1. Sidewalk blog: Christmas kitsch edition2. Aloha to Friends of Street Beat3. Male Maori apologists : Why we still back Rickards4. Women's refuge raided5. Pissing for Profit in the Pacific6. [Cindy Sheehan] What is Peace?7. The unspeakable insanity of biofuel!8. Terrorism reigns in America9. Whether you like Ron Paul or not - this is interesting!10. Wrtten Testimony To Maui Planning Commission11. Deva Premal - Maui/Kona - Concerts & Workshop - Tues Dec.11-Sun Dec.1612. House and Senate Democratic Leaders Meet with Asian American andPacific Islander School Board Officials13. Rebirth of taro - kalo patch restored on land in Kaneohe14. Deva Premal - $25 Thurs. Night Special - Hawaii Concerts & Workshop15. Embracing green in Hawaii homes16. Glavish defends ex top cop17. New Zealand Anti-terror Raids a Low Point for Race Relations18. MNN Flogging "Old Washington Mule" in 'Latin' America!19. Wrtten Testimony To Maui Planning Commission - comment
In an interview with broadcaster Willie Jackson airing today on RadioWaatea. Mr Rickards will send out a mihi of thanks to Maori AffairsMinister Parekura Horomia. Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta. Maori Party co-leaderPita Sharples. Te Runanga o Ngati Porou chairman Api Mahuika and NgatiManiapoto kaumatua Tui Adams.
As governments meet in London today to discuss whether the high seasshould be used for large-scale iron dumping by companies promising aquick-fix for climate change one private company is rushing ahead with anew ocean dumping scheme in Southeast Asia ^Ö this time with urea. Civilsociety groups have learned that Ocean Nourishment Corporation (ONC) ofSydney. Australia has been given a "go signal" by the Philippinesgovernment to experimentally dump hundreds of tonnes ofindustrially-produced urea most likely into the Sulu Sea betweenPhilippines and Borneo.
A coalition of international civil society groups today called on thegovernments of the London Convention ^Ö the UN body established to preventmarine dumping ^Ö to stop ONC from undertaking experimental ocean dumpingof urea. The coalition is also calling for a moratorium on large scale andcommercial geoengineering projects until there is public debate,intergovernmental oversight and thorough assessment of social economicand environmental impacts.
"The global South is once again a dumping ground for risky technologies^Ö this time our oceans are being threatened by high-risk geoengineeringschemes that are rushing forward without public consultation orintergovernmental oversight," said Neth Dano of Malaysia-based Third WorldNetwork. "A few months ago we learned that Planktos. Inc wants to dumpiron particles in the ocean near the Galapagos ^Ö now Southeast Asiancoastal waters are the target for experimental urea dumping. It'sdisgraceful that carbon-trading profiteers are marketing these experimentsas humanitarian projects to feed hungry people and arrest climate change,"said Dano.
"This technology is dangerous and unacceptable because it could imperilour marine environment ^Ö the main source of survival and livelihood forpoor fisherfolk in the Philippines," said Ruperto Aleroza chair ofKilusang Mangingisda ^Ö a fisherfolk movement in the Philippines. "UnderPhilippine law experiments like this must undergo environmental impactassessment and the communities that would be affected must give informedconsent. Proponents of this technology must comply with these laws and thePhilippine government must enforce them," said Aleroza.
Wilhelmina Pelegrina of SEARICE in the Philippines agrees. "Large-scaleurea dumping is treating our oceans like a communal toilet. Our alreadyendangered marine ecosystems are the lifeblood of our communities ^Ö andONC must not be permitted to foul them for their own profit."
In June the London Convention's scientific advisory body warned thatlarge-scale plans to fertilise the ocean near the Galapagos using ironparticles was environmentally risky and there is no scientific evidence itwill be effective. That statement of concern is due to be discussed thisweek by the full meeting of governments who are parties to the LondonConvention. One private ocean fertilization company. Climos will proposea voluntary code of conduct at the meeting.
Ocean Nourishment Corp. (ONC) is proposing a new technology that issimilar to the one criticized by the London Convention. The company claimsthat by pumping kilo-tonne quantities of dissolved urea (a form ofnitrogen) into the ocean their patented technology will provoke largeplankton blooms and draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. They arguethat urea dumping could tackle climate change and push up fish stocks. However international scientific bodies including the InternationalPanel on Climate Change (IPCC) have warned that toxic tides and lifelessoceans might instead result from such geo-engineering activities. Geoengineering refers to intentional large-scale manipulation of land seaor stratosphere by humans to bring about environmental change.
"No one knows how many companies are lining up to promote geoengineeringschemes that could introduce extreme hazards to people and theenvironment," notes Jim Thomas of ETC Group. "The recent cases of Planktosand now ONC illustrate the vacuum in oversight and accountability. Thereare no regulations in place to govern geoengineering and nointergovernmental body has the mandate to decide when or if large-scalemanipulations of the earth sea and atmosphere are acceptable or wise as aresponse to climate change," said Thomas.
Concerned civil society groups are urgently requesting that the LondonConvention consider ONC's urea dumping plans. Dr. David Santillo ofGreenpeace International's Science Unit who is attending the LondonConvention meeting said. "The scientific advisory body to the LondonConvention have unanimously shown their grave concern for the ecologicalrisks of ocean fertilisation. We are calling on parties to act to preventreckless carbon profiteers such as ONC from carrying on regardless."
