From: jane w
Subject: Riad's Death
Hi Gabrielle,
I heard that Riad was found bound and gagged in a lake and the death
report says suicide! Awful. Watch the interview of this lovely man. He
sent books, clothes, school supplies to Palestinian children. Jane
-------
Palestine Solidarity Committee wrote:
Dear All,
As some of you might know our friend and often partner-activist , Riad
Hamad, from Austin, passed away this week. The circumstances of his death
were tragic and confusing. Riad's dedication to the Palestinian rights,
non-violent activism and Palestinian economic development was
unparalleled. He founded the Palestine Children's Welfare Fund (PCFW),
which raised millions or dollars for projects benefiting children, women
and families in the occupied territories. Much of this money was raised
through selling Palestinian fair trade goods in the US. Riad was also a
dedicated husband, father of two young-adult children and a middle school
educator.
To honor Riad's work the University of Texas Palestine Solidarity
Committee is attempting to raise 1,000 dollars for PCFW and donate it in
memory of Riad. We will also have an olive tree planted in Palestine with
a plaque commemorating Riad and his work. There will be a public memorial
in the near future and we would like to have everything in place by then.
We send this letter to ask each of you to pledge $10-$100 towards this
effort. We know most of you are students or work for some non-paying NGO,
so we appreciate whatever you can give. For some of you this might be your
first exposure to the Palestinian cause, Riad or PCFW--all of which are
surrounded by misnomers. Below is a link to an interview Riad did with
Free Speech TV, we encourage you to take a minute to watch and remember
what a dedicated and inspired person he was.
http://www.freespeech.org/fscm2/contentviewer.php?content_id=344
http://www.legacy.com/Statesman/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=107901527
<http://www.legacy.com/Statesman/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=107901527>
Please make donation checks out to Palestine Solidarity Committee and mail
them to:
Palestine Solidarity Committee
Student Services Building 4.400 #294
100 West Dean Keeton Street Austin, Tx 78712-1534
Until we meet beneath the olive tree,
Palestine Solidarity Committee, past and present members
________________________________________________________________________________
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:21:35 -1000
From: Chuck Prentiss <prentissc001@hawaii.rr.com>
Subject: County Convention
Aloha All: Reminder: The Oahu County Democratic Party convention is
coming soon on May 2nd and 3rd at Dole Cannery. All members are urged to
attend, especially the voting members who are the precinct president, 1st.
vice-president, and district council member. This is our important kickoff
to win in November. I hope to see all of you there.
The registration forms are available online at www.oahudemocrats.org.
You may also call State Party headquarters at 596-2980.
Chuck Prentiss, Region 9 Chair, Windward Democrats.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:25:29 -0800
From: Democratic Party of Hawaii <dphstaff@inbox.com>
Subject: Democratic Party of Hawaii: **Correction: PDH and ADA Workshop is
on 4/26**
**We are sending this out at the request of the Progressive Democrats of
Hawaii and the Hawaii Chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action**
Aloha,
Are you a delegate or alternate to the State Democratic Convention coming
up on May 23-25? Do you know someone who is? Would you like to submit a
resolution to be considered at the convention?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you should join us this
Saturday April 26th for a pre-convention workshop! This workshop is
intended to help delegates be organized and prepared so they can be
effective at the convention. It will be an opportunity to network with
other like-minded delegates and help to promote a progressive agenda for
the Democratic Party of Hawaiâ^À^Øi.
What: Workshop for Delegates to State Democratic Convention
When: Saturday, April 26, 9:30am - noon
Where: Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd (corner of Nuâ^À^Øuanu)
How: Bring ideas and drafts for resolutions and be ready to network!
Sponsored by:
Progressive Democrats of Hawaii (PDH) and
Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii Chapter (ADA)
Please spread the word to anyone who may be interested!!
AGENDA
1 9:30 Introductory Remarks
2 9:45 Overview of what to expect at the State Convention
1 General agenda & timeline
2 Resolutions, rules, platform
3 Election of delegates, SCC, party Chair, natâ^À^Ùl committee man/woman
3 10:00 Relevance of Resolutions
4 10:15 Questions from Audience
5 10:30 Break-down into 7 resolution committee sub-groups [Government Operations,
Education, Environment, Business & Economic Development, National & International Affairs,
Labor, Health & Human Services]
1 Identify moderator & note-taker
2 Create list of topics that group wants to see resolutions for
3 Start rough drafts of priority resolutions
4 Network with other like-minded delegates
6 11:30 Come back together as one big group
1 Brief report from each group
2 Reminders on deadlines & information on how to submit resolutions
3 Opportunity for members of platform & rules committees to report on the issues that
are emerging in their committees
4 Guidelines on how to submit platform & rule changes
7 NOON Pau
Even if you aren't able to make this meeting, will you please let us know
if you are a delegate or alternate that is interested in working with us:
info@pd-hawaii.com
Aloha,
Rachel Orange
Co-Chair,
Progressive Democrats of Hawaiâ^À^Øi
http://pd-hawaii.com/blog
____________________________________________________________
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:53:30 -1000
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>
Admiral Fargo to take helm of Superferry
Posted on: Friday, April 25, 2008 4:30 PM HST
Admiral Fargo to take helm of Superferry
Associated Press
Hawaii Superferry has announced retired Adm. Thomas Fargo has been named
to succeed John Garibaldi as president and CEO of the beleaguered company.
Fargo headed the Hawaii-based U.S. Pacific Command, the nation^Òs largest
military command, from 2002 until 2005. He then retired after 35 years
with the Navy. Garibaldi will become vice chairman and continue to serve
on the board of directors. The Superferry linked Honolulu with Maui and
Kauai for a brief time in August before legal troubles and protests shut
down the operation. The Honolulu-Maui service resumed in December with
the 350-foot Alakai making daily roundtrips. The company has announced a
second Maui roundtrip will be run four days a week commencing May 9. The
Honolulu-Kauai service remains on hold.
INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/graphics/mastlogo.gif"
April 25, 2008
Fargo named new Hawaii Superferry CEO
Advertiser Staff
Retired Adm. Thomas B. Fargo has been named as president and CEO for
Hawaii Superferry, the company announced late this afternoon. Fargo's
appointment is effective Monday.
John Garibaldi, the current CEO, will become vice chairman and continue to
serve on the board of directors, a company statement said.
Fargo headed U.S. Pacific Command from May 2002 until February 2005 and
retired from the Navy after 35 years of service. He also served as
commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
He is a managing director of J.F. Lehman & Co., and serves on the boards
of Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Electric Industries and USAA, the company
said.
He previously served as president of Trex Enterprises Corp.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:04:41 -1000
From: Viviane Lerner <vivlerner@gmail.com>
Hirono: Air Force dropping plans for Big Isle
training route
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/
BREAKING01/80425088
April 25, 2008
Hirono: Air Force dropping plans for Big Isle training route
Associated Press
U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono says the U.S. Air Force has abandoned plans for a
low-altitude training route over the Big Island.
The C-17 cargo jets that would have used the route were expected to travel
over the communities of Honokaa and Waimea, raising concerns about noise
and pollution.
Hirono says the Air Force decided it could satisfy its training needs
without the proposed training route.
The island Democrat says the decision by Air Force officials shows their
willingness to be sensitive to the community^Òs needs.
Dozens of Big Island residents opposed to the plan turned up at a Hawaii
County Council committee meeting Monday to voice their concerns.
--------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:18:51 -0400
From: KahiwaL@cs.com
Subject: The C-17 Flyovers - A Shibai!
> I smell a rat - a danged conspiracy.
>
>They must stay up nights - to try to figure out ways to harass the
>people.
>
>With the DU and Stryker situations at Pohakuloa and the observatories on
>Mauna Kea - plus GM - all issues that the people have come out fighting
>fresh in their mind - it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out
>that when they thought this project up - that they would run into lots of
>opposition - and that at that time - they could cancel the thing and
>appear to be good citizens and gracious visitors.
>
>Or, are they just testing us - to see if we are awake. Or is it just
>another way to show us that they are beligerantly occupying our 'aina,
>but allowing us to win some victories.
>
>Whatever it is - the people are starting to get smart and are becoming
>activists - in protecting their kuleana.
>
>ku
-------
Date: Sun, April 27, 2008
From: kepalo <kepalo@hawaii.rr.com>
Subject: Re: The C-17 Flyovers - A Shibai!
They still practice like crazy at Kaneohe Marine Corps. kepalo
>_______________________________________________________________________________
From: orakwa@paulcomm.ca
Subject: Fw: MNN Mohawk War Chief: We're not leaving
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:37:21 -0700
Tyendinaga Mohawk Aserakowa [War Chief] speaks from the front line ^Ö
^ÓWe^Òre not leaving^Ô. OPP: ^ÓWe^Òre coming in at dark to take you
out!^Ô
MNN: April 25, 2008. Aserakowa 613-243-4993 still at the quarry.
Shawn Brant was doing a media interview with APTN News in Tyendinaga on
Deseronto Boundary Road. Ontario Provincial Police came along with an
outstanding assault charge. They arrested Shawn. They hauled him off to
jail. Then the OPP closed both ends of Deseronto Road. The Aserakowa
came down to see what was going on.
Steve Flynn of Aboriginal Response Team ART of the OPP showed up. We
talked. Flynn told the Aserakowa about Shawn. By then we had men at both
ends of the road. He talked about opening the road. Flynn said, ^ÓYou
walk away and we^Òll walk away. Okay?^Ô Both Flynn and the Aserkowa
agreed.
^ÓWe will get in our cars and you^Òll get in yours^Ô, said Flynn. It
turned out to be a set up. The Rotiskeneketeh started moving off the
road. Suddenly about 10 OPP jumped about 5 of our guys, threw them in the
ditch, beat them up and arrested them. They hauled them off to jail. No
reasons were given for the arrests or assaults. The OPP is certain not
operating on an honorable nation to nation model. It is not even offering
the kind of fiduciary protection for indigenous rights as it is supposed
to, according to the supreme Court of Canada.
Since when have the colonial institutions ever acted to protect Indigenous
people?
After behaving like thugs and beating up our guys, the OPP pulled out
their weapons and pointed them at us. For our safety, we retreated back
to the quarry. We didn^Òt want to get shot.
Once we got there cops swarmed us from every direction. They were
everywhere as far as we could see, armed to the teeth with their guns
pointed directly at us all the time.
Then they came over with loud speakers, told us to come away from the
quarry, down the hill, with our hands up in the air ^Ówhere we can see
them^Ô.
We told them, ^ÓFuck you. This is Mohawk land. We^Òre not leaving^Ô.
They raised their weapons and aimed at us again.
^ÓYou^Òre going to have to shoot us^Ô, we told them.
Then there was more build up. They told us they are coming in at dark to
take us out. They are moving Mohawk people off Mohawk lands at the end of
a gun barrel.
The Mohawks are unarmed.
The OPP have SWAT Teams, ambulances, dogs and we can^Òt see if they ships
in the water.
Arrested are Clint Brant, Steve Hill, Dan Doreen, Shawn Brant and Mac
Kunkel. We don^Òt know where they^Òve been taken.
Six Nations people have closed down three roads. Akwesasne guys are on
the International Bridge. In Kahnawake there will be closures.
They will be coming after us at about 8:30 pm EDT, as soon as it gets
dark.
We^Òre not moving. We know that.
We don^Òt know what^Òs going to happen. This is Ipperwash, 1990,
Gustafsen Lake, Six Nations, the list goes on. If they harm any of those
guys at Tyendinaga, there^Òs no saying what will happen.
The message from the men is that we will defend the land. That^Òs our
duty according to the Kaianerekowa, Great Law of Peace, the law of Turtle
Island.
SEND URGENT OBJECTIONS TO PREMIER MCGUINTY OF ONTARIO; PRIME MINISTER
STEVEN HARPER; JULIAN FANTINO COMMISSIONER OF THE OPP: tell them to call
off their thugs and stop breaking the peace. They have a obligations
under international law to resolve any disagreements peacefully. They
have an obligation to keep the peace, not to break it.
LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
MNN Mohawk Nation News
SUPPORT:
To:RDONM@MBQ-TMT.ORG>, <info@mbq-tmt.org>, <enibourg@sutton.com>
Subject: Stop attack on Mohawks
The whole world is watching. Stop your attack on the Mohawks now. The land
is theirs and the world supports them. They are right and you are wrong.
Pat Rasmussen
World Temperate Rainforest Network
PO Box 154 Peshastin, WA 98847
509-669-1549
patr@crcwnet.com <mailto:patr@crcwnet.com>
www.temperaterainforests.org <http://www.temperaterainforests.org>
Subject: RED ALERT IN CALEDONIA!!!!!!!!! FORWARD OUT ASAP!
Ok everyone-
Just got a phone call from Jacqueline House at Six Nations. In protest to
what the Canadian govt. and OPP armed officers are doing at Tyenindega,
the Six Nations have now BLOCKED the By-Pass road at Caledonia!!!!! 3 Men
have been arrested and have been jailed at Tyenindega.
Jacqueline House stated that all relatives with connections to people at
these Reserves, PLEASE CALL and try to mobilize help to the area ASAP.
Thanks everyone, please, PLEASE keep our relatives in your prayers,
Bluejay
I've contacted the OPP to let them know that badge or no badge, they are
not absolved in the eyes of our Creator for that which they do.
This activity will be monitored by the world.
Dieter of Germany
FOR INFORMATION CALL: 518-358-3660
Warchief: 613-243-4993
Jan Hill 613-961-8515 613-827-1547
Dan 613-919-1354
Rotiskenekete 613-849-1314 613-827-4991
OPP Easter Headquarters 613-284-4500 L.G. Beechey Chief Supt.
