Aloha,Public hearings are over, and now is the LAST chance to make your voice heard on the 15-year plan for the future of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It only takes a few seconds at www.kahea.org and EVERY NAME COUNTS! We only have till July 8th to collect broad public support for stronger protections for the NWHI in the Draft Monument Management Plan.URGENT & IMPORTANT!Please take a quick + easy moment to sign the NWHI hui's on-line petition at www.kahea.org, calling for the strongest possible protections for the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, now called Papahanaumokuakea Marine National MonumentWhat is at stake is a public trust resource and the last pristine coral reef of its kind on the planet.These are the Kupuna Islands- the sacred path of souls into the afterlife.We must make it clear that the public wants only the best and strongest protections for the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.We also hope you will please forward this call to action to all those in your life who share the powerful conviction to malama aina, malama kai and protect this sacred and uniquely Hawaiian place.WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW:1. Sign KAHEA's Petition to Fully Implement Protections for Papahanaumokuakea (and read the NWHI hui's talking points) at www.kahea.org2. Submit your own comments at www.kahea.org3. Send this important call to action on to all your friends and family by forwarding this email!4. Learn more about the grassroots effort to protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands at www.kahea.orgBACKGROUND INFORMATION:NOW is the time for ALL to participate in the plan that will regulate all human activities in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands for the next 15 years! Two years of closed-door meetings by government agencies has resulted in a Draft Monument Management Plan (DMMP) intended to be for the conservation of the NWHI- but that actually expands the human footprint in this fragile and unique 1,200-square mile marine reserve.Without public outcry, approval of this plan will mean:-Construction of a "small municipality" on Midway, new cruise ships, more extractive research, and opening the NWHI to bioprospecting.-No opportunity for meaningful Native Hawaiian input on management decisions or support of cultural research, education and community outreach.-The NWHI's eight-year-old citizen's advisory council will be disbanded, leaving management oversight entirely to government agencies.-Continued military contamination and new Navy missile interceptions, chemical warfare simulations and sonar activities within the NWHI without any mitigations.Is this an appropriate vision for this sacred, fragile marine area?Such activities must not be allowed in this unique pu'uhonua- Your voice is needed to uphold the protections the public has already established for the NWHI. Please take this opportunity to learn more and tell government officials what you think of their plans!The NWHI hui has been reviewing the management plan in detail and we join with the former and current Reserve Advisory Council members, cultural practitioners, scientists, resource experts, and long-time advocates for our Kupuna Islands in their call for major changes in this Monument "development" plan.It will take all of our voices to uphold the public's vision that there be no further human footprint on this unique wilderness. Please forward this alert!Mahalo for your continued support and participation in the effort to ensure the strongest possible protections for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and all of Hawai'i's wahi pana & public trust resources!Imua kakou!Us Guys at KAHEAKAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliancekahea-alliance@hawaii.rr.com888-528-6288 toll-free phone/faxwww.kahea.org
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