Is war a ^Óhot^Ô conflict with bombs raining down on civilians? Is itcovert action with undercover agents fomenting unrest and electoralrebellion? Is it crippling sanctions that target unarmed and un-protectedcivilians who become desperate for medicine when their child is dying ofdysentery or hungry for food to fend off starvation?
Is war maintaining a large standing army and an over-bloated Ministry ofWar even in peacetime? Is war destroying our precarious environment forthe sake of a comparative few to the detriment of the many? Is warrecklessly using natural resources when there is a limited supply and manypeople are killed or enslaved so others can have diamond engagement ringsor cheap crap at Wal-Mart?
I believe there is always an undeclared war on poor people all over theworld and the establishment^Òs goal is to use any means violent covert,or criminal to make the poor poorer; the rich richer; and to eliminatean educated healthy and vibrant middle class that is a threat to thefascist-elite way of life but essential for true freedom and democracy.
So then what is a meaningful definition of peace? Peace is an existentialstate where individuals are not only free from bombs raining down on theirheads and an absence of planes flying into buildings but where everyperson enjoys the basic human rights of security prosperity a good andfree education plentiful food accessible healthcare clean water and aclean planet free from catastrophic global climate change and overwhelmingpollution.
John Lennon who was so wrongly taken away from us 27 years ago today isan icon for peace who strived and struggled for a true peace with histalent and with his resources. His songs and refrains particularly: Powerto the People. Imagine and War is Over and Give Peace a Chance areanthems for our modern peace movement. Imagine (on which I have writtenbefore) is a manifesto to a Utopian world where true peace is the paradigmand constant war as a foreign policy tool is abolished.
It is a tragedy in our world that we oftentimes marginalize or kill ourpeacemakers. I often dream of where our world would be today if peoplelike Gandhi. John Lennon. MLK. Jr. or Bobby Kennedy (a later in lifeconvert to peace) would not have been assassinated or what would happenif we their survivors had made more meaning out of their violent,meaningless and senseless deaths. Would we be closer to state of utopia(or Nutopia) that John Lennon dreamed of?
John^Òs widow. Yoko Ono Lennon has been very tireless in striving forworld peace and in continuing her husband^Òs legacy. I know that my workfor peace began when I wanted to make meaning out of my son^Òs senselessand violent death at the hands of the war pigs.
It was in the season of peace that John Lennon was killed when instead ofa frenzy of shopping and an orgy of eating we should all be reflecting onelevating the situation of our less fortunate brothers and sisters tobring peace to our part of the world that will have a ripple effect thatspreads worldwide.
The Tohono O'odham have lived here since time immemorial. Now their landhas been seized and taken over by the Border Patrol the contractor Boeingand the invading National Guardsmen for construction of the border wall. The graves of O'odham ancestors have been dug up according to thetraditional O'odham.
In Texas. Margo Tamez. Lipan Apache/Jumano Apache called for immediatesupport Thursday. Dec. 6 when Homeland Security announced the occupationof lands where Apache land title holders are refusing to sign NSA waiversfor the border wall.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the United States willseize private lands in south Texas for the border wall using the law ofeminent domain. Tamez said. "We need your help on our continuing effortsto protect and keep safe the elders of our struggle against U. S tyranny."
Tamez said. "'Refusers' such as the Lipan Apache Land Grant Women Defense,led by my mother. Dr. Eloisa Garcia Tamez (Lipan Apache. Basque-Apache),in the rancheria of El Calaboz have frustrated the NSA. Border Patrol andArmy Corps of Engineers officials for over two years and increasingly inthe last two months.
"Using tactics such as public announcements over the news service used asintimidation and as psychological warfare--NSA/Chertoff exploits the pressto prepare the nation to invade South Texas--and indigenous peoples--whoare being 'architected as the perpetual enemies of the United States.'This is an old story of genocidal tactics and militarization.
"My mother and the ancestors of 'the place where the Lipan pray' havebeen critical to our land-based struggle and they are leaders in anApache struggle in the Mexico-US International Boundary region. Our eldervoices direct us in a huge role that Apache people will play in standingup against tyranny of the settler society. We cannot do this without thesupport and the solidarity of our indigenous sisters and brothers who arealso at the forefront of the 21st century battles for our rights asindigenous people with ancient footprints on this land.
"My mother at this stage of our community-based struggle indicates thatshe is prepared to receive national and international support for oursmall community on the peripheries of U. S empire. She wrote a comment onthe page of this newsstory out of Houston. Texas.
"Today we are submitting our comments to the Environmental ImpactStatement authorities and parallel to that we are submitting an in depthcase study of our histories under U. S.. Mexican. Spanish. Vatican andcorporate domination to the International Indian Treaty Council shadowreport to be submitted to the U. N. Convention on the Elimination of Racismand Racial Discrimination in December," Tamez said.
At a detention hearing in federal court in Tucson. Betsy Lamb a retiredCatholic lay leader and Franciscan Fr. Jerry Zawada were jailed withoutbail until their trial according to the support group "Torture on Trial."
Magistrate Hector Estrada was concerned by evidence that both Lamb andZawada had failed to heed an order of the court in cases pending in otherjurisdictions. Betsy Lamb is awaiting trial for a September anti-warprotest outside the office of Rep. Greg Walden in Bend. Oregon.
As a standard condition of release on her own recognizance. Lamb hadpromised not to commit any other crime while awaiting trial. Fr. Zawadahas an outstanding bench warrant for failure to appear for a court date inWashington. D. C. where he has been arrested several times in recent yearsfor anti-war protest.