Commander Eastern Region
R. Don Maracle 613-396-3089 Cell 613-391-9249
GENOCIDE IS HAPPENING AT THIS HOUR AT TYENDINAGA.
THEIR POSITION IS THEY ARE NOT MOVING. THEY ARE GOING DOWN. THEY WILL
DEFEND THEMSELVES. THEY ARE NOT GIVING UP THE LAND.
Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
See Category: ^Ó Tyendinaga ^Ó
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: orakwa@paulcomm.ca
Subject: MNN Fri. Apr. 25 Mohawks under OPP seige - need
help!
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:26:42 -0700
URGENT CALL: FRIDAY APRIL 25TH 2008- MOHAWKS
OF TYENDINAGA UNDER ONTARIO PROVINCIAL
POLICE SIEGE - SHAWN BRANT ARRESTED ON
FAKE WEAPONS CHARGES ON CULBERTSON
TRACT - OPP CRUISERS AND VANS SURROUND
^Ö 20 DOWN BY TRAIN TRACTS ON DESERONTO
ROAD AND BRIDGE ST.
MNN. At 2:45 pm. today, Friday, April 25th, 2008,
Shawn Brant was arrested for an incident that
happened on Monday on Slash Road. He was
attacked by Deseronto citizens who were trying
to run our blockades. He had no weapons
whatsoever. The OPP are trying to make Shawn
out to be the leader there. He is not.
DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF SHAWN
BRANT, POLITICAL PRISONER.
The Ritiskenekete have slashed OPP cruisers
windows and chased them off Deseronto Road.
APTN and support from Six Nations, Kahnawake
are on their way. Anyone who can go there and
help should call 613-391-5132 for information.
There will probably be a raid of the illegal
Thurlow Quarry that the Mohawk took over a
year ago.
Shawn Brant was taken to Napanee.
Needed urgently: deer meat, fish, non-
perishable food, water, Camping equipment,
communications equipment, fuel, gas, propane,
mobile phones, phone cards, rain coats, gas
masks, towels, soap, wet wipes, tooth bushes
and tooth paste, bear spray, gloves, work shoes,
boots, runners, socks, radios, two-way radios,
hand held radio, flashlights, tents, lanterns,
wood for the fire, cooking utensils, plates and
silverware, first aid.
To go there on the TransCanada Highway 401,
to #49 to Slash Road, to Deseronto boundary.
Or Marysville Road south to Bayshore Road,
turn left all the way to the quarry.
Runners should be dispatched to go there to
carry information from the site to supporters.
Supporters should contact OPP, Ontario
government, band council chief to stop this
aggression and attempted blood bath.
All nations council meeting tonight. OPP
heat is going on at the quarry. Need help now.
Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
Dan 613-919-1354; Rotiskenekete 613-849-1314 ^Ö
613-827-4991 email davidrmaracle@aol.com
OPP Eastern Regional Headquarters
613-284-4500 fax 613-284-4597
lg.beechey chief supt. Commander,
Eastern Region, Smiths Falls.
MBQ R. Don Maracle, 613-396-3089,
CELL 613-391-9249 RDONM@MBQ-TMT.ORG
613-396-3424 ext. 106 info@mbq-tmt.org
Jan Hill 613-396-6742 Emile Nibourg
613-561-0984 fax 613-544-7868
enibourg@sutton.com
BACKGROUND:
This situation could be more complicated than
appears at present. The Canadian Special Forces,
which is the main military unit that would be
active in the United States under the "Civil
Assistance Plan", is moving the so-called Joint
Task Force 2 to the Trenton area, just 25 miles
from Tyendinaga. They will be forming a new
special forces battalion. Land in the Trenton
area is being secretly bought up by the
government for a base and training site. A
total of 400 hectares (1.5 square miles) will be
purchased.
This is Mohawk land. Could this be the reason
for the over-the-top reaction by the Ontario
Provincial Police (OPP)? Or is it a case of
insiders trying to profit from foreknowledge
of the government's plans?
-----
JTF-2 plans $220M move
Counter-terrorism unit expected to vacate
Dwyer Hill for Trenton
David Pugliese, with files from Jessey Bird,
The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Canadian military has earmarked $220
million to build a new base for the Joint Task
Force 2 counter-terrorism unit, with plans
calling for the secretive formation to move
out of Ottawa sometime after 2010.
Defence Construction Canada, a Crown
corporation that handles the Defence
Department's building needs, is asking for
"expressions of interest" from contractors
and consultants for the development of what
it calls a multi-functional training and
administrative campus.
The new facility is to be in "Eastern Ontario,"
with the specific location considered secret
at this point, according to the information
provided so far to construction and engineering
contractors. But Chief of the Defence Staff Gen.
Rick Hillier has recommended to cabinet that
JTF2's new base be located at Canadian Forces
Base Trenton.
Public Works and Government Services Canada
has already purchased three properties adjacent
to CFB Trenton for the Defense Department.
Those total just under 130 hectares. Another 270
hectares are also being looked at for purchase.
"It's a number of properties that we're continuing
to negotiate with," said Public Works
spokeswoman Meeta Bhimani
See Category: ^Ó Tyendinaga ^Ó
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________________________________________________________________________________
From: orakwa@paulcomm.ca
Subject: MNN "Nia:wen" from Mohawk of Tyendinaga Apr. 24/08
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:59:21 -0700
^ÓNIA:WEN^Ô SAY MOHAWKS OF TYENDINAGA FOR
WORLDWIDE SUPPORT FOR THEIR RESISTANCE
ON APRIL 20 AND 21 WHEN ONTARIO PROVINCIAL
POLICE ATTACKED ^Ö ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION
STOPPED, HARASSMENT CONTINUES
MNN. April 24, 2008. Said one of the Rotiskenekete,
^ÓWe want to thank everyone all over the world for
their support of our peaceful way of defending
our land. We all condemn this kind of corporate
corruption and white collar organized crime^Ô.
Det. Weese of the OPP at Napanee Ontario was
the commander in charge. He was mad that he
could not charge or take anybody to jail. The OPP
have informed us that, ^Ó We have a zero tolerance
rule. We are taking back jurisdiction of Tyenindaga
and this starts now!^Ô The Rotiskenekete said, ^ÓWe
have a zero tolerance rule too. We want all the
foreign cops out of our territory immediately^Ô.
The real estate agents, Emile and Theodore
Nibourg of Kingston, who wanted to build $35
million condominiums on the Bay of Quinte in
Deseronto on Mohawk Territory, backed off.
Their undated signed notice stated, ^ÓIn light of
recent events in the Town of Deseronto, Nibourg
Developments wish to announce that they will
refrain from the pursuit of a development of the
Culbertson Tract^Å^Ô We doubt if they^Òll be back.
Said a Rotiskenekete, ^ÓWe don^Òt want any
development on our land!^Ô There should be an
investigation of the Nibourg^Òs trespassing, their
actions that forced the Mohawks to respond and
the paranoia they created which brought in the
attack forces of the OPP.
On Sunday, April 20, the Mohawk had set up an
encampment to resist the development that
was to start on Monday morning. They did not
come in. On Monday night rowdy non-natives
roamed the streets of Deseronto carrying signs
and shouting racist threats at the Mohawks.
They looked pretty organized.
On Tuesday morning over 900 troops swarmed
onto Mohawk Territory in a military style ^Óshock
and awe^Ô tactic. Fully armed SWAT Teams, cops,
choppers, police boats in the Bay and a lot of
undercover swooped in at 9:45 am. They spared
no expenses. They closed the perimeter on the
encampment to start kicking heads, beating up
people and arresting us. They arrived and were
disappointed to find there wasn^Òt a Mohawk in
sight. It was a traditional disappearing act. There
was no evidence that any Mohawks had ever
been there. Not one was touched or arrested.
This failed attack cost over $1 million. All that
^Óoverkill^Ô and not one arrest?
The OPP are now looking for ^Ófall guys^Ô. Last
year we took over the illegal Thurlow Quarry.
Since then the Rotiskenekete have been
cleansing the land of OPP. The OPP have now
set up check points to all roads leading into
our territory, to harass, question and delay our
people^Òs comings and goings. ^ÓIf they think
this over, they^Òre wrong. If they keep this up,
we will resist. They^Òre constantly throwing the
first punch putting us in the position of having
to defend ourselves^Ô.
On May 29th 2008 the ^ÓAssembly of Colonial
First Nations^Ô wants another ^Óhanding-out-
pamphlets-day-of-action^Ô. The Mohawks say:
^ÓIf you can^Òt drink your water, stand on the
road; if your band council is corrupt, stand on
the road; if your kids are committing suicide
or not coming home at night, stand on the road;
if the cops are harassing you or putting your
people in jail for protecting our land, stand on
the road; if justice fails, block the rails^Ô. They
also suggested that if anyone gets into trouble,
just tell them that the colonial government and
their servant, Phil Fontaine, set it all up.
Everyone knows Phil is a ^Óbi-polar schizo^Ô
who plays both sides^Ô. [Phil, don^Òt forget to
take your meds.]
We are the Ongwehone [true people] who live
according to the Kaianereh^Òko:wa [Great Law
of Peace] and we are here to protect
Onowareheh [Turtle Island]. The
Kaianereh^Òko:wa walks with us, is in our
minds, under our feet, over our heads, on our
land, every where on Turtle Land. That^Òs who
we are.
Corrupt and tainted foreign corporate laws
are meant to extort and exploit us and our
lands. These foreign entities have no
authority or jurisdiction over us. We stand
on moral principles and our philosophies of
living in peace with the environment.
We Kanion^Òke:haka [Mohawks] stood on the
Kaianereh^Òko:wa, the Two Row Wampum
and rejected the illegal jurisdiction of the foreign
laws.
The law of the land is our law. It has been
instilled into us for thousands of years.
Canada^Òs constitution is an illegal permit
issued from Europe on other people^Òs land,
passed by the British Parliament and its
people. Their corporate laws, statutes and
regulations are illegal and do not apply here
without our informed consent. We never gave
it and we never will. It just doesn^Òt belong
here.
These colonial visitors have to deal with us.
Their ^Ómight makes right^Ô position does not
apply. The OPP have no right to touch us or
talk to us. They are nothing more than ^Óprivate
security guards^Ô for a corporation, something
like Wal Mart. The true relationship is nation
to nation. Canada, get real, colonialism is over.
There was a heavy armed police presence;
non-natives did not want to understand that
they are living illegally on Mohawk land. They
refuse to make it right. They^Òve been ^Ñtook^Ò for
over 100 years by opportunistic colonists who
are working for big foreign banks.
OPP protocol provides that the ^ÓAboriginal
Response Team^Ô ART is supposed to talk to us.
They did not. They decided to browbeat us into
submission, to force us to surrender our land
and resources through their use of force and
threats to kill us.
The Mohawks advise, in such situations,
^ÓDon^Òt negotiate. Just stand on the road^Ô.
When we learned that the cops were setting
us up to cut our throats, we just didn^Òt go there.
All they wanted to do was to apply their military
force and practice using their new lethal toys
and tactics on us. So, ignore them. Stand on
the roads or disappear if you have to^Ô.
Our argument was not with the OPP who are
the security guards of the colonists. ^ÓWelcome
to Wal Mart^Ô, these greeters say. It was
between us and our visitors. If they attack,
we are willing to defend ourselves until we
win. That^Òs what the Kaianereh^Òko:wa says.
Our message to the colonist, OPP, Canada,
Ontario governments and developers is ^ÓStay
away. Or we^Òll go through this resistance again,
again and again^Ô.
We know that we have more than just hunting
and fishing rights on our ^Óreserves^Ô through
their colonial ^Óband council^Ô system. It^Òs all
ours! We still have the Beaver Hunting
Grounds, the ^ÓBowl with one spoon^Ô
philosophy, the Nanfan Treaty and the
Haudenosaunee Territory. We will never
concede anything. We will help each other
survive, take care of the land and animals and
never stop defending our land. Every single
business on our territory, Indigenous and
non-native people everywhere supported us.
They see that we strengthen our sovereignty
by strengthening our ties with them.
The OPP came to hunt us down and caught
nothing. They are now looking for people to
charge, arrest and sue. They harass us on all
the roads leading into our territory. They sit
there and monitor our cars, take our pictures
and write things down. We are going to protect
our people. There will be no arrests and no
harassment of us!
Instead of participating constructively in their
own society, the OPP are spying on us,
justifying their existence through small
minded voyeurism. They are like those
pitiful souls that don^Òt have healthy
relationships in their own lives. They deal
with their unsatisfied instincts in perverted
ways by spying on others, going to strip
clubs and ^Ópeep shows^Ô, engaging in
predatory activities and generally ^Ójerking
off^Ô!
Anything to do with Indigenous is
considered ^Ónational defense^Ô because
it is their theft of our lands and resources
we are standing in the way of. And who^Òs
in charge of national defense? None other
than the ^ÓHaitian against the Nation^Ô,
Governor General Michaelle Jean. Instead
of talking to us, she^Òd rather keep hitting the
^Óbig easy^Ô button to try to get us out of the
way.
We wear camo. Never mind that camo
can be found in the children^Òs departments
of Wal Marts and Zeller^Òs everywhere. It
scares the cops. They pretend it^Òs a threat.
We will continue to wear camo. We want to
remind the colonists of nature and the colors
of mother earth.
Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
Rotiskenekete 613-849-1314 ^Ö
613-827-4991 email davidrmaracle@aol.com
OPP Eastern Regional Headquarters
613-284-4500 fax 613-284-4597
lg.beechey chief supt. Commander,
Eastern Region, Smiths Falls.
