Activism is a good thing!

Posted by Tane on September 21, 2008 at 6:10am

There's this guy on his Kona Blog that questions the existence of Hawaiian activists and accuses us of wanting the status quo. He questions our concern of Mauna kea telescopes and other issues. His multi-issue statements made me respond to his allegations. This is my response to him:Traditionally, activism is a good thing and I might add that you do a bit of activism yourself. Without activism, things remain status quo. In fact, more people should be activists which is a way to be heard rather than silently protest or complain about issues that should be investigated and evaluated. Activism is a positive thing and not a negative one. Look at how your country was formed; if not for activism, you would still be British subjects.Somehow, you've labelled Hawaiian activism a bad thing without really knowing what they are being activists about or what the real issues are dealing with facts. Instead of assuming and reinterpreting what they are being active about; maybe you should be open enough to weigh in the facts, pros and cons, and investigate with fact-finding in an honest and objective way. This way you won't put your foot in your mouth while trashing Hawaiian activists and lump them all into one box.As far as telescopes on Mauna Kea; you need to do a wider and more in-depth research before debunking some of the arguments and bring up facts and references rather than just saying things as a matter of personal opinion. This issue goes a lot deeper than the superficial content being presented by you.Continuing on you've made some good points for critical thinking, especially with the politics and conflicts of interests. I'm glad many are being observant and using critical thinking in their processes and common sense and logic. HFP has an ethical obligation to remain neutral and pose two sides of the political issues each candidate holds. This way we can make a more intelligent decision as to whom we support. This is a constant challenge for us to remain active in what and how issues affect our daily lives as a community and personally.Keep being an activist and let people hear your concerns. Remember, a word to the wise is sufficient................................I agree that high tech jobs would be an avenue to explore and consider. But the analogy would be: you don't buy just any dog for a pet. Some dogs are good and positive for your family and some dogs are not good and even dangerous or detrimental. In other words you don't accept certain companies that don't have healthy practices and injures your environment, community health and well-being just because there are jobs and money to enrich the community.Hawai'i has always been considered dispensable and expendable by the U.S. and corporations that experiment and test things out before putting it on the open market. Our territory is used as a toxic dumping ground because of its location and isolation from the contiguous 48 states. This has always been a common practice. "Give it to Mikey, see if he likes it!" This is why many peope begin to get cynical and wary of what is introduced here in Hawai'i.Companies that have been turned away or banned from most of the 48 states seem to manage to operate here with minimum opposition.We have more rights than those on the mainland to be more discerning about what kind of businesses we want here. The 48 States is on a vast continent; whereas Hawai'i is a group of small islands. When the islands become unfit to sustain human life; where would one expect to go? To a foreign country? Many of us have ancestors that have been here for thousands of years; it's our homeland. The motherland that we are part of. To many others, they can return to their motherland or adopted land like the U.S.A and other lands. I neglected to mention those from Bikini island and other Marshall Islands that those can no longer return to as it's unfit for human survival.So if we are "picky" as to what we want here and how they do business here; then we have every right to do that.[Maybe “living off the land”, without technology, or cars, or electricity, is a better choice-]- This is such avacuous argument and silly to voice as it has no substance to it. An extremist to the opposite side of the spectrum. It's like choosing quantity in lieu of quality.You contradict yourself by saying we need revenue opportunity, yet state that $1 a year is justified and substancial to lease the land and to look at all the good it does for the economy! Yeah, right! Is it charity or business? I'm sure the telescope companies would pay the fair rent gladly and also give that 10 to 15% use of the telescope. They still come out ahead. Hawai'i has the jurisdiction to determine what goes on and how thing should be done within its territory.As long as the corporations dictate and the politicians comply without the people's consent then nothing improves. Most local companies get squeezed out of business here as more companies move in from the U.S. and other places. You see more locals opening businesses per capita on the US continent than you see them open here in Hawai'i. Shouldn't that tell you something?Tane

My friend Neda

Posted by Luahiwa on September 20, 2008 at 10:39pm

Yesterday I lost a dear girlfriend to cancer. She was too young, her children all too young, much about her story was too soon. Neda was one of those wahine that was just so beautiful; have five children and not a lick of cellulite on her body. Thick gorgeous hair. A full smile whenever she cracked one. Mahina kona alo i nā manawa a pau. She lived for her children, two fine sons and three lovely daughters, as well as her loving husband, and two precious grandchildren. She had a good report about everybody and everything.I remember that Haili tourney when her world was about to change as she faced a surprising diagnosis. When I learned about it, I drove home, without any passengers, and felt free, feral and primal enough to cry. Over the next several months, I watched her tackle chemo–without losing her hair(!!) exercise religiously and live with the determination to