuterich^Òs case, charges of murder were later replaced by the lesser
offence of manslaughter.

The military investigator overseeing Tatum's pre-trial hearing had
recommended that charges against Tatum be dismissed on the grounds that he
shot at the children because Wuterich had started firing.

"I believe Tatum's real life experience and training on how to clear a
room took over, and his body instinctively began firing while his head
tried to grasp at what and why he was firing," Paul Ware, a lieutenant
colonel, said.

"By the time he could recognise that he was shooting at children, his body
had already acted."

Meanwhile Mark Zaid, a lawyer for Wuterich, said the dismissal showed that
"there are tremendous holes" in the case.

"The prosecution couldn't afford to have Tatum acquitted. So by dismissing
the charges and turning him as a witness they will attempt to blame it all
on staff sergeant Wuterich," Zaid told reporters on Friday.

"They reached an early, rush-to-judgement conclusion that Wuterich was
this rampaging murderer. But the truth is that the facts don't support
that."

The killings in Haditha are the most serious allegations of war crimes
leveled at US forces since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The case is one of several involving marines from Camp Pendleton.
=====----------------------------------------------------------------

Gabrielle Welford, Ph.D.
freelance writer, editor, teacher
welford@hawaii.edu

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