MBQ R. Don Maracle, 613-396-3089,
CELL 613-391-9249 RDONM@MBQ-TMT.ORG
613-396-3424 ext. 106 info@mbq-tmt.org
Jan Hill 613-396-6742 Emile Nibourg
613-561-0984 fax 613-544-7868
enibourg@sutton.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:51:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Laweleka <laweleka@yahoo.com>
Subject: [livingnation] Google Alert - occupation, hawaii
Typical American, its all about being Americans, looking for patriotic
citizens specifically citizen compliant listeners. Clintons own words
indeed "I think sometimes it takes unfortunately longer than it should to
educate people about the justice of a cause like war reparations, or for
the people of Guam that suffered under the Japanese occupation during
World War II. Just yesterday I rushed to the Senate to vote on behalf of
giving the benefits that were promised during World War II to the Filipino
veterans who served with American forces. All these years later, we still
haven't done it - all these years later we still haven't provided the
reparations that the people of Guam were promised.
"As your president I will work very hard to remedy this injustice. I am
committed to doing so."
Now what does this all have to say about her ? If I was the person writing
the article I would've entitled it "Clinton Failed To Go To Hawaii Because
She Did Not Want To Have Issues Raised About The More Then 100 + Years Of
American Occupation Of The Hawaiian Kingdom" The woman is
shaaallllllllllllowww ...... Why should we not be surprised ? Lawe
---------
Hillary Clinton emphasizes sensitivity to Guam's issues
KUAM.com - Dededo,GU,USA
... people about the justice of a cause like war reparations, or for the
people of Guam that suffered under the Japanese occupation during World
War II. ...
http://www.kuam.com/news/27578.aspx
Google Alerts <googlealerts-noreply@google.com> wrote:
All eyes will be on Guam over the next week or so as local Democrats hold
a historic caucus on May 3. The island's nine delegate votes are crucial
to that party's presidential nominees, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
KUAM News spoke with Senator Clinton via satellite earlier today, to
inquire the candidate's stance on several issues facing our quality of
life and her plans to integrate the island community into her goals if
elected our nation's next commander-in-chief.
When noting how the U.S. Department of Defense is currently looking to
increase its presence locally, citing that thousands of U.S. Marines and
their dependents be transitioned from Okinawa, along with Air Force and
Navy personnel and equipment to local military installations, we asked the
Democrat senator from New York if elected president, would she continue
with this current initiative put forth by the Bush Administration? "I
think it makes a lot of sense," she responded. "Obviously I will review
it, but I feel strongly that moving more of our assets to Guam is in the
best interests of the people of Guam and of the United States."
The process of survivors and their families of being compensated for their
wartime suffering has been a decades-long wait for the community, often
spanning generations of Chamorros. Clinton has previously stated her
strong support for such the granting of reparations, but repeated efforts
to achieve this endeavor have fallen on deaf ears in Washington. Of this
very painful oversight, she said, "I think sometimes it takes
unfortunately longer than it should to educate people about the justice of
a cause like war reparations, or for the people of Guam that suffered
under the Japanese occupation during World War II. Just yesterday I rushed
to the Senate to vote on behalf of giving the benefits that were promised
during World War II to the Filipino veterans who served with American
forces. All these years later, we still haven't done it - all these years
later we still haven't provided the reparations that the people of Guam
were promised.
"As your president I will work very hard to remedy this injustice. I am
committed to doing so."
We also briefly discussed the role of Guamanians in voting for a United
States president (more accurately, the lack thereof). As it's so often
said that there's no other place where you will find more patriotic
"Americans than in the Land Where America's Day Begins", Clinton said she
stands behind empowering all Americans, island residents included, with
this very basic privilege. "It seems to me that it is long past time that
we remedy this inequity," she explained. "It doesn't reflect American
values; it is out of step with the move towards equality and full
citizenship rights, and I will do everything I can to make sure the people
of Guam's vote are counted."
Drawing on the past, KUAM News noted how Ms. Clinton's husband, former
president Bill Clinton, during his historic 1998 visit to Guam mentioned
his support on issues like self-determination, the return of federal
excess lands back to original landowners, and increasing Guam's share in
Compact impact funding. "I intend to follow-up on those commitments
because I share them," she said. "Unfortunately at the time we had a
Republican congress that was not very receptive. And until just last year
we still had a Republican congress. It's difficult to push through some of
these initiatives, but as president I hope that I will have more Democrats
in the Congress, and I will work with your representative to make sure
that we finally give the people of Guam the support, and the rights and
privileges that I think you're entitled to have. So I'm looking forward to
having your support, I'm excited about participating in the events on
April 26 and May 3."
Clinton also took a moment to appeal to her fellow countrymen, saying, "I
earnestly and humbly ask for the support of the people of Guam. I will
never forget my visit in 1995 - it was a wonderful experience and I was
excited to tell my husband how important for him to go to Guam. And indeed
he was there in 1998, and we both have very fond memories of Guam and of
the people there.
"And I hope that I will earn your support to be your president."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:39:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: nukefreepacifik@riseup.net
Honolulu Star Bulletin article "Brown tree
snake seen on Mokapu"
the brown tree snake was not introduced to guahan, it was brought on a
military cargo ship from new caledonia. although the snake is said to have
wiped out most of our native birds, in the early late 1940s and early
1950s the u.s. conducted more than 60 nuclear testings in "micronesia"
with radiation fallout reaching our island. imagine the implications of a
bird eating such contamination. also, the u.s. military sprayed ddt
continuously throughout the 60s and part of the 70s. wouldn't this as well
contribute to a decline in native populations?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:09:20 -0400
From: Tara Mack <tara@edliberation.org>
Subject: [edliberation] Seattle Teacher Refuses to Administer WASL Test to
Students
Seattle Teacher Refuses to Administer WASL Test to Students citing
multiple harms test causes students, teachers, schools, and parents
From: *Parent Empowerment Network
PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 20, 2008*
Contact: Juanita Doyon, Director, Parent Empowerment Network, Spanaway,
253/973-1593
Carl Chew, Seattle Teacher, 206-265-1119 email ctchew@earthlink.net
Carl Chew, a 6th grade science teacher at Nathan Eckstein Middle School in
the Seattle School District, last week defied federal, state, and district
regulations that require teachers to administer the Washington Assessment
of Student Learning to students.
"I have let my administration know that I will no longer give the
WASL to my students. I have done this because of the personal moral and
ethical conviction that the WASL is harmful to students, teachers,
schools, and families," wrote Chew in an email to national
supporters.
School District response to Mr. Chew's refusal was immediate. After
administrative attempts to dissuade his act of civil disobedience had
failed, at the start of school on the first day of WASL testing, April 15,
Mr. Chew was escorted from the school by the building principal and a
district supervisor. Mr. Chew was told to report to the district Science
Materials Center where he was put to work preparing student science kits
while district administration and attorneys consulted on an appropriate
penalty for what was labeled, "gross insubordination."
Mr. Chew attended one hearing at Seattle School District Office, where he
was accompanied by a Seattle Education Association representative. On
Friday, April 18, Mr. Chew received a letter from Seattle School District
Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson which began, "This letter is to
inform you that I have determined that there is probable cause to suspend
you from April 21, 2008 through May 2, 2008 without pay for your refusal
and insubordination to your principal's written direction to administer
the WASL at Eckstein Middle School."
During his weeklong struggle with the district over consequences, Mr. Chew
was supported by allies throughout the state and nation. "Carl Chew
is saying 'No!' to high stakes testing and a resounding 'Yes!' to student
needs and to teacher professionalism," stated nationally renowned
education activist and author Susan Ohanian of Vermont.
"There are many more teachers who are ready to follow suit. They just
need an example and leader," states one Washington teacher.
Organizations and individual allies are now working to replace Mr. Chew's
lost wages. "Though a minor gesture in response to your so much
larger gift, I plan to contribute to your salary for the two-weeks the
schools aren't paying," was the response of one colleague from
Washington.
Parent Empowerment Network will be presenting Mr. Chew with a check for
$200 to help alleviate his loss of wages and is encouraging organization
members to also support Mr. Chew with words of encouragement and monetary
contributions. The Vermont Society for the Study of Education and
Colorado's Coalition for Better Education have also pledged contributions.
The following is a full statement of Mr. Chew's reasoning for his refusal
to administer the WASL.
On April 15 I refused to give the Washington Assessment of Student
Learning to my 6th grade students at a Seattle Public Schools middle
school. I performed this single act of civil disobedience based on
personal moral and ethical grounds, as well as professional duty. I
believe that the WASL is destructive to our children, teachers, schools,
and parents.
It is important for me to note that my disobedient action was not directed
at any individual. I love being a teacher; my students are fantastic; my
fellow teachers collaborate with and help me every day in numerous ways;
and my school administration has always shown a willingness to listen to
and support the teachers. I understand that my action has caused people
pain, and I am truly sorry for that, but I could no longer stand idly by
as something as wrong as the WASL is perpetrated on our children year
after year.
Though my act of civil disobedience was individual, I do not stand alone
in my strong beliefs. Any Internet search for high stakes testing will
reveal highly regarded educators, distressed parents, and sensitive
teachers with a wealth of thoughtful writing and case studies supporting
my views.
The WASL is bad for kids.
To my mind the measure of successful childhood is that each child learns
about who she or he is and how the world works, gains an assertive and
confident self image, and feels safe, well fed, and happy. Schools, along
with parents and communities, need to contribute wisely to this goal.
Unfortunately, the WASL creates panic, insecurity, low self esteem, and
sadness for our children.
o It is written in the language of White, middle and upper class students,
leaving all others behind.
o It is presented to children in a secretive, cold, sterile, and inhumane
fashion.
o There is no middle ground--children either pass or fail--which leaves
them confused, guilty, and frustrated.
o Numerous questions on the test are unclear, misleading, or lacking in
creativity.
o It tests a very narrow definition of what educators know children need
to become well-rounded human beings.
o The WASL is given at a prescribed time regardless of a child's emotional
or physical health.
The WASL is bad for teachers.
For meager pay teachers are asked to work in extremely challenging
situations, keep absurdly long hours, and, when it comes to the WASL,
function in an atmosphere of fear.
o A majority of teachers loath the WASL but feel unable to speak out
freely against it due to their fears of negative consequences for doing
so.
o Because administrators are constantly pushing to meet federal guidelines
for yearly score improvements, their relationships with teachers can
become strained and unpleasant.
o Administrators and teachers suffer under the knowledge that if they do
not achieve improvement goals (measured by WASL passage alone) they can be
sent to retraining classes, lose their students to other schools, or have
their "failing" school handed over to a private company.
o Before administering the WASL teachers mandatorily sign a
"loyalty" oath promising they will not read any of the test
questions.
o Teachers feel devalued by the amount of time most of them have to devote
to test practice and proctoring--upwards of four weeks for actual testing
and many more weeks for WASL prep in many cases.
o Teachers feel used and depressed when, half a year after the test is
given, they are presented with dubious WASL results--amateurish and
misleading Power Point charts and graphs telling them next to nothing
about their students' real knowledge and talents.
o Teachers' relationships with parents are compromised because they cannot
talk freely with them about opting their child out or other WASL concerns.
The WASL is bad for parents and families.
o Parents have been shut out of this costly process.
o Most of them are misled by official statements about what the purpose of
the WASL is.
o Many of them do not realize that they have the right to opt their
children out of testing with no consequences, though in practice schools
have illegally put inappropriate pressure on parents and children who have
opted out.
o Many of them do not realize that teachers are, in many cases, not
allowed to discuss any reasons why they might want to opt their child out.
(Teachers in California went to court to secure the right to inform
parents of their right to opt their children out of that state's testing.)
o Like children, parents suffer from the same feelings of guilt and
unhappiness when their children fail.
o Parents are not informed that the test is biased, culturally insensitive
and irrelevant, and not a real measure of anything.
o The WASL graduation requirement has kept thousands of families from
knowing whether or not their students will be allowed to take part in
graduation ceremonies and celebrations--the culminating reward for 13
years of public school attendance and achievement-- with friends and
families.
The WASL is bad for schools.
Even in the best of times purse strings are rarely opened adequately to
public education. Where a private school needs to charge $20,000-$30,000
to educate a child well, public schools are given a third or less of that
for each student. Simply, schools are strapped for cash, many of them
struggling each year to fund their needs with an ever shrinking pot of
money.
o While schools are generally underfunded, Washington will spend a
projected $56 million in 2009 to have a private corporation grade WASL
tests. These tax dollars are needed right in our schools providing more
teachers, smaller classes, tutors, and diverse educational experiences for
our students.
o While the federal government requires that school districts use high
stakes testing to qualify for federal dollars, tests are not fully funded
by the federal government.
o WASL is one of the most difficult tests used to fulfill the federal
requirements, with one of the highest failure rates.
o Instead of safe, exciting, and meaningful places for our children to
spend half of their waking hours, schools have become WASL or test mills
bent on churning out students who are trained to answer state-approved
questions in a state-approved manner.
The WASL is just bad.
o Most, if not all, teachers will agree that assessment is vital. Wise
teachers know that assessments which are also learning experiences for
students and teachers are the best. The WASL categorically is not a
learning experience.
o I believe that individual students are entitled to their own learning
plans, tailored to their own needs, strengths, and interests. Teachers
know it is definitely possible to do this in the context of a public
school. The WASL categorically treats all children alike and requires that
they each fit into the same precise mold, and state-mandated learning
plans based on WASL scores fail to recognize individual strengths of
students.
o Passing the WASL does not guarantee success in college, placement in a
job, a living wage, or adequate health care.
o WASL will decrease the high school graduation rate. Thousands of
students who have completed all other requirements and passed all required
classes will be denied diplomas because of WASL failure.
o High-stakes testing has not proven beneficial to students, teachers,
schools, or communities.