Army Prosecutor Capt. Evan Seamone came to court with three witnesses indress uniform several poster-sized photo enlargements and a videotape ofthe arrests. But the magistrate said he already knew the defendants'intent and would only listen to Seamone's summation. Seamone describedthe defendants' peaceful passage through police barricades at the gate ofFort Huachuca as a violent act because it had to be met by police whowere forced to go face to face with the unarmed protesters and lift themfrom a kneeling position. In the eyes of the law and legal precedent,Seamone argued that such violent trespass warranted pretrial detention forthe safety of the community.
Were the court to release Zawada and Lamb. "their blatant defiance islikely to happen again" Seamone warned gravely predicting that "all kindsof chaos" would ensue at the gate to Fort Huachuca.
Attorney Rachel Wilson representing the defendants objected repeatedlywithout success to Seamone's arguments. Wilson told the court that Ms. Lamb had "learned her lesson" and was willing to post bond along with herpromise to return to court for trial. Estrada was unmoved.
He told the defendants he didn't trust them and that he believed they wereright where they wanted to be - before him in chains. Protest isbrinkmanship and the point is to not be arrested; better to organize aconference or seminar he chided.
Estrada then ordered that Lamb and Zawada be kept in custody until theirFebruary 4 trial because they "remain a flight risk and are a danger tothe community." Not even Capt. Seamone had suggested that the defendantswere a "flight risk".
Responding to the court's conclusion. Felice Cohen-Joppa said of herfriends. "Betsy Lamb and Jerry Zawada are not a danger to the community -they along with Mary Burton Riseley are the conscience of the community. They are shining a light on the involvement of military intelligence intorture around the world. Their nonviolent acts are no more a danger tothe community than were the nonviolent acts of Cesar Chavez and MartinLuther King. Jr." Lamb and Zawada are not the only people now in prisonfor peaceful protest of U. S torture practices.
On October 17. Magistrate Estrada sent Frs. Steve Kelly and Louie Vitaleto prison for five months in prison for a similar protest at Fort Huachucain November. 2006. They are scheduled to be released in mid-March.
More: Please see photo of construction of theborder fence on Tohono O'odham land: Although the Tohono O'odham Nation refers to this as a "vehicle barrier"instead of a "border wall," traditional O'odham say it has the sameeffect since it is a barrier to the annual ceremonial route and hasalready resulted in the digging up of O'odham ancestors' remains. Whilethe Tohono O'odham Nation government works with Homeland Security andsupports the border fence the traditional O'odham are opposing it. Traditional O'odham said the future of their people and their ceremonialway of life is at stake-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is more reason that the USA must de-occupy Hawai'i. This is just asbad as the Russian communist state. US Americans have got to be the mostapatheic lazy bunch of people incapable of governing themselves. Andwhat has Hawaii's so-called representatives in Washington doing about it?They are just sickos if they just rolled over and turned a blind eye andnot protecting the interests of their constituents.
> I regret that I was unavoidably out of town on October 23. 2007 when a vote was taken on HR 1955 the Violent Radicalization & Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act. Had I been able to vote. I would have voted against this misguided and dangerous piece of legislation. This legislation focuses the weight of the US government inward toward its own citizens under the guise of protecting us against "violent radicalization."
> I would like to note that this legislation was brought to the floor for a vote under suspension of regular order. These so-called "suspension" bills are meant to be non-controversial thereby negating the need for the more complete and open debate allowed under regular order. It is difficult for me to believe that none of my colleagues in Congress view HR 1955 with its troubling civil liberties implications as "non-controversial."
> There are many causes for concern in HR 1955. The legislation specifically singles out the Internet for "facilitating violent radicalization ideologically based violence and the homegrown terrorism process" in the United States. Such language may well be the first step toward US government regulation of what we are allowed to access on the Internet. Are we for our own good to be subjected to the kind of governmental control of the Internet that we see in unfree societies? This bill certainly sets us on that course.
> This seems to be an unwise and dangerous solution in search of a real problem. Previous acts of ideologically-motivated violence though rare have been resolved successfully using law enforcement techniques existing laws against violence and our court system. Even if there were a surge of "violent radicalization" ^Ö a claim for which there is no evidence ^Ö there is no reason to believe that our criminal justice system is so flawed and weak as to be incapable of trying and punishing those who perpetrate violent acts. > This legislation will set up a new government bureaucracy to monitor and further study the as-yet undemonstrated pressing problem of homegrown terrorism and radicalization. It will no doubt prove to be another bureaucracy that artificially inflates problems so as to guarantee its future existence and funding. But it may do so at great further expense to our civil liberties. What disturbs me most about this legislation is that it leaves the door wide open for the broadest definition of what constitutes "radicalization." Could otherwise nonviolent anti-tax antiwar or anti-abortion groups fall under the watchful eye of this new government commission? Assurances otherwise in this legislation are unconvincing.
> In addition this legislation will create a Department of Homeland Security-established university-based body to further study radicalization and to "contribute to the establishment of training written materials information analytical assistance and professional resources to aid in combating violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism." I wonder whether this is really a legitimate role for institutes of higher learning in a free society.
> Legislation such as this demands heavy-handed governmental action against American citizens where no crime has been committed. It is yet another attack on our Constitutionally- protected civil liberties. It is my sincere hope that we will reject such approaches to security which will fail at their stated goal at a great cost to our way of life.________________________________________________________________________________
With all due respect to the applicant and residents of Maui. I herebysubmit my sincere objection to the proposed development of Hyatt RegencyMaui 12-story Timeshare Structure and reject the Final EnvironmentalImpact Survey (FEIS) on the following grounds.