In the real lives of students, teachers, and parents the WASL is an
ongoing disaster.
o When I was a teacher at Graham Hill Elementary in Seattle, a number of
my students received their WASL scores to find that they had
"failed". When I looked at the notices being sent to their
parents I saw that each student had come to within just a few points of
actually passing and that their scores were well within the grey area, or
"margin of error," for the test. The "test scientists"
aren't sure whether the student passed or failed, yet the school tells the
student he or she failed. These students cried when they saw the results.
o When I first started teaching, Graham Hill could afford Americorps
tutors, numerous classroom aides, and had money for fieldtrip buses and
ample supplies. By the time I stopped teaching there, Americorps was gone,
there were no classroom aides except for parent volunteers, and everything
else was in short supply.
o Teaching and testing during my last year at Graham Hill was challenging.
I was on my own in a room with 29 students, 10% did not speak English, 50
% of them spoke another language at home, several of them were homeless,
and many of them had severe emotional challenges due to parental pre-natal
drug use, violence, and abuse.
o No one ever asked me or any of the teachers I know whether high stakes
testing was a good idea. In fact, we teachers are made to jump through
seemingly endless hoops to prove our worthiness to be professional,
certificated educators. Public school teachers are responsible for the
educational lives of over a million students in Washington State, yet, in
the end, no one actually wants to listen to what teachers have to say
about what is best for the students in our care.
Portside aims to provide material of interest to people on the left that
will help them to interpret the world and to change it.
Submit via email: moderator@portside.org Submit via the Web:
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Subscribe: portside.org/subscribe Unsubscribe: portside.org/unsubscribe
Account assistance: portside.org/contact Search the archives:
portside.org/archive
__________________________________________________________________________
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:33:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: "CodePink Hawaii (Oahu)" <codepinkhawaii@yahoo.com>
Peace Vigil/Mini Film Festival
Aloha Friends for Peace,
You are invited to the following event...
FREE Burma Mini-Film Fest
Featuring several short films
on human rights violations in Burma
Third Thursday, May 15; 6:30~8:30 pm
Pacific Justice & Reconciliation Center
19 N. Pauahi St. & Nu`uanu Ave; Chinatown, Honolulu
________________________________________________________________________________
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:40:21 -0400
From: FeedBlitz <feedblitz@mail.feedblitz.com>
Subject: Disappeared News - Some things never change
"DISAPPEARED NEWS" - 1 NEW ARTICLE
1. Some things never change
2. More Recent Articles
3. Search Disappeared News
Some things never change
by Larry Geller I think they must be confusing me with bb
840F1757-0C22-400C-9AE6-89409EFD03B3. I'm in a different select group,
according to another funny promo that came in the mail yesterday (Duke
Aiona for governor supporters)....
More Recent Articles
* Shakeup in Iwilei begins
* Rice rationing/hoarding spreads at big (but rice-short?) box stores
* One win for Hawaii's Sunshine Law
* Counter pundits
* (sob) All that work on the public access TV bill and then this...
________________________________________________________________________________
From: Luigi Cocquio <lcocquio@hawaii.rr.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 21:12:29 -1000
Subject: Hoa'Aina O MAkaha Open House
ALOHA
Hoa' Aina O Makaha has a special invitation for you for a special occasion
We hope you are able to come to our
"FARM OPEN HOUSE"
MAHALO
[ Part 1.2, Image/JPEG 35KB. ]
[ Unable to print this part. ]
[ Part 1.3, Image/JPEG 88KB. ]
[ Unable to print this part. ]
[ Part 2, Application/MSWORD 1MB. ]
[ Unable to print this part. ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:49:37 -0400
From: KahiwaL@cs.com
Subject: Fixing the Economy is Not as Easy as it Sounds!
>*Fed Action Could Hurt Stocks, Economy*
>*By David Frazier*
>
>Several months ago, I wrote an article, "Checkmate -- Fed & Treasury are
>Cornered," in which I stated that the Federal Reserve's lowering of
>short-term interest rates would fail to stimulate the U.S. economy and
>lead to higher inflation.
>
>Since that time, inflation rates have risen substantially, with the
>consumer price index mounting to an annual rate of 4 percent in March,
>from 2.8 percent in September 2007. Meanwhile, the prices of crude oil,
>gasoline, and jet fuel have gone through the roof -- all are up 47
>percent since Oct. 11.
>
>The inflation in jet fuel prices has resulted in large operating losses
>at several airlines for the first quarter of 2008:
>
> - United Airlines -- the world's second-largest airline by passenger
> traffic -- announced earlier this week that it lost $537 million during the
> first quarter
> - Northwest Airlines Corp. posted a first-quarter loss from continuing
> operations of $191 million
> - Delta Airlines reported a loss of $274 million (excluding a
> bankruptcy-related charge)
> - JetBlue Airways and AirTran Airways' also reported substantial
> first-quarter losses
>
>In response to rising operating costs, United Airlines said that it will
>eliminate approximately 1,100 jobs, reduce its domestic capacity, and
>raise airline fares. Delta and Northwest made similar announcements.
>
>Apparently, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke didn't understand the negative
>consequences that drastic interest-rate cuts would have on the economy.
>Or perhaps he felt that helping people to stay in homes that they
>couldn't afford (by indirectly lowering adjustable-rate mortgage rates)
>was more important than enabling persons who live on a fixed-income to
>afford to eat, pay their electric bills, and drive their cars.
>
>Yet, the Fed plans to cut its target Fed funds rate once again next
>Wednesday, according to recent trading activity in the interest rate
>futures market. If the Fed makes such a move, the value of the U.S.
>dollar will likely resume its descent and inflation rates will certainly
>rise even higher.
>
>Such inflationary pressures would likely lead to a continuation of the
>recent slowdown in consumer spending and would lead businesses to
>continue cutting back on their capital investments. In other words, the
>Fed's efforts to stimulate the economy by lowering short-term interest
>rates will have the opposite of the intended effect -- economic growth in
>the U.S. will likely continue to slow.
>
>Contrary to conventional thinking, my research indicates that the Fed
>needs to stop lowering short-term interest rates -- perhaps must even
>raise rates slightly -- if it really wants to stimulate the economy.
>Raising rates by a quarter of a point would likely halt the decline in
>the dollar and even help it rebound.
>
>A stronger dollar would force oil prices lower because oil is priced in
>dollars. (The slumping value of the dollar means that oil producers have
>to hike up the price of oil in order to receive the real value of the
>oil.) That would, in turn, release the noose on business operating costs
>and free up spending money for consumers. After all, the price of oil is
>indirectly or directly related to all types of consumer goods, as well as
>food, electricity to heat/cool homes, and gasoline.
>
>Perhaps Mr. Bernanke and his colleagues on the Federal Open Market
>Committee will come to this same realization and decide to hold interest
>rates next week and in the following months. If not, we may be facing an
>even scarier scenario than recession.
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~----------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:57:22 -1000
From: Brad Parsons <mauibrad@hotmail.com>
Subject: HI Superferry: Smorgasbord 4/25/08
Saturday, April 26, 2008
HI Superferry: Smorgasbord 4/25/08
There is so much stuff out there, I can't blog it all. Recently I have
been doing more comments on other people's blogs. So here is some of that:
1.) From the LA Times yesterday,
http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=1755, be sure to read down
through the comments, they include one from "Tig Krekel Says: April 24th,
2008 at 12:21 pm Jeff is completely wrong on passenger counts^Åover the
next 4 days alone, we will have more than 1500 riders...Regards, Tig
Krekel HSF Lead Director" Check out the other comments too. ;)
Was thinking some more about that ^Ó1500 over 4 days.^Ô Actually, that is
only an average of 188 people per one-way trip or 375 per round-trip and
an estimated 63 vehicles per one-way trip or 125 per round-trip. That
daily average would probably NOT cover just their fuel expenses. Those
numbers are only slightly more than what we have been counting recently.
Considering that an extended (two week) Japanese visitors Golden Week is
kicking in beginning today and that HSF^Òs best customer appears to be
Roberts Hawaii, I might have expected more bookings of Japanese visitors
on HSF during the next couple weeks, esp. since Japanese visitors were
using Aloha Air quite a bit in the past. Roberts also appears to be
monitoring the forecasted transit conditions as they have not been seen on
^Órough^Ô days. Nevertheless, today, Sat., and Sun. will be calm days for
them to do better.
2.) HSF might also get a cargo bump if Aloha Cargo pilots go on strike
soon. See:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Apr/24/ln/hawaii804240371.html
"Aloha pilots sanction walkout" By Rod Ohira, April 24, 2008. "Aloha
Airlines pilots last night voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike of
the carrier's cargo operations. No strike date was set. 'It means should
we need to strike, we will,' said John Riddle, a 23-year Aloha pilot and
member of the union's master executive committee."
3.) THE radio interview was mentioned in a Honolulu Advertiser reporter's
blog at:
http://capitolnotebook.honadvblogs.com/2008/04/22/guerrila-radio/, check
out the comments.
4.) Disappeared News has a good link to the audio of that KKCR radio
interview of the two former Austal welders at:
http://disappearednews.com/2008/04/second-program-on-alleged-superferry.html.
The two welders are Carolyn Slay who worked on the Alakai and Wayne
Jenkins who worked on the sister ship currently being built. Carolyn Slay
has the additional recently filed federal lawsuit along with 21 other
plaintiffs: Adams et al v. Austal, U.S.A., L.L.C. Case Number:
1:2008cv00155:
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-alsdce/case_no-1:2008cv00155/case_id-42983/.
5.) Lastly for now, the New York Times had a good article today on a
related story, "Lesson on How Not to Build a Navy Ship" by Philip Taubman,
April 25, 2008:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/us/25ship.html?th&emc=th, see also Andy
Parx's blog and comments on this. He has had a few good ones recently.
Amazing how some aspects of this story can be covered by a small radio
station on an island, then the largest state newspaper...in a blog, then
the largest west coast newspaper...in a blog, and finally the east coast
newspaper of record all in a little more than a week, but the more
shocking aspects of the story still not be reported to the public, except
by a small little radio station in paradise.
Aloha, Brad
_________________________________________________________________
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:31:40 -1000
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>
Subject: Fiji Fighting Canadian Use Of Fiji Trademark
Fiji Fighting Canadian Use Of Fiji Trademark
Saturday: April 26, 2008
(FBC) Fiji's Attorney General's Office has compiled a submission to the
Canadian government to stop companies in that country from using the name
`Fiji' on their products.
Radio Fiji quotes Principal Legal Officer in the Attorney General's Office
Iliesa Tuiloma as saying they have been informed by former trade
commissioner to Canada Ashwant Dwivedi that a certain brand of tinned fish
carries the Fiji name despite it being packed in Canada.
Tuiloma says Fiji's name is a national emblem and can not be used to
promote the products of other countries.
http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=10817
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~--------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:48:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: Marakita Mehmet <maraki_tanga@yahoo.co.nz>
New Zealand's Maori rediscover themselves in tattoos
New Zealand's Maori rediscover themselves in tattoos
Tattoo
Paul Watson / Los Angeles Times
Oriana McLeod endured the stinging pain of Mark Kopua's tattoo gun for an
hour and a half, and felt the better for it when she saw the design, which
depicts the sea and the tossed net of Te Hukiad, a venerated ancestor and
tribal leader. â^À^ÜIâ^À^Ùve just found a calling with my Maori-tanga, my
Maoriness. Itâ^À^Ùs a reawakening,â^À^Ý she said.
Ta moko, an art form that once seemed destined for oblivion, is again a
solemn declaration of the native people's identity and dignity. By Paul
Watson, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer April 15, 2008
NEW PLYMOUTH, NEW ZEALAND -- With a little ink, some stinging pain and a
helping hand from the ancestors, Mark Kopua can heal a wounded soul.
He is a modern master of an ancient art called ta moko, one of the world's
oldest forms of tattooing and a renewed source of pride for New Zealand's
indigenous Maori people.
* Maori history told in ink Photos: Maori history told in ink To those
who know how to read the twists, turns and spirals of the ink lines, they
tell a rich history of a person's accomplishments and ancestry. The
centuries-old designs turn the faces and bodies of women and men into
testaments to their identity, and offer spiritual healing.
"I learned very quickly that moko was therapy for people," Kopua said. "If
you ail inside, and you get taken to a grandparent for advice, the elders
are involved in your healing. This is very similar to that."
The designs have both fascinated and frightened outsiders for generations.
In the 19th century, curiosity seekers traded gunpowder with the Maori for
the tattooed heads of their dead warriors. Dozens of the dried heads are
in a macabre collection hidden away in New York's American Museum of
Natural History.
The tattoos also brought scorn on the Maori from missionaries and other
foreigners who saw them as primitive. Even today, some Maori adorned with
moko complain that they suffer discrimination when looking for work, or
just a drink at a bar.
But in recent years, as Maori stand up to safeguard their culture, an art
that once seemed doomed by the onslaught of Western culture is again a
solemn declaration of Maori identity and dignity. Their sacred, serpentine
designs now adorn foreign celebrities such as British pop star Robbie
Williams and boxer Mike Tyson, and Maori are vigorously defending their
claim over motifs that many feel are being exploited by outsiders.
More than 565,000 people, or one in seven New Zealanders, are Maori,
according to the most recent census, in 2006. After a steady exodus from
the countryside in recent decades, 85% of Maori today live in towns and
cities, said Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, who wrote a book on ta moko.
Now members of the urban mainstream here, including Maori police officers,
teachers, office workers and businesspeople, are shrugging off any fear of
being stared at or shunned by colleagues and are going for full-glory
moko.
Some wear their moko where the passing world can't miss it, such as the
simple curved lines on a woman's chin or the florid tapestries that cover
a man's face and scalp. Others go for more intimate tattoos, like broad
spirals that play out across buttocks and thighs.
Many find spiritual solace in the tattoo parlor, where Kopua helps them
get in touch with their ancestors.
Serendipity helped convince Oriana McLeod that the time had come for her
first tattoo. The 47-year-old Maori woman's path crossed Kopua's at a
recent world music festival in this west coast town.
Feeling the urge to discover the moko that would announce her spiritual
rebirth, she phoned several family members to ask their approval. Her
father, a tribal elder, not only gave his blessing, but encouraged her
with the news that Kopua, 46, was a distant relative.
"This is my time," she thought, and took the chair next to Kopua's
worktable.
A bear of a man with a whisper of a voice and large tattoos emblazoned
across his face and arms, Kopua picked up his pistol-shaped tattoo gun in
a large hand sealed in a black latex glove.
Then, like a painter touching the tip of a fine brush to his palette,
Kopua dipped the gun in a small pot of ink and began injecting McLeod's
upper arm, drawing free-form from an encyclopedic memory of traditional
designs.
For an hour and a half, McLeod turned her head away, or closed her eyes,
wincing as Kopua worked on his creation, which depicted the sea and the
tossed net of Te Huki, a venerated ancestor of her tribe who extended his
power over a vast area by marrying the daughters of several local chiefs.
Like two sets of roiling waves, the pattern of curves and swirls and what
seems a squid-like eye transformed McLeod's right shoulder into a page of
her family history. Called whakapapa, this genealogy is the expansive
network of bloodlines and kinship that makes someone Maori.
Moko can also honor an important event in a person's life, such as
graduating from college, getting married or experiencing an epiphany, said
Te Awekotuku, a professor of Maori culture at the University of Waikato in
Hamilton.
It's similar to a soldier getting "Mom" tattooed on his arm, or a Latino
kid in East Los Angeles declaring his gang affiliation with special
symbols and colors on his hand, she said.
"I think what you see in the barrios of L.A. -- the imagery, the
sacredness, the assertion of identity and pride -- is actually no
different from us," she said. "Just as in the Maori world, they have
recurrent symbols that have particular messages for the wearer, the viewer
and the family member."
Like most other Maori, she wishes tourists and the trendy would respect
what the tattoos are saying and not try to warp them into fashion
statements.
"Even though it's expressed through art on the skin, it's very much about
belonging," she said. "And if you don't belong, you shouldn't wear it."
Even so, Maori tattoos adorn bodies of numerous foreign celebrities. Pop
star Williams stirred up a controversy in 2000 when a Maori artist
tattooed the singer's arm in New Zealand. A Maori cultural expert
complained that the design had been filched from his tribe.
That same year, 50 artists set up a national forum, called Te Uhi A
Mataora, to set design and health standards for Maori tattoo artists and
protect traditional motifs against abuse in New Zealand and abroad.
"They're very, very sacred designs that are being used in very, very
insensitive ways," Kopua said. "For example, some designs that come off
people's faces and heads have been put on cups and plates and all those
sorts of things."
Maori are also offended by the misuse of moko on people's bodies. Tattoo
artists mimicking Maori designs without understanding them draw the
patterns upside down, put motifs reserved for women on men or distort the
designs in other ways.
"Most of the moko are genealogical," Kopua said. "So when somebody just
snatches a design that represents another person's ancestors and puts it
anywhere they please, that takes it out of its true context. Our reaction
to that is very, very strong."
In 2006, activists complained when a Hollywood costume shop put a "Maori
Face" tattoo kit on its shelves. French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier caused
a bigger stir last year when men and women modeling his clothes in
European editions of Vogue were made up with moko on their faces.
Maori are asserting copyright over their designs at the World Intellectual
Property Organization, a United Nations agency in Geneva that promotes the
protection of copyrights and patents They have also created toi iho, a
registered trademark for authentic Maori-made arts and crafts.
While they fight for their copyright, Maori are quietly struggling to
reclaim the dignity of tribal warriors who fell long ago.
The ta moko artists group is working to track down and reclaim the
preserved heads of warriors, which are also being stored in New Zealand's
Te Papa Tongarewa museum in Wellington for proper burial, Kopua said.
Since 1907, the American Museum of Natural History has had 35 Maori heads
in its anthropology collection, but they are in storage and out of public
view, said Charles McLean, senior vice president of communications and
marketing for the New York museum.
The museum has "periodic discussions" concerning requests for their
return, McLean said. But "we are not currently in discussions with anyone
from New Zealand about the heads," he added.
Kopua thinks much of the outside interest in ta moko today probably stems
from the feeling among many foreigners that they've lost contact with
their own past, a mistake he urges Maori to avoid by proudly wearing their
history on their skin.
"We're telling our own kids in the next generation: 'These are our
ancestors. They're worth being proud of.' We also tell them: 'These are
our struggles, and they're the same struggles of our ancestors. And we're
fighting for them now.' "
When Kopua finished McLeod's tattoo, she seemed slightly stunned, almost
as if she were emerging from a trance. Her arm was sore, but she said her
spirit was soaring.
"I've had a lot go on in my life," she said, reluctant to go into details
with an outsider. "I've just found a calling with my Maori-tanga, my
Maoriness. It's a reawakening."
With her new tattoo covered in loosely wrapped cellophane to protect
against infection, she wrapped her arms around Kopua, squeezing him like a
long-lost brother. She whispered something in his ear and smiled.
With his beefy hand and soothing voice, and some guidance from the
ancestors, he had set her on the right path.
paul.watson@latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-tattoo15apr15,0,4721289,full.story
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:28:07 -1000
From: UH Announce <announce@HAWAII.EDU>
Subject: Cracking the Papaya Code in News@UH
Researchers decipher the genetic code of disease-resistant papaya^×in the
April 28 edition of News@UH now online at
http://www.hawaii.edu/newsatuh/2008/0428/index.php
More UH News
^Õ Hilo^Òs Philippe M. Binder examines opposing trends in complex systems
^Õ Honolulu Chancellor Ramsey Pedersen retires after 35 years of service
^Õ CRDG^Òs Morris Lai, Hugh Dunn and Susan York win first place in
publications competition
^Õ Manoa presents student employee awards
^Õ Kudos for Maui^Òs Molli Fleming, Hilo^Òs Christopher Frueh, William
Mautz, Cam Muir and Jennifer Richardson and Manoa^Òs Beverly Ann Deepe Keever
^Õ School of Hawaiian Knowledge dean finalists visit campus
^Õ Manoa^Òs Jonathan Okamura publishes Ethnicity and Inequality in Hawai'i
^Õ Photo highlights of Honolulu's gazebo project and Manoa's
Sustainability Fest
^Õ UH events include Manoa and Hilo^Òs Ngugi wa Thiong^Ño presentations,
Windward^Òs Cooney lecture and other more
^Õ Announcements^×Nominations sought for Governor's Awards for Service,
Fall 2008 faculty and staff tuition waivers and Manoa tuition payment
deadline
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:54:17 -1000
From: shannonkona@gmail.com
Subject: Our "Sister" Island
Aloha,
Passing this on from our "sister" island, ..fellow downwinders.
In addition.. isn't it curious that when we complained last summer about
the open burnings of old munitions on O'ahu, the health dept. said it was
perfectly safe ... but now have brought in the "explosives chamber"
(CH2MHill) to burn, as the army says, "the largest find of chemical
weapons in the history of the U.S." ? Open burnings must not have been so
safe after all...
Unfortunately, our friends in Veiques, Puerto Rico aren't so lucky, with
continuous, open burnings of munitions. "The powers that be" say it would
be too expensive to protect the people of Veiques.
So Sad. So Shameful. So sickening. So evil.
Mahalo,
Shannon Rudolph - Kona, Hi.
------
Friday, April 25, 2008
Spotlight on Vieques
Tropical Disconnect -- Arriving on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico
recently, it was clear we have come to an extraordinarily beautiful place.
The beaches are gorgeous, the water is crystal clear, the tourist hotels
and restaurants are laid-back and the tropical vegetation and terrain are
stunning, especially in the fiery light of sundown.
Looking below the surface here, though, we found a lingering and ugly
controversy involving allegations of environmental contamination by the
U.S. military and elevated health risks to long-time residents. In the
words of a lawsuit filed by more than 7,000 plaintiffs against the U.S.
government, "residents of Vieques experience a 30% higher rate of cancer,
a 381% higher rate of hypertension, a 99% higher rate of cirrhosis of the
liver and a 41% higher rate of diabetes than the rest of Puerto Rico."
From World War Two to 2003, the U.S. Navy maintained a military training
and firing range on Vieques, where millions of pounds of bombs, missiles
and mortar rounds rained down on the eastern end of the island. Living
downwind from the site were more than 9,000 people, many of whom now claim
that the accumulated chemicals from all that weaponry made them sick and
ruined the land. Among the "explosives, ordnance and contaminants" used
here, according the lawsuit, were napalm, agent orange, depleted uranium,
white phosphorous, chemical weapons, arsenic, lead, mercury and many other
toxic substances.
The U.S. Navy has refused to pay medical claims from residents, and says
that based on an environmental study, the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, has concluded "there were no health risks to the residents of
the island."
Critics say the U.S. government study was incomplete, with a Puerto Rican
epidemiologist insisting, "they cannot say that there is no link (between
the target practice and cancer risks) because they never tested the
population."
Two of Nannette Rosa's daughters were treated for cancer after one of them
was born with eight tumors in her stomach and intestines and the other
developed a tumor on her jaw. Rosa, who sold her house to pay for a trip
to New York to seek treatment, says she wants the government to help
finance her daughters' care. She also wants a cancer center built on
Vieques, where currently there is only a clinic.
As the arguments rage, an undercurrent of despair, fear and anger flows
along the stunning landscape here. Meantime, contractors are now
detonating or retrieving millions of tons of unexploded bombs and other
debris from the old firing range that, five years after the Navy left
Vieques, has been turned into a wildlife refuge. It, too, is one of the
most beautiful places on earth, although signs posted along the beaches
there say it's still too dangerous for anyone to visit and is off-limits.
by Marc Potter, NBC News Watch
--------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:08:19 -0700
From: Deborah Berman Santana <santana@mills.edu>
aloha,
The Navy and CH2MHill claim that the chambers are designed for old
chemical weapons but not for munitions that were fired but did not explode
(UXO). However, the army did use such chambers to explode UXO in
Massachusetts. There are many other contradictions in the multiple
meetings and documents that we have traded back and forth with them.
un saludo boricua,
Deborah
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:59:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: keboi@aol.com
Subject: [demilnet_Hawaii] Fargo to take the helm at Superferry
Article URL: http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/26/news/story02.html
© 1996-2008 The Honolulu Star-Bulletin | www.starbulletin.com
Vol. 13, Issue 117 - Saturday, April 26, 2008
STAR-BULLETIN / JUNE 2007
The Hawaii Superferry Alakai makes its way toward Pier 19 in Honolulu
Harbor.
Fargo to take the helm at Superferry
The one-time Pacific Fleet leader says most of his experience is in
maritime operations
STORY SUMMARY » | READ THE FULL STORY
Retired Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo, former head of the U.S. Pacific Command,
will take the helm of Hawaii Superferry as the interisland service tries
to chart a new course that includes more passengers and fewer
disruptions.
Superferry officials announced yesterday that Fargo, 59, will succeed
John Garibaldi as president and CEO of the company on Monday. Fargo led
the Hawaii-based U.S Pacific Fleet for nearly four years before
overseeing the Pacific Command from 2002 to 2005.
Superferry opponents said Fargo's appointment underscores their concern
that the ship's main purpose is as a military vessel.
STAR-BULLETIN
FULL STORY »
Staff and news reports
citydesk@starbulletin.com
Retired Adm. Thomas Fargo, who once led the U.S. military's largest
command, will take control of a fleet of one -- an interisland ferry with
a short, choppy history and an uncertain future.
Hawaii Superferry officials announced yesterday that Fargo, 59, will
replace John Garibaldi as president and CEO of the company on Monday.
Garibaldi will become vice chairman and continue to serve on the board of
directors.
Fargo was in charge of the Hawaii-based U.S Pacific Fleet from 1999 to
2002 and then headed the U.S. Pacific Command, the nation's largest
military command, until retiring from the Navy in 2005.
"I've got an extensive amount of leadership and management experience,
but also my concentration has been in really complex maritime
operations," Fargo said yesterday. "So I think that as we look to the
future, I'm fundamentally an operator and a leader, and I think my skills
match up pretty well to the mission ahead for the Hawaii Superferry."
Tig H. Krekel, vice chairman of J.F. Lehman & Co., the majority investor
in Hawaii Superferry, said in a statement: "We are excited to have such a
talented leader as Adm. Fargo join our Hawaii Superferry management team.
"During his 35 years of naval service, Tom was an outstanding manager of
complex maritime operations and facilities."
Superferry opponents said the appointment underscores concerns about the
connection between the ferry and the military.
"There are many unanswered questions about that relationship," said Katie
Rose, of the Kauai Alliance for Peace and Social Justice. The appointment
"raises questions of whether the Superferry might not be a part of a move
to use commercial ferries to increase the Navy's capabilities."
Rose said the concerns have been raised because John Lehman, who heads
the investment company, was secretary of the Navy under President Ronald
Reagan, and the firm "invests heavily in military projects."
Rose said the environmental impact statement being prepared for the
service "should explore the potential for use of the ferry to transport
Stryker vehicles to other islands and what that might mean. We deserve an
explanation."
When asked about the concern, Fargo said in a phone interview, "We're
here as a commercial operation to move residents, visitors and businesses
between islands. The future is in our commercial operations."
Fargo, who is a managing director with J.F. Lehman & Co. and a member of
the boards of Hawaiian Airlines and Hawaiian Electric Industries, said:
"We are at an important time in developing the operation.