Based on Hawaii^Òs ^ÓSustainable^Ô future officially being addressed atboth the State (i e. 2050 Sustainability Task Force) and County (GeneralPlan Advisory Committee) levels and the immediate and long ^Ötermdeteriorating affect further development will have to the community andsocial wellness unless a moratorium on resort development is initiated byeach Planning Commission member^Òs conscience. Maui and its residents willfall victim to over-development.
As you all should be aware of on September 30. 2006 I submitted (seeAppendix N. FEIS) written response to the Draft Environmental ImpactSurvey (DEIS) and expressed my sincere and passionate concerns such as
* HMC Maui LLC not having ^ÓClear Title^Ô to the land planned for development. (Yet to be addressed. Note: Hyatt does not possess the^ÓOriginal Land Title^Ô from the Mahele.) * Potable Water. (Actual water available for County/Private use relativeto shortages/droughts yet to be addressed) * Lack of Credibility/Conflict of Interest in Cultural Impact Assessment. (Scientific Consultant Services performance on this andother project sites they were contracted to perform consulting/monitoringduties.) * Traffic and Overcapacity of Current Infrastructure. (FEIS noted several^Óunresolved^Ô concerns directly relating to traffic and theinfrastructure impacted (i e. Lahaina By Pass. Honoapiilani WideningProject etc.). By granting this SMA permit to HMC Maui LLC is bestdescribed in a proverbial cliché. ^Ñputting the cart before the horse.^Ò) * Exasperating current Cost-of-Living/Lack of Housing Residence can afford. (Unless specific laws such as moratoriums are enacted toensure ALL the people with ^Ópresent residency^Ô can afford to feed houseand shelter themselves and their family the notion that this FEIS hasaddressed this real and immediate concerns is absurd.)
If each concern expressed by the people will not be addressed with aclear genuine and definitive course of action for remedy it becomesnegligent to the community and reckless for future generations affectingMaui and the outer islands.
In all fairness to our residence visitors and business. I believe arejection of granting an SMA Permit at this time will give us a remedy,but more importantly does not leave any one of us with a sense thatgovernment and its officials have not circumvented/perverted theirfiduciary and lawfully mandated laws as we have most recent witnessed inthe Hawaii Super Ferry Fiasco Governor Linda Lingle and the StateLegislature have put us through.
In light of the Hawaii Super Ferry (HSF) Fiasco and the High-Probabilityof the island^Òs citizens publicly demonstrating and subsequentconfrontations with authorities should Maui^Òs Planning Commission ignoreand/or refuse to address the legitimate and immediate concerns of thepeople here-and-now. I fear figuratively speaking the fuel-the-flame thefires of discontent in our society will not be extinguished butexasperated.
In the future HMC MAUI LLC may reapply for another permit and theEnvironmental Impact Survey to our community and island may be conductedproperly this time whereupon the grounds for accepting the FEIS wouldperhaps be bono fide this time.
Satsang: Meditation with Music & Chanting with Deva Premal and Miten"Satsang meditation transcends other forms of live music because it is asimple silent celebration. It is a grateful recognition that tunes intothe positive vibrations that exist externally all around us. For us toplay music in such an environment is the ultimate gift.
Voice Celebration: Devotional Singing with Deva Premal & Miten The singingvoice is a powerful healing instrument yet in the days of radio,television and recorded music it lays dormant in most of us. When wasthe last time you really opened your voice in joy and sang from yourheart?
This Workshop is for people who have a longing in their hearts to sing"YES!" to life a longing to sing "THANK YOU!" to life a longing to openthe door to their own inner peace. This can be done by using the voice tochant ancient and sacred mantras. Native American songs and Africanchants. By feeling yourself uplifted on the wings of harmony and becomingaware of your voice melting with others you begin to enter into a worldof undiluted bliss.
Washington. DC Yesterday. House and Senate Leadership along with theCongressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) hosted their firstAsian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Education Forum. At a time whenCongress is seeking input for its upcoming education bills the Forum drewparticipants from all around the country including Asian American electedschool board members educators academics and community advocates. Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15). Chair of CAPAC,co-chaired the meeting.
At the forum participants emphasized the diversity within the AAPIcommunity which ranges from high achieving students to some of the lowestachieving students in the nation. Factors such as English proficiency andsocio-economic status account for many differences. To address thesedisparities participants voiced the need for the federal government todisaggregate data among the various AAPI ethnic groups ensure adequateservices for English Language Learners (ELLs) and encourage parentinvolvement by engaging AAPI community based organizations.
"With work ongoing on the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind it isimperative that lawmakers receive input from all communities about thislegislation. Congress is committed to fulfilling our promise to improvestudent performance increase school accountability and provide studentswith the resources they need to learn the skills crucial to their futuresuccess," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Today we had an opportunity tolisten to school board members and community advocates from across thenation regarding the unique needs and challenges Asian American andPacific Islander (AAPI) students face. Whether it's teacher quality fairassessments or adequately funding programs for special needs students,Democrats are committed to providing high quality education to all ofAmerica's students creating a nation ready for the challenges of the 21stcentury."