"We've shaken it down, learned a lot, and we've seen that people are
riding it now." He said 2,000 people are booked to ride during the next
four days.
The vessel returned to service early this month after weeks of dry-dock
repairs, and the company announced this week that it was adding a second
Maui round trip that will be run four days a week starting May 9.
The Superferry began service by linking Honolulu with Maui and Kauai for
a brief time in late August before legal troubles and protests shut down
the operation.
The Honolulu-Maui service resumed in December with the 350-foot Alakai
making daily round trips, but was sidelined by rough waters and repairs.
The Honolulu-Kauai service remains on hold.
The Associated Press and Star-Bulletin reporter Mary Adamski contributed
to this report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:13:25 +0000
From: Ana <uriohau@gmail.com>
Why one in six Maori live in Australia
http://www.maori-in-oz.com/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=1000&Itemid=212
NZCPR Weekly - One in Six
In this issue, NZCPR Weekly reflects on why one in six Maori live in
Australia, Guest Commentator Kelly Te Heuheu, Maori Crime Specialist for
the Sensible Sentencing Trust, describes the destructive effects of Maori
tribalism, and the weekly poll asks NZCPR readers whether the abolition of
the Maori seats would make a difference to the country.
On Tuesday international "race relations day" - a day to promote the
elimination of racial discrimination - will be celebrated by schools from
all over the country. In New Zealand, the foundation for racial equality
was laid with the Treaty of Waitangi. Under Article One of the Treaty,
Maori ceded their sovereignty to the Queen. Under Article Two, property
rights were established. And under Article Three, all New Zealanders were
given equality under British Law. (An excellent analysis of the Treaty of
Waitangi by Hon Sir Apirana Ngata is available exclusively through the
NZCPR >>>)
It remains a puzzle, however, that in a country where it is unlawful to
discriminate on the basis of race, racism is being actively encouraged by
the government. Racial discrimination by the state has fuelled deep
divisions within New Zealand society. The existence of the Maori seats
exacerbates the problem.
According to the Electoral Commission, when the 1985 Royal Commission on
the Electoral System considered the future of the Maori seats, it
concluded that "the seats had not helped Maori and that they would achieve
better representation through a proportional party-list system". The
Commission therefore recommended that if MMP was adopted, "the Maori seats
should be abolished".
Nowadays, as they predicted, Maori representation in Parliament has
increased through the party-list system. As a result a majority of New
Zealanders now believe that the Maori seats are redundant and should be
abolished. The National Party recently announced that it would tie the
abolition of the Maori seats to the conclusion of the Waitangi Treaty
claims process in 2014.
That brought a predictable response from the Maori Party - which depends
on the Maori seats for its survival. Hone Harawira warned that a promise
to abolish the Maori seats could compromise post-election arrangements:
"We won't be doing deals with parties who plan to silence our peoples'
views. It took us 150 years for our voice to be heard in the halls of
power, and our people won't stand for anyone trying to take it away again.
Political parties may be pushing for deadlines on lodging claims, but they
shouldn't for one minute think that settling claims for less than 3% of
their value means that Maori will accept having their independent voice in
parliament choked off at the same time".
It is these increasing demands by radical Maori that have fuelled the
racial divide. Tribalism is a primitive culture that modern societies
have shunned.
A recent study by Paul Hamer for Te Puni Kokiri, highlights this fact.
Back in 1966, one in fifty Maori lived in Australia. Today it is one in
six! Increasing numbers of Maori are leaving New Zealand for Australia,
not only to take advantage of the opportunities provided by higher living
standards and a more buoyant economy, but to also escape the negative
effects of racism and tribalism.
In his report Paul Hamer describes how many Maori in Australia welcome
being regarded as "Kiwis" - 'New Zealanders' first and Maori second. Many
expressed their overwhelming sense of relief of being "free of Maori
culture", of being able to "get away from the rigid beliefs of our
elders", of being "away from tikanga Maori and whanau dynamics or
pressures associated with being whanau".
Others spoke of being able to escape the whanau environment after years of
being in it, living it, breathing it, eating it, without even realising
it: "you know the story marae, whanau hui, whanau politics, continuously
fighting each other but still whanau in the end".
Kelly Te Heuheu, the National Maori Crime Issues Specialist for the
Sensible Sentencing Trust, is this week's NZCPR Guest commentator. In her
opinion piece "Grief, Pain & Division of our People over Maori Land and
Tribal Politics", Kelly shares a similar experience:
"Since early childhood, I remember the punch-ups and arguments between our
people over land and tribal politics. The worst issue with Maori Land is
most of it is in multiple ownership which is disastrous. For the children
playing around the Marae we got used to this fighting as the norm of our
lifestyle. Many of our people moved away from home due to friction and
fighting. Families broke up, the feud lasted for many years - sometimes a
lifetime".
She explains, "Even worse, animosity goes down through generations like a
plague. Grief, pain and division between whanau (family), hapu (sub tribe)
and iwi (tribe) over land and tribal politics is so bad that many of our
people distance themselves from our culture". (To read Kelly's article
click the sidebar link>>>)
This need to distance themselves from Maori culture is clearly a factor in
driving many Maori to Australia. One survey respondent put it this way:
"It is paramount that the New Zealand government begins to recognise that
Maori are achieving and are successful when living away from New Zealand,
and they have to begin asking themselves why is this not happening in New
Zealand? To oppress a people and manipulate politics to achieve their own
means will only see more and more Maori recognising that they do have a
future and they can be successful and live in a flash house, and drive a
flash car, and have a healthy bank account and still retain their
Maoriness - unfortunately they have to leave New Zealand to do it".
It is a sad fact that while most Maori do very well in Australia,
government policy at home keeps Maori down. Running a country with
economic policies that reduce living standards, means that many families
will never enjoy the benefits of a decent income. Having an education
system that forces children to go to failing state schools, means that
many children from poor families totally miss out on the benefits of a
good education. Keeping families dependent on welfare, robs hope, and
results in many turning to booze, drugs and crime.
New Zealanders should not have to live under laws that foster failure. Nor
should we - Maori and non-Maori - have to live under laws that foster
racism. The vast majority of New Zealanders want laws that treat us
equally and treat us well - laws that allow us all to succeed and prosper.
Tribalism and separatism do not do that.
I will leave the last word to Alan Duff, from an article "Maori
Underperformance" that he wrote for the NZCPR last year:
To continue with the collective, whanau, hapu, iwi societal model is a
fatal mistake. A fatal mistake. For in not developing individuality we
continue down the declining slope of anonymity in a collective. Of no-one
willing to make decisions - especially unpopular decisions - for fear of
standing out from the crowd, going against the collective will.
Individuality is as fundamental to a society's development as property
rights.
The quality of debate in this country on Maori issues is poor, cowardly,
non-analytical, and none of it serves the Maori people well. You see we're
having thrust upon us, rammed down our throats in fact, this "Maori as we
were" model (before, it is implied, the Europeans came along and ruined us
morally and culturally). Its advocates are insisting that we think
differently - yes, we do, but it shouldn't be assumed we can't change, not
if the same thinking is holding us back from advancing - we have a
different world view, we have greater difficulties adapting to Western
culture. So just give us the money and we'll figure out the solutions to
our own problems. When demonstrably we can't. Why not? Because our base
line is a Stone Age societal model which patently does not work in this
modern world. When are we as a nation, starting with government, going to
say "enough is enough."?
http://www.nzcpr.com/
---------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:21:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: elizabeth louise <indigenousfirstpersons@yahoo.com>
Greetings Ana, This is more encrouchment. The racism never ends regardless
of where it comes from & indigenous people are under attack. Now what is
being done to protest this in a way that will achieve some results?
Whom have you sought out for support & aid? Is it okay with you if I share
this with the Squamish who are pulling out of any realtionships with the
british columbian government & are leading the wayfor us all as indigenous
people to pull away from any cooperation witht he government?
------
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:30:56 +0000
From: Ana <uriohau@gmail.com>
Kia Ora Sis
Your right, we are well aware of how oppressed our aboriginal brothers and
sisters are. The article made me sick, what a load of crap, if some Maori
over here want to sell their soul and identity for some trinkets then let
them, its shameful that a Maori women can spew so much racist crap about
her own people and get away with it.
Its not all roses over here for our people over here,our young people are
harassed all the time by the police, and some of us are subject to being
murdered in racist attacks.
naku noa na
Ana
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:39:34 +0000
From: Ana <uriohau@gmail.com>
New Zealand's Maori rediscover themselves in
tattoos
Kia Ora whanau
This article was awesome and Mark gives dignity and meaning to the revival
of Ta Moko amongst our peoples. His work amongst his own haapu is
inspirational.
"Even though it's expressed through art on the skin, it's very much about
belonging," she said. "And if you don't belong, you shouldn't wear it. Kia
Ora Ngahuia your right, and thats something that the clown that gave a
pakeha women our moko kauae does not understand.
"many foreigners that they've lost contact with their own past, a mistake
he urges Maori to avoid by proudly wearing their history on their skin.
"We're telling our own kids in the next generation: 'These are our
ancestors. They're worth being proud of.' We also tell them: 'These are
our struggles, and they're the same struggles of our ancestors. And we're
fighting for them now.' "
True that. Much respect to Mark Koupa.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:12:48 -0700
From: Kathy Roberts <weerkhr@pacbell.net>
General Strike USA on Sept. 11, 2008
How much more abuse and struggle can we endure people ?? I hope we can all
agree that the time has come for us all to make our collective voice
heard. If your happy with the status-quo then so be it. I am not and if we
don't stand together surely we will FALL.
Help yourself and get the word out about this upcoming action for human
survival !!!!!!
--------
A general strike is called for September 11, 2008, the anniversary of the
9/11/2001 attacks on New York City and Arlington, Virginia.
General strikes shut down the normal operations of a city, state, or
nation for a period of time. These strikes aim to force action on a single
issue or broader set of concerns. The 9/11/08 General Strike has a central
location - http://www.votestrike.org - on the Internet, which is linked to
and reproduced on a variety of other internet sites. The site states the
rationale for the effort:
The General Strike is a national call to action, from citizens to other
citizens. It is not about a single issue. It is not an anti-war protest, a
civil rights protest, an election fraud protest. It is not about torture,
surveillance, corporate media, or the environment. This strike is about
all these issues and more. We all have different concerns, but we all have
the same concern: we are being lied to and this government does not
represent us. Join other Americans in demanding truth, justice, and
accountability.
This is our country. And our world.
A National Call to Action: Thursday, September 11th, 2008
No school. No work. Buy nothing. Hit the streets!
LOCK DOWN USA
The strike targets key issues facing the American public, issues that have
not been addressed in any meaningful way by any branch of government.
Unions, corporations, & the major parties have failed to deal with
pressing matters of war & peace, income inequality, crime & punishment &
the meaning of citizenship itself, it has fallen to the American people to
set things right!
Citizen discontent & other concerns of the strike include massive
violations of civil rights. The strike campaign argues that under our
system of checks & balances when the judiciary & Congress fail in their
duty it is then up to the American people to defend the Constitution, Bill
of Rights & our way of life.
Call to action: No work, No school on September 11, 2008. It also includes
"no shopping;" a suspension of all purchasing during the strike. 75% of
our economy is consumer spending, when Bush says to shop, we must STOP!
The general strike calls for participants to "Hit the Streets." But why
spend our time protesting in DC to be ignored? Unless we get in the
streets outside our rep.s personal residences- who is going to care?
We need to mobilize locally- & demand national action. Few of us could go
to Washington- but many of us- can go to our city halls or state
legislatures- or local Congressional offices.
Tell the government that we're fed up with war, torture, corruption, &
special interest funding our elections & our media.
Strikes have brought civil rights in the U.S. & around the world. Help
make our voices louder than the mainstream media & corporate dollars.
"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling
into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from
falling into error". U.S. Supreme Court, in American Communication
Association v. Douds, 339 U.S. 382, 442
In order to get involved, here are the five best steps to take now:
1) Sign up with your email address HERE in order to get updates,
e-alerts@votestrike.com
2) Mark the day on your calendar and plan to be at a protest in your
community,
3) Send this URL to all your friends, post it to forums, put it on your
personal pages, http://www.votestrike.org
4) Take the time to help organize a protest. We'll send news on
coordinators in your community,
5) Take the lead and help organize a protest on 9/11.
##################################################################
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:34:24 +0000
From: Ana <uriohau@gmail.com>
Addressing wrongs of the past
CAROL MACRAE
http://news.guelphmercury.com/printArticle/321292
Imagine you lived in a neighbourhood for a long time -- it was home to
you. Then, new neighbours began moving in, and they were different from
you in language, customs and culture.
You were ready to get along with them, but they were pushy--and powerful.
They said it was their neighbourhood now, and they owned it. And
furthermore, from now on, they would decide not only where you could live,
but also, they would tell you who you were. Never mind if you considered
yourself to be Irish or Polish or Chinese or Italian. They would tell you
who you were.
It sounds like a nightmare, doesn't it? It would be nice if it were just a
bad dream, or the plot of a horror film. But something like it
happened--and is happening--to the Aboriginal peoples who inhabit the
country now known as Canada. This land was their land, occupied by many
tribally distinct groups for thousands of years.
In the beginning, after the colonizers came, there was the 1763 Royal
Proclamation, an act recognizing Indian rights and their condition as
self-governing nations. In the 1800s, things changed. The European setters
began focusing on "civilizing and protecting Indians until they were
assimilated." The reserve system was started. A series of acts followed,
including the Indian Enfranchisement Act of 1869, "which replaced
traditional tribal government with the electoral system model," providing
for elected chiefs and councils. The old ways of leadership and governing
were taken away.