"With 14 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders part of ourAmerican fabric it is critical to hear from AAPI leaders about the rangeof education issues facing the community," said Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid. "At today's AAPI Education Forum they stressed the importanceof determining how to measure progress for students learning English,ensuring that we have accurate data to help inform instruction andidentify areas for growth and increasing parental involvement. I amhopeful that we can address many of these concerns as we reauthorize theNo Child Left Behind Act."
"It may be tempting to think that all Asian American and Pacific Islanderstudents do well," said Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15). Chair of CAPAC."It is time to dispel this model minority myth by collecting disaggregateddata that shows the true diversity of our communities and shape educationpolicy based on what¹s really happening in our classrooms. I will continueto work with the Forum participants my colleagues at the CongressionalAsian Pacific American Caucus and other Members of Congress to meet thediverse needs of AAPI students. I am proud to have hosted this forum withHouse and Senate leadership to ensure that voices of AAPI leaders arebrought to the table. I hope that the participants will continue to givetheir input as we consider education legislation."
"Every child deserves a quality education which is why Senate Democratsare so pleased to be co-hosting this first ever Asian American and PacificIslander Education Forum," said Senator Debbie Stabenow. Chair of theSenate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. "We understand that forAmerica to stay ahead in the global marketplace it is imperative that weinvest innovation and technology for our schools while training thehighest quality teachers. Our Democratic majority is leading the way onthese important issues through initiatives like the Teacher EducationAssistance for College and Higher Education Grants to help collegestudents who are studying to be teachers pay their tuition. We lookforward to continuing our work with educators and the Asian American andPacific Islander community to give America's children the education thatthey deserve."
"Today's forum was a great opportunity to raise issues of importance tothe AAPI community and ensure that they do not go ignored as Congressworks to reauthorize No Child Left Behind," said Senator Maria Cantwell,who co-chaired the Forum. "We often think of Asian Americans as 'idealstudents,' but this is a diverse community with different learningchallenges. Lumping all AAPI students together and overlooking theuniqueness of each community does these students a disservice. I hope totake what we learned today and work with my colleagues to develop areauthorization that speaks to the needs of all AAPI students."----------------------------------------------------------------------
The public charter school housed on the campus of Windward CommunityCollege has a dual focus of Hawaiian and environmental studies whichmakes caring for the loi perfect for them said Calvin Hoe a Hawaiiantaro farmer and teacher who assists with the school program.
"We had a nice gang come -- Molokai people. Maui. Kauai. Big Island. Itwas nice," Hoe said of the October workday on Kamehameha Schools propertyon the outskirts of Kaneohe. "We got a lot of work done."
One participant told Sharon Spencer a social worker at the Windward OahuQueen Liliuokalani Children's Center which was part of the project: "Inthe morning it was a forest. By the afternoon it was a garden. By lateafternoon it was a loi. It was amazing."
Wearing a black T-shirt that read "Our land our legacy," Young who isHawaiian guided the Hakipu'u students in planting the young taro in aspacing that allows each plant to have adequate room to grow. The spacingalso allows farmers room to walk in the loi between them without damagingroots.
In the traditional Hawaiian creation story the first-born child of twoHawaiian gods was stillborn but when planted in the earth became thefirst taro plant a staple of the Hawaiian diet. According to the story,the couple's second child became the originator of the Hawaiian people.
The power of sharing and community is a hallmark of 'Onipa'a the tarofarmers' group. Past workdays to revive ancient taro patches have beenheld at Halawa Valley on Molokai. Kohala and Waipio on the Big Island,Waialua and Waiahole on Oahu. Waialua Nui on Maui and Anahola and Ke e onKauai.
Gwen Kim. Windward unit manager for the Queen Liliuokalani Children'sCenter which also participated in the recent Kaneohe restoration saidthe projects are an example of "hana kalima," many hands working together."Everyone was enjoying themselves but they worked very hard," she said.
Those who hope that Hawai'i's homes and buildings will be more "green" -more sensitive to our Island climate and surroundings - may findinspiration in a new short film. "Site Specific: The Legacy of RegionalModernism," produced by Metropolis an urban design magazine. Metropolisis sponsoring a screening tomorrow at the Honolulu Design Center.
The magazine's editor-in-chief. Susan S. Szenasy will follow with adiscussion on the Sarasota School of Architecture and sustainableapproaches to design. Szenasy and Metropolis are leading a nationwide tourof the film which features interviews with historians and leadingarchitects associated with the Sarasota School.
At first glance the similarities between Sarasota. Fla. and Honoluluseem superficial. Both share warm climates and identities as visitordestinations but they are worlds apart in terms of landscape culture andurban form. But "Site Specific" argues that a climate-sensitive Modernism,advanced by architects who have incorporated ideas such as day lighting,natural ventilation sun screens and shade-giving plantings in theirdesigns has much to offer for places like Hawai'i with high energy costsand an interest in sustainable design.
The Sarasota School refers to a group of architects who practiced inSarasota. Fla. between 1941 and 1966. Notable architects within itsbounds include Paul Rudolph. Ralph Twitchell. Gene Leedy. Victor Lundy,and Joseph Farrell who came to Hawai'i from Sarasota in 1961.
Farrell now principal architect with Architects Hawaii has designedprojects throughout Hawai'i including the Prince Kuhio Federal Building,Gros-venor Center and the Pacific Tower as well as the award-winningcapital complex for the Federated States of Micronesia.
According to Farrell. "The Sarasota School was largely about aesthetics,"adding that "the approach to design was how you start from bare structureand then embellish it." He said working with Paul Rudolph the emphasiswas on "strong form" with a "modern design" yet with some "charm andromance."
University of California. Berkeley professor and architectural historianMarc Treib pointed out that "like so much midcentury work there is bothan optimism and a humility both of which seem to be missing today." Hepoints further to the connections between midcentury Hawai'i and Florida,"when people tried to build responsively and responsibly."
While flat roofs and boxy buildings are often associated with modernism,the Sarasota architects experimented with interesting approaches to designand construction such as the Healy "Cocoon House" (1948-49) built in theSiesta Keys. Fla. With its inverted curves sprayed-on plastic roof glasswalls and louvered siding this house designed by Twitchell and Rudolph,seems to be all about natural ventilation.
Featured in the film is the Riverview High School building in Sarasota,designed by Rudolph. The school according to Szenasy. "was built beforeair conditioning using site-specific moves such as good siting localvegetation sunshades on the south side skylights that act like chimneysand pull out warm air from the inside operable floor to ceiling windows,and shafts that pulled warm air from the lower floor towards theskylights.
"We made this film because we heard from principals in large architecture,planning and design practices that their young members did not have aconnection to history; that they were reinventing the wheel with each newproject. "... Why not learn from history.. and create a timely dialoguearound sustainability and modern preservation?"
Farrell agrees that "these days everyone is on the green bandwagon." Healso reminds us that the times have changed. Because of traffic anddevelopment and so many homes sited so close together he notes. "airconditioning provides a solution to the noise problem."
But he also sees an important and deep connection between the work ofSarasota architects like Rudolph and architects in Hawai'i such asVladimir Ossipoff who understood "the importance of climate siting andarchitectural design."
Dean Sakamoto architect and faculty member at the Yale School ofArchitecture and the guest curator of the exhibition "Hawaiian Modern: TheArchitecture of Vladimir Ossipoff," currently at the Honolulu Academy ofArts noted. "One of Ossipoff's contributions to Hawaiian modernarchitecture is the idea of building without walls. ... Ossipoff took acovered porch or lanai to another level completely blurring the linesbetween indoor and outdoor living.
Architect Scott Wilson who designed an award-winning home known as theManoa Ecohouse has demonstrated how ventilation ceiling fans daylighting solar tubes and thoughtful siting can create beautifulfunctional spaces while reducing the need for air conditioning andlowering energy bills.
Wilson maintains that every new building in Hawai'i should havephotovoltaic panels to "reduce our dependency on imported oil and to lowergreenhouse gas emissions." He points out that for homeowners andbusinesses that retrofit their homes with solar energy. "with tax credits,reduced energy bills and a phased-in installation process these systemscan pay for itself within a few years."
He maintains that "profound changes in how we generate energy and designour buildings and cities are occurring because of sea level rise (and)acidification of the oceans as well as threats to our national securityresulting from storm damage and improper siting and building practices."
Meder says that "we used to build that way because we could but now we nolonger should nor should we want to build irresponsibly because of theeffects on the environment for generations to come."
For those who follow that line of reasoning the larger lessons of theSarasota School involve understanding how to be responsive to localclimatic and environmental conditions and to develop designs that areboth aesthetically pleasing and future-oriented.
* Rickards has admitted that he with a group of other police officers had manipulative and inappropriate sex with vulnerable teenagers. * Rickards has publicly said that this was not wrong. He hassaid he regrets being unfaithful to his wife but otherwise he believesthis kind of conduct is entirely acceptable for serving policeofficers. (Sunday Star Times. 4 March 2007) * Rickards has stood up in front of a bunch of cameras and microphones and heavily criticised a police investigation. He publicly attacked not only his employer but also staff he wants to return to managing. * Rickards has also publicly supported convicted rapists and questioned their convictions.
An interesting exercise is to work out what you'd have to do inyour job tobehave equally unacceptably (and equally publicly) andthen decide whetheryou'd still have a job. So far every person I knowwho has worked that outis totally sure they'd be out of a job.
Rickards has been on suspension for three years and eight months(since the2nd of February 2004). The last case against him completedseven months ago(on 1 March 2007). A competent well run processshould have resolved thismonths (if not years) ago. We're talkingabout totally unacceptablestatements made on the public record fromsomeone whose positions requiresa high level of public confidence.
1. Incompetence. Maybe they can't actually run an effectiveemployment disciplinary process and Rickards' lawyers have them runninground in circles. 2. The old boys' club. Rickards is a senior police officer withsenior mates: maybe they're trying to protect him and find a way outwhich saves some face for him. 3. They just don't care. Maybe this isn't important to thePolice hierarchy. It's clear that the sexual exploitation of youngwomen wasn't important to them maybe this doesn't rate either. 4. Cowardice. Maybe they just don't have the guts. It's noteasy to fire someone definitely not if he's a mate nor to admit tothe world that they've been so wrong for so long.
My personal hunch is the first they've designed an impossiblyconvoluteddisciplinary process and now we're wearing theconsequences. Combine thatwith having to admit to having screwed thatup as well... .
"We were relieved that the Solicitor General did not find sufficientgrounds to approve charges being laid under that Act and we remainintensely interested in the process and the outcome of the charges laidagainst the 16 people - both Maori and Pakeha - under the Arms Act foralleged illegal possession of firearms."
"It is surprising that the media who have demonstrated such an intenseinterest in the whole proceedings have done little or nothing to advisepeople of their rights and to outline the recent history and mandate ofthe authority in this regard," he said.
"My advice is for anyone directly affected by the police operation whofeels that their human rights were breached to lodge a complaint with theauthority so that it can be properly investigated. Alternatively they cancontact us."