I am indebted to Jaime Mishibinijima, who is the Aboriginal student
adviser at the University of Guelph, for much of this historical data,
which she has written about. Besides serving the interests of 170
aboriginal students at the university, Jaime is also pursuing a PhD
related to the subject of native identity.
What I have learned is that the Indian Act of 1876 -- still in place today
and largely unchanged, according to Jaime, determined "who was legally
'Indian', who was eligible to live on reserve, how lands were managed . .
. and how people would be educated." A bureaucratic, father-knows-best
system was launched -- in its present form known as Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada.
In 1872, a central Indian registry had been undertaken to list all the
family names of natives in eastern and western Canada, and "from that
point forward, Indian status was based on legal descent from those
original enlistees." Indian status is what qualifies anyone for treaty
rights and financial benefits (e.g., a tax exemption for living on
reserve). And it is determined by blood quantum, and degree of descent
from that long-ago list compiled by the state.
The nightmare for indigenous people in Canada goes even beyond the
colonization process, and the way it externally imposed an Indian
identity. What's worse, in my mind, is the victimization of aboriginal
peoples since the white man arrived -- victimization characterized by
paternalism and deprivation that has been destroying the spirit of the
people. Some of the suffering was inadvertent -- whole communities wiped
out by imported diseases. Some of it was deliberately imposed, such as the
residential school policy that sought, in the words of one of the original
bureaucrats, to "kill the Indian -- save the man," i.e., make native
children white.
It may seem like we cannot do much today about those past wrongs, but I
would like to suggest three things we can do.
First, we can validate the psychological impact of trauma as very real in
the lives of native people. These days we acknowledge the long term
affects of post -traumatic stress disorder and depression on soldiers who
have been in war zones. We are also well aware that Holocaust survivors
include family members several generations away from the actual victims.
Similarly, we must recognize that the problems of some natives today --
the lingering dysfunction in some communities -- may actually be the
result of generations of devastating human losses.
Second, we need to inform ourselves about why there is so much
dissatisfaction among some Canadian Aboriginals. Threats of protest and
actual confrontation are reported in the news almost every day. What is
the story behind these headlines?
It is important for us, as neighbours and fellow Canadians, to listen to
the grievances and to understand what this is all about.
Finally, as citizens, we need to find out why Canada was one of only four
countries to vote against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, on Sept. 13, 2007. One hundred and forty three nations approved
that non-binding declaration, which had been in negotiations for 20 years.
Presumably, Canadian concerns "with respect to the wording of the . . .
text" might have been voiced during the years of preparation of the
document. Or, maybe this is just another example of how we disregard the
humanity and human rights of native peoples.
Carol Macrae is a member of the Mercury's Community Editorial Board.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:28:01 -1000 (HST)
From: Mark Heberle <heberle@hawaii.edu>
Subject: LIFT THE HALE III--MAY DAY POETRY READING
The Department of English Colloquium and Reading Series presents
Lift the Hale III: Department of English poets and Albert Wendt read
Thursday, May 1, 3:00 to 4:30
Kuykendall Hall 410 (English Department Colloquium Room)
Reception to follow the reading
Poets reading, to be introduced by Reina Whaitiri, include Kai Gaspar,
Anne Kennedy, Brandy McDougall, Tiare Picard, Caroline Sinavaiana, Robert
Sullivan, Sage Takehiro, and Albert Wendt
for further information, call the English Department 956-3085
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:50:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: elizabeth louise <indigenousfirstpersons@yahoo.com>
New Zealand's Maori rediscover themselves in
tattoos
www.jointhefederation.org/ The link I just gave you is for the Squamish
Nation, they are seeking to unite all indigenous people who want nothing
to do with the commonwealth of new zealand,british columba, canada or the
imperialists of this area (us)check them out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:55:46 -0700
From: Deborah Berman Santana <santana@mills.edu>
Our "Sister" Island - more
----- Mensaje reenviado de "\"Jorge L. Colón\"" <jorgecr@caribe.net> --
The arguments they use in Vieques are:
1. The UXOs are too dangerous to have personnel moving them to place them
inside a detonation chamber.
2. The only DOD approved chamber (T-10) is too small for the large number
of larger bombs used in Vieques.
Neither argument stands scrutiny: they even use robots nowadays to move
live bombs around, even underwater ones, and they do have larger chambers
available, which they are being tested for both chemical weapons and
regular bombs. But in Vieques they just want to use the "quickest" and
cheapest method. That's all.
Regards,
Jorge
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:15:29 -0700
From: Deborah Berman Santana <santana@mills.edu>
Recruiting the "Undocumented" for the
Military
aloha,
I recently heard an ad recruiting immigrants for the military. The ad
promised green cards and a quicker path to citizenship.
Word from the Mexico-US border is that US Marine recruiters have illegally
crossed to recruit in poor barrios there. I don't know how often this has
happened, but it wouldn't surprise me...
Deborah
-------
"Those of us who support recruiting foreigners believe they are often very
skilled, motivated, and in the great American tradition of immigration,"
Michael O'Hanlon, a Brookings Institution senior fellow on foreign policy
said in an e-mail.
Just perfect cannon fodder, eh?
=============
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/article474777.ece
Recruiters eye wider pool
By Jose Cardenas, Times Staff Writer
Published Saturday, April 26, 2008 8:30 PM
CLEARWATER ^× This month's death of Army Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz in Iraq
cast a spotlight on troops serving in the U.S. military who are not
American citizens.
Huerta-Cruz, 23, was born in a small town in rural Mexico and moved to
Clearwater with his family when he was 10. He was a legal permanent
resident, or a "green card" soldier.
That made him an exception. Noncitizens account for about 5 percent of the
troops in all the branches of the U.S. military. Noncitizens now must have
green cards to enlist.
But as the nation fights wars on two fronts, some wonder whether the
military should recruit more heavily among immigrants here ^× even
undocumented ones ^× as well as foreigners in their own countries.
Yes, say some intellectuals at Washington, D.C., think tanks.
"Those of us who support recruiting foreigners believe they are often very
skilled, motivated, and in the great American tradition of immigration,"
Michael O'Hanlon, a Brookings Institution senior fellow on foreign policy
said in an e-mail.
The "Dream Act" bill that failed in Congress last year would have done
more than legalize undocumented high school students who aspire to
college. It also would have given green cards to undocumented high school
students who served in the military.
Such students "are well educated, they are not troublemakers, they are
bilingual," said Jorge Mariscal, a professor of Latino studies at the
University of California, San Diego.
"The military wants to get their hands on those folks," added Mariscal, a
Vietnam veteran.
The nonprofit CNA Corp. based in Virginia has recommended mining the legal
immigrant community more heavily for military recruits.
"One overlooked source of military manpower is immigrants and their
families," according to a 2005 report by CNA, which advises public
employers on issues ranging from national security to international
affairs.
"In fact," the organization concluded, "much of the growth in the
recruitment-eligible population will come from immigration."
Along with immigrant groups who have fought for the United States ^×
Irish-Americans in the Civil War, for example ^× noncitizens also have
enlisted since the Revolutionary War.
Green card soldiers have received widespread publicity during the Iraq war
because some of the first casualties were Latin-American immigrants.
One was Lance Cpl. Jose Antonio Gutierrez, 22, from Southern California.
Gutierrez was an orphan in Guatemala. Fleeing poverty, he came to the
United States illegally. In Southern California, he entered the foster
care system and got a green card.
He joined the Marines.
He was killed on March 21, 2003, by enemy fire as American troops tried to
secure Umm Qasr. A movie about him, The Short Life of Jose Antonio
Gutierrez, was released last year.
After the war started, President Bush signed an executive order allowing
immigrants in the military to apply for citizenship immediately. Congress
followed with legislation that shortened the time that immigrants in the
military have to wait during peacetime to apply for citizenship, from
three years to one year.
As of February, there were 20,326 immigrants in active duty in all
branches of the military. Another 13,151 were in the Reserves. ^Õ ^Õ ^Õ
It's a small slice of the military, but CNA recommends that the armed
forces should target more legal immigrants as recruits.
The foreign-born population in the United States at the time of the CNA
report ^× 12 percent ^× was at least twice as high as their representation
in the military.
Also, a third of the world's population is younger than 15, and many of
those young people will make their way to the United States, where some
will become legal residents.
For the military, the linguistic and cultural diversity of noncitizens are
especially valuable, the CNA authors said.
They add that many immigrants are interested in the expedited process for
citizenship that enlisted immigrants receive.
Meanwhile, O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution and Council on Foreign
Relations senior fellow Max Boot have called for a "new chapter in the
annals of American immigration."
Their proposal: give foreigners recruited from other countries as well as
those already here citizenship after four years of military service. That,
they believe, could create a path toward assimilation for undocumented
immigrants without green cards. Besides, they note, the military already
relaxed age and other restrictions, including those accepting enlistees
with criminal records, to meet recruiting goals.
"The idea of offering citizenship to foreigners who first join the armed
forces should be a winner for everyone," they wrote in the Washington Post
in 2006. "It is good for immigrants. ^Å It is good for a beleaguered
American military that is simply too small for the tasks it has been
handed." ^Õ ^Õ ^Õ
Not surprisingly, others oppose the idea of increasing the number of
noncitizens fighting for American ideals.
The military would become a low-wage occupation like other industries now
dominated by immigrants, warns Mark Krikorian, executive director of the
Center for Immigration Studies, which favors more restrictive immigration
policies.
"If enlisting were a way to get legalized or a way to get into the United
States," Krikorian said, "soldiering would become a job Americans would
not do very rapidly."
Some in the Hispanic community, already weary of recruitment among its
youths, agree.
Said Mariscal: "It would be another example of the exploitation of cheap
labor."
Even now, American citizenship is not guaranteed for immigrant serving in
the military, Mariscal said. Meanwhile, some countries strip their
nationals of citizenship if they serve in foreign militaries.
"Those people who did it would have no country," Mariscal said.
In Clearwater, Huerta-Cruz ^× one of 144 immigrants who have died in Iraq
and Afghanistan since 2001 ^× was buried Tuesday.
Calvary Catholic Cemetery on U.S. 19 is his final resting place.
And one day, the United States could become his home country.
That's because Army officials have said they will seek posthumous
citizenship for Huerta-Cruz.
Jose Cardenas can be reached at jcardenas@sptimes.com.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:24:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kekahuna Keaweiwi <kekahunakeaweiwi@yahoo.com>
Subject: [livingnation] Ukumehame Article-
Ukumehame: cloudy land title?
Jan Welda
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 4:38 PM
On the morning of Tuesday, April 15, 2008, Keali^Ñikauikahano (Keali^Ñi)
Blaisdell-Aken and Robert Armitage Sr. were arrested for trespassing on
what they consider to be their own land. It was the second arrest in as
many weeks for Armitage, who had come to help his family legally claim
their ancestral lands after a key decision by the State of Hawai^Ñi^Òs
Supreme Court was handed down January 31, 2008. Blaisdell-Aken said, ^ÓThe
kanaka maoli are returning home to lands that are rightfully ours. The
land was always ours to begin with; we are the living heirs and
descendants of this kuleana land. Ukumehame is Crown Lands, to be used
for native Hawaiian cultural purposes; Olowalu Sugar was given a 100 year
lease on this land, which has expired, and so the land should have
reverted to Crown Lands.^Ô
The land in question is located between Ma^Ñalaea and Lahaina, near Mile
Marker 14 on the Honoapiilani Highway. Ukumehame encompasses hundreds of
undeveloped acres which include many sacred heiau, (sites for worship),
fresh water springs, a hot spring, and a swiftly flowing stream that
provides habitat for things like freshwater clams, opae and o^Ñopu, and a
breeding ground for small fish that larger salt water fish rely on as a
food source. There^Òs also a small water reservoir and many habitats for a
wide variety of endangered species - endemic plants, insects and animals
such as nene (Hawaiian goose) and the Hawaiian Coot, not to mention
breathtaking mountain and ocean views at every turn.
On February 14, 2008, a small group of friends and relatives including
Blaisdell-Aken and Armitage set up tents and began occupying and actively
improving this land, beginning to restore some of the ancient taro lo^Ñi
by the streams, encouraging the existing sweet cherry tomato plants, the
bitter melon vines and all the native Hawaiian food plants and trees that
grow there naturally.
^ÓAll lands in the Hawaiian islands have cloudy titles,^Ô according to
Bumpy Kanahele, a Hawaiian healer and activist who has been in on many of
the meetings and key decision-making groups regarding native Hawaiian
rights over the past thirty years or so. Ed Lindsey of Makawao echoed that
sentiment, telling me, ^ÓAll land titles in Hawaii are built on a house of
cards. If any one of the native Hawaiian organizations are successful in
pulling out one of those cards, the whole stack falls down.^Ô
And this is where the confusion comes in for many people ^Ö there are
several different native Hawaiian groups claiming to be the only
legitimate one (see the article on page 2 regarding Henry Noa^Òs
Reinstated Kingdom of Hawaii), all trying to accomplish the same thing by
different routes, and most seeming to be at odds with each other. And what
about that Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Akaka Bill? They all
want justice for the Hawaiian people, but identifying and clarifying the
truth in all of this seems almost to depend on whose viewpoint you agree
with. Blaisdell-Aken says that ^Óthe last existing remnant of the Hawaiian
Monarchial Government is the Department of Land and Natural Resources, or
DLNR, which was commissioned by King Kamehameha III.^Ô
Recently, many kanaka maoli ^Ö intelligent, motivated people ^Ö have been
focusing on the existing laws pertaining to these issues with laser-like
intensity, rapidly educating themselves, seeking ever more knowledge,
unearthing and studying laws, old documents and land grants, encouraging
others to do the same, passing the word along. Citing legal documents such
as the Apology Resolution* signed by President Bill Clinton acknowledging
the United States^Ò illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Francis
Anthony Boyle^Òs Restoration of the Independent Nation State of Hawaii
under International Law, published in the St. Thomas Law Review in 1995,
and the recent Supreme Court decision of January 31, 2008**, they are
actively going about the business of setting things right. Many realtor
websites exist which advertise ag-zoned lots in this area ^Óranging from
2.7 to 13 acres in size,^Ô several of which have already been sold, in the
price range of $995,000 to $1,395,000.