"The commission has also decided to develop a resource on human rightsissues that need to be considered in the context of this kind of policeoperation including issues concerning the Terrorism Suppression Act,about which we have long had reservations.
"When we consider the immediate future of race relations in the light ofthese recent events it would be appropriate to say that the foundationfor good race relations is first and foremost adherence to the rule oflaw and more generally respect for human rights," he said.
"Interestingly the latest birth statistics indicate that whereas in the2006 census 10 percent of New Zealanders identified with more than oneethnic group the number of babies identified with more than one ethnicgroup in 2007 was 25 percent. Two-thirds of Maori babies and one half ofPacific babies belonged to multiple ethnic groups compared with roughlyone-third of babies within the European. Asian and other ethnic groups.
The separation of the office of the Race Relations Commissioner from theGovernment was underscored in answer to a question about whether theLabour Government was right to join Australia. Canada and the UnitedStates in refusing to sign the UN's Declaration on the Rights ofIndigenous People.
MNN. Dec. 18th. 2007. Late last Wednesday night a call came fromAkwesasne. ^ÓWhat^Òre you doing?^Ô The response was. ^ÓNothing!^Ô The nextquestion was. ^ÓWanna go down to New York City for a meeting?^Ô The answerwas. ^ÓSure!^Ô The next morning two Mohawks one from Kahnawake andanother from Kanehsatake met up with two other Mohawks from Akwesasne inUpstate New York for the long drive in the pick up truck to the big Apple.
The meeting was across from the Empire State Building. WOLA is the^ÓWashington Office on Latin America^Ô. It started in 1973 under theJimmy Carter administration and was connected to the ^ÓTrilateralCommision^Ô. Today they work with the ^ÓCouncil on Foreign Relations^Ôand are funded by Ford. Carnegie. Rockefeller and other big-time rightwing foundations and corporations. The main honchos were Joy Olson. VickiGass. Margaret Crayhan* and Kenneth Paul Erickson[kenneth erickson@hunter cuny edu] all ^Óscholars^Ô. WOLA^Òssecretary-treasurer and president is Charles Currie. SJ [Society ofJesuits] which governs the ^ÓAssociation of Jesuit Colleges andUniversities^Ô in Washington DC.
A 14-page executive summary was handed out called. ^ÓA Fresh Approach toU. S. Policy in Latin America^Ô which is meant for whichever party winsthe 2008 U. S presidential election. Democrats or Republicans it^Òs allthe same! This looks like hard core evidence of the U. S. President^Òsplan for our people in South America.
^ÓThere are about 300 million people in ^ÑLatin^Ò America the majoritybeing Indigenous people. More than half live in poverty. 80 million inextreme poverty^Ô. The oligarchs have greatly escalated their income andwealth since 1990 by deforestation mining logging and industry whichhave contaminated the air land and water throughout the hemisphere. This rape of the land has caused suffering and devastation to Indigenouspeople.
George Bush^Òs failed policy was criticized. They^Òre coming up with anew ^Ópartnership^Ô between the U. S and ^ÑLatin^Ò America [and Canadatoo! It sure looked like they were dictating Canadian policy. Hey,haven^Òt they heard that feudalism is illegal?] Their main concern iscombating the immigration and drug trade that has been coming into theU. S. They cited international criminal cartels immigration proliferationof arms into the ^Ówrong hands^Ô and the security of the minorityoligarchs who control these countries on behalf of the U. S and Europe. The long and the short of it is that if any profit is to be made the U. S oligarchs want a share. They^Òll take our assets but not our liabilitiesfrom the damage they^Òve caused to the environment.
Because of the tremendous disparity between rich and poor violence isescalating. When the poor don^Òt even have enough to live on what havethey got to lose? According to WOLA. ^Ó42% of all homicides in the worldare happening in Latin America which has 6% of the world^Òs population!^ÔWhere are these guns coming from? This sets up the excuse to go in therewith more and lethal cops. They forgot to mention all the violence theU. S is causing worldwide such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need tocreate a calamity to get control of South America like they engineered inthe Middle East?
Their idea of a ^Ófresh approach^Ô is for the new U. S president to visit^ÑLatin^Ò America to tell them about his new fresh approach for them; tostrengthen the colonial ^Ódemocratic^Ô government the U. S is trying forceon everybody all over the world [which is also known as ^Ósocialrestructuring^Ô]; to support the U. N. Millenium Development Goals as setout by the U. S.; to pep up the Mexico-U. S. -Canada partnership to controlall trade and commerce on Turtle Island; to reform immigration so thateveryone has ^Ódocuments^Ô or they are left to die; to curtail drug use bystopping the messy spraying program that has been going on since 1981; toclose Guantanamo Bay detention facility so detainees can be put somewhereelse ^Óout of sight and out of mind^Ô; and to lift the ban on travel toCuba so the gambling lords can get back in and take over the island andthe lucrative tourism trade.
The Latin American oligarchs fear the Indigenous people who want a shareof their own resources. ^ÓInsecurity is a growing concern^Ô. WOLA said. Latin America^Òs growing independence is especially a ^Óproblem^Ô.
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are losing theirinfluence since Hugo Chavez started paying off their loans and debts. You^Òd think that the WB and IMF would be happy that these people paid offtheir debts. No way. Jose! It means they have no KONTROL. Oh! oh!Venezuela. Argentina. Paraguay. Ecuador. Brazil and Bolivia just set uptheir own central bank to ^Ówean the regions off IMF and WB^Ô. They wantto make it easier for the poor to get loans. The U. S and Europe arelosing control and influence fast!
^ÑLatin^Ò America was run by deadly military dictatorships that were setup and trained by the U. S at the ^ÓSchool of the Americas^Ô formerly inGeorgia. Now that democratic institutions through fair elections aretaking over past subversive brutality and oppression promoted by the U. Smust change. Colonists are not used to egalitarian sharing of power andresources. In light of this. ^ÓPolicing the judiciary [and prisonsystems] must be upgraded^Ô. WOLA said. USAID in Venezuela recently got$48 million to destabilize President Hugo Chavez in the recent referendumon the constitution. Venezuela has shown it does not need the U. S andhave cut off all ties which worries the U. S. They referred to the U. S relationship with Hugo Chavez as ^Ótwo scorpions in a bottle^Å no matterwho bites first both will die^Ô.
WOLA^Òs idea of consultation is to speak to the oligarchs. Their mainconcern is that U. S credibility is low. [As if this is news!] Anti-Americanism is running high worldwide [Same old same old. We^Òre notwondering why!]
The oligarchies are U. S and European puppets of a passé paradigm playing^ÓI^Òm the king of the castle^Ô on their little dung heaps when everyoneelse has gone off to the strawberry festival. Trouble is they areobsessed with turning the whole world into a dung heap. Their long rangeplan is to set up one world government with one ruler. Dream on. Haven^Òt they read their history? This has never worked. Nature lovesdiversity. It even has a place for crazies like them.
WOLA^Òs main idea is the training of modern professional para-militarypolice and other law enforcement and criminal justice officials with whatappears to be oligarchical oversight. They foresee police academytraining and indoctrination human rights [meaning forcing us to be theirslaves] due process leadership development more effective patrolstructures directed at the communities [like curfews?] internal andexternal controls and community-oriented policing. [Don^Òt forget folks,these people want to be the only game in town. If they get their way,we^Òll all be forced to play cops and robbers whether we want to or not. They have a lot of private jails to fill and they^Òre planning more.]Specialized police units with specific policing techniques and equipment[probably taught by the likes of BlackWater!] Develop detective units anda comprehensive ^Ósnitching^Ô system to help police gather evidence toincrease conviction rates.
They^Òre looking for more ways to criminalize us. The U. S says theirpolicies ^Óprotect civil and human rights facilitate family linkagesacross borders and regularize the immigrants^Ò status in the U. S.^Ô!!They must be deliberately blind! The wall that cuts through the middle ofTohono O^Òodham territory on the so-called Mexico-U. S border is leadingto deaths from exposure and dehydration. The $40 billion de-foliagespraying program along with the fall of the U. S dollar have made drugscheaper. [Are the drug cartels switching to the Euro?] Spraying killedoff crops leading to starvation death and birth defects forcing people tolook for somewhere else to go so they can survive. [^ÑAgent Orange^Ò allover again like in Vietnam!] Heaven help those who try to go to the U. S which authored the destruction of their homelands.
U. S wants democratic governments where people can vote ^Óuntil they getit right^Ô. By right they mean ^Ómight^Ô - ^ÓIt^Òs my way or the highway,not the one that runs across our [imaginary line] border. We don^Òt wantto see you. We just want to tell you what to do.^Ô In other words theU. S has become a caricature of the British when they sought their ownindependence from them.
Once again we witnessed people making policy for somebody else. Colonialism! Colonialism! Colonialism! They were very careful about it,like someone trying to make love so there is no pregnancy. Every word wasweighed carefully and ^Ñcondomized^Ò before it was presented so that wecould not see the ^Óbanality that hides the evil^Ô. But. Hey! Man! Arape is a rape even if you^Òre wearing a condom. Do they think thatpeople can^Òt see when evil is staring them in the face? Some are evenforced to go along with a rapist when they see they have no choice. Threats are couched in light language bubbling altruistic froth over thereal purpose - to maintain coercive power and control.
WOLA is an expert at ^Ógovernment-speak^Ô. Those hungry for power knowwhat is being said that they plan to kill the real people of ^ÑLatin^ÒAmerica. They said it so nicely. They thought they were so convincingthat the ^ÑLatin^Ò Americans can^Òt wait for it to happen! They may infor a surprise!
*Margaret Crayan^Òs expertise is Latin American history and politics,religion [including the Catholic Church] human rights truth commissions,women the military extensive field work in Latin America including Cuba,^ÓPost Authoritarian Societies^Ô [?] civil society [meaning the police]. She has published 80 papers and is working on ^ÓReligion and Politics^Ô. The Council on Foreign Relations published her research on the ^ÓCity andthe World: New York^Òs Global Future^Ô in 1997.
This is well-written to the point and quite clear. There is nomisunderstanding with the points expressed what the objects are. Iwhole-heartedly agree with Mr. Ampong's analysis and assessment to theproblems that would manifest should the SMA be granted to HMC MAUI LLC. It's time that government listens to its people rather than bed down withthe foreign developers whose business is to make money and run. Water hasalways been an issue and traffic build-up which can endanger pedestriansand local traffic for the residents. Housing costs are way out of whackand the great disparity with earning power and the cost of living. Thismakes island residents on a perennial vacation paying resort pricesbecause the entire island is "zoned as a resort area with resort prices."
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://greenwom.blogspot.com/2007/12/local-stuffs_11.html
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