^ÓThese sites will be wonderful for those seeking to build a dream home on
Maui,^Ô one website boasts. Many of these advertisements emphasize the
rich Hawaiian culture here: ^ÓIt speaks^Å of Hawaiian ancestry, and
generations who lived and worked here. Of how, in times of trouble, this
was a safe haven^Å and still is.^Ô
Blaisdell-Aken asks, ^ÓWhy is it that our culture is good enough for the
tourists, but when we practice it and live it, it^Òs a violation of law?^Ô
Time will tell whether this land is a safe haven or not; in the meantime,
it might be a good idea for ALL of us to educate ourselves on the issues
at stake.
See www. ukumehamemaui.com and www.bumpykanahele.com.
* formally known as the Joint Resolution to Acknowledge the 100th
Anniversary of the January 17, 1893 Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii,
this document was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton on
November 23, 1993.
** called ^ÓOffice of Hawaiian Affairs, Rowena Akana, Haunani Apoliona,
Dante Carpenter, Donald Cataluna, Linda Dela Cruz, Colette Machado, Boyd
P. Mossman, Oswald Stender, and John Waihee IV, in their official
capacities as members of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian
Affairs, Pia Thomas Aluli, Jonathan Kamakawiwoole Osorio, Charles Kaaia,
and Keoki Kamaka Kiili, Plaintiffs-Apellants, vs. Housing and Community
Development Corporation of Hawai^Ñi (HCDCH), Robert J. Hall, in his
capacity as Acting Executive Director of HCDCH, Charles Sted, Chair;
Stephanie Aveiro, Francis L. Jung, Charles King, Lillian B. Koller, Betty
Lou Larson, Theodore E. Liu, Travis Thompson, Taiaopo, Tuimaleiliifano,
Members of the Board of Directors of HCDCH, State of Hawai^Ñi, and Linda
Lingle, in her capacity as Governor, State of Hawai^Ñi,
Defendants-Apellees.
Copyright © 2007 The Haleakala Times.
________________________________________________________________________________
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:38:40 -1000
From: mike reitz <mreitz@pacbell.net>
Subject: 10 reasons why GM won't feed the world
10 reasons why GM won't feed the world
Genetic modification can't deliver a safe, secure future food supply.
Here's why...
Date:01/03/2008
Author: Mark Anslow
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=1185
1. Failure to deliver
Despite the hype, genetic modification consistently fails to live up to
industry claims. Only two GM traits have ever made it to market: herbicide
resistance and BT toxin expression (see below). Other promises of genetic
modification have failed to materialise. The much vaunted GM `golden rice'
- hailed as a cure to vitamin A deficiency - has never made it out of the
laboratory, partly because in order to meet recommended levels of vitamin
A intake, consumers would need to eat 12 bowls of the rice every day.1 In
2004, the Kenyan government admitted that Monsanto's GM sweet potatoes
were no more resistant to feathery mottle virus than ordinary strains, and
in fact produced lower yields.2 And in January 2008, news that scientists
had modified a carrot to cure osteoporosis by providing calcium had to be
weighed against the fact that you would need to eat 1.6 kilograms of these
vegetables each day to meet your recommended calcium intake.3
2. Costing the Earth
GM crops are costing farmers and governments more money than they are
making. In 2003, a report by the Soil Association estimated the cost to
the US economy of GM crops at around $12 billion (£6 billion) since 1999,
on account of inflated farm subsidies, loss of export orders and various
seed recalls.4 A study in Iowa found that GM soyabeans required all the
same costs as conventional farming but, because they produced lower yields
(see below), the farmers ended up making no profit at all.5 In India, an
independent study found that BT cotton crops were costing farmers 10 per
cent more than non-BT variants and bringing in 40 per cent lower profits.6
Between 2001 and 2005, more than 32,000 Indian farmers committed suicide,
most as a result of mounting debts caused by inadequate crops.7
3. Contamination and gene escape
No matter how hard you try, you can never be sure that what you are eating
is GM-free. In a recent article, the New Scientist admitted that
contamination and cross-fertilisation between GM and non-GM crops `has
happened on many occasions already'.8 In late 2007, US company Scotts
Miracle-Gro was fined $500,000 by the US Department of Agriculture when
genetic material from a new golf-course grass Scotts had been testing was
found in native grasses as far as 13 miles away from the test sites,
apparently released when freshly cut grass was caught and blown by the
wind.9 In 2006, an analysis of 40 Spanish conventional and organic farms
found that eight were contaminated with GM corn varieties, including one
farmer whose crop contained 12.6 per cent GM plants.
4. Reliance on pesticides
Far from reducing dependency on pesticides and fertilisers, GM crops
frequently increase farmers' reliance on these products.
Herbicide-resistant crops can be sprayed indiscriminately with weedkillers
such as Monsanto's `Roundup' because they are engineered to withstand the
effect of the chemical. This means that significantly higher levels of
herbicide are found in the final food product, however, and often a second
herbicide is used in the late stages of the crop to promote `dessication'
or drying, meaning these crops receive a double dose of harmful
chemicals.10 BT maize, engineered to produce an insecticidal toxin, has
never eliminated the use of pesticides,11 and because the BT gene cannot
be `switched off' the crops continue to produce the toxin right up until
harvest, reaching the consumer at its highest possible concentrations.12
5. `Frankenfoods'
Despite the best efforts of the biotech industry, consumers remain
staunchly opposed to GM food. In 2007, the vast majority of 11,700
responses to the Government's consultation on whether contamination of
organic food with traces of GM crops should be allowed were strongly
negative. The Government's own `GM Nation' debate in 2003 discovered that
half of its participants `never want to see GM crops grown in the United
Kingdom under any circumstances', and 96 per cent thought that society
knew too little about the health impacts of genetic modification. In
India, farmers' experience of BT cotton has been so disastrous that the
Maharashtra government now advises that farmers grow soybeans instead. And
in Australia, over 250 food companies lodged appeals with the state
governments of New South Wales and Victoria over the lifting of bans
against growing GM canola crops.13
6. Breeding resistance
Nature is smart, and there are already reports of species resistant to GM
crops emerging. This is seen in the emergence of new `superweeds' on farms
in North America - plants that have evolved the ability to withstand the
industry's chemicals. A report by then UK conservation body English Nature
(now Natural England), in 2002, revealed that oilseed rape plants that had
developed resistance to three or more herbicides were `not uncommon' in
Canada.14 The superweeds had been created through random crosses between
neighbouring GM crops. In order to tackle these superweeds, Canadian
farmers were forced to resort to even stronger, more toxic herbicides.15
Similarly, pests (notably the diamondback moth) have been quick to develop
resistance to BT toxin, and in 2007 swarms of mealy bugs began attacking
supposedly pest-resistant Indian cotton.
7. Creating problems for solutions
Many of the so-called `problems' for which the biotechnology industry
develops `solutions' seem to be notions of PR rather than science.
Herbicide-resistance was sold under the claim that because crops could be
doused in chemicals, there would be much less need to weed mechanically or
plough the soil, keeping more carbon and nitrates under the surface. But a
new long-term study by the US Agricultural Research Service has shown that
organic farming, even with ploughing, stores more carbon than the GM crops
save.16 BT cotton was claimed to increase resistance to pests, but farmers
in East Africa discovered that by planting a local weed amid their corn
crop, they could lure pests to lay their eggs on the weed and not the
crop.17
8. Health risks
The results of tests on animals exposed to GM crops give serious cause for
concern over their safety. In 1998, Scottish scientists found damage to
every single internal organ in rats fed blight resistant GM potatoes. In a
2006 experiment, female rats fed on herbicide-resistant soybeans gave
birth to severely stunted pups, of which half died within three weeks. The
survivors were sterile. In the same year, Indian news agencies reported
that thousands of sheep allowed to graze on BT cotton crop residues had
died suddenly. Further cases of livestock deaths followed in 2007. There
have also been reports of allergy-like symptoms among Indian labourers in
BT cotton fields. In 2002, the only trial ever to involve human beings
appeared to show that altered genetic material from GM soybeans not only
survives in the human gut, but may even pass its genetic material to
bacteria within the digestive system.18
9. Left hungry
GM crops have always come with promises of increased yields for farmers,
but this has rarely been the case. A three-year study of 87 villages in
India found that non-BT cotton consistently produced 30 per cent higher
yields than the (more expensive) GM alternative.19 It is now widely
accepted that GM soybeans produce consistently lower yields than
conventional varieties. In 1992, Monsanto's own trials showed that the
company's Roundup Ready soybeans yield 11.5 per cent less on harvest.
Later Monsanto studies went on to reveal that some trials of GM canola
crops in Australia actually produced yields 16 per cent below the non-GM
national average.20
10. Wedded to fertilisers and fossil fuels
No genetically modified crop has yet eliminated the need for chemical
fertilisers in order to achieve expected yields. Although the industry has
made much of the possibility of splicing nitrogen-fixing genes into
commercial food crops in order to boost yields, there has so far been
little success. This means that GM crops are just as dependent on fossil
fuels to make fertilisers as conventional agriculture. In addition to
this, GM traits are often specifically designed to fit with large-scale
industrial agriculture. Herbicide resistance is of no real benefit unless
your farm is too vast to weed mechanically, and it presumes that the
farmers already farm in a way that involves the chemical spraying of their
crops. Similarly, BT toxin expression is designed to counteract the
problem of pest control in vast monocultures, which encourage
infestations. In a world that will soon have to change its view of farming
- facing as it does the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil -
GM crops will soon come to look like a relic of bygone practices.
Mark Anslow is the Ecologist's senior reporter
References
1 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8521
2 http://www.greens.org/s-r/35/35-03.html
3 Telegraph, 14th January 2008, http://tinyurl.com/38e2rp
4 Soil Association, 2007, http://tinyurl.com/33bfuh
5 http://ianrnews.unl.edu/static/0005161.shtml
6 http://www.i-sis.org.uk/IBTCF.php
7 Indian Muslims, 20th November 2007, http://tinyurl.com/2u7wy7
8 New Scientist, `Genes for Greens', 5th January 2007, Issue 2637, Vol 197
9 http://gmfoodwatch.tribe.net/thread/a1b77b8b-15f5-4f1d-86df-2bbca5aaec70
10 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=9927
11 http://www.btinternet.com/~nlpWESSEX/Documents/usdagmeconomics.htm
12 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=9927
13 http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/27/18463803.php
14 http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/enrr443.pdf
15 Innovations Report, 20th June 2005, http://tinyurl.com/3axmln
16 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8658
17 http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMcropsfailed.php
18 All references from `GM Food Nightmare Unfolding in the Regulatory
Sham', Mae-Wan Ho, Joe Cummins, Peter Saunders, ISIS report.
19 http://www.i-sis.org.uk/IBTCF.php
20 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8558
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~-----------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:41:32 -1000
From: Lc <palolo@hawaii.rr.com>
Subject: auntie sister
auntie sister correa, keanu sai's auntie, longtime democratic party
stalwart. keanu used to live across the street and down the road from her
in kuliouou. also henry noa's mother in law. henry's wife is keolani...
notice the reeves name. keanu's grandpa and keanu reeves' grandpa were
brothers. keanu generally mentions that when he gives a ppt presentation
about the hawaiian kingdom. it makes everybody laugh. anu said they're
about the same age and keanu reeves spent some time here when he was a
kid, so they really do know each other.
james and i met auntie (nihoa ohana) were living at sand island, one of 19
families living on the beach. laverne was organizing among the homeless
at sand island to bring them into a program called "angel network".
that's also when james and i met mrs. winona rubin, around 1990, who was
then head of DSSH, dept. of social services and housing. a bunch of folks
came out to sand island who really cared about what was happening to
hawaiians, of course, it was mostly hawaiians who were living at the
beach, and one or two haoles who were war vets living in cars, and one
filipino family with six kids.
auntie sister would cook huge amounts of food (she was a fabulous cook)
and bring it all to sand island on sundays and feed everyone there. it
was an open kitchen for everyone. she came on holidays, too.
one time james and i went to her house to pick guavas. she grew these
really huge guavas, like apples, that were white inside and sweet. she
said they were from kauai. while we were there she busted out the hugest
bowls of opihi and poi and invited us to stay for a meal. so of course we
did! she was one of the sweetest persons i had ever met, and even though
i didn't get to see her much over the years, i'll always remember her
kindness. lc
Naomi Lokalia Reeves Correa
April 23, 2008
Naomi "Auntie Sister" Lokalia Reeves Correa, 80, of Honolulu died in
Kuliouou. She was born in Kuliouou. She is survived by husband Edward;
sons Edward Jr. Nowlin, Weston and Cody; daughters Elizabeth and Henrietta
Correa, NaniFay Paglinawan, Nohea Colton, RoseMary Duarte, Keolani Noa,
Laanui Johnston, Leialoha Patao and Malia Isaia; brother Charles Reeves;
sister Bunchie Bandermann; 51 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren.
Overnight vigil: 9 p.m. Friday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 5919
Kalanianaole Hwy. Call after 6:30 p.m. Mass: 11 a.m. Saturday at the
church. Burial: 2 p.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gabrielle Welford, Ph.D.
freelance writer, editor, teacher
welford@hawaii.edu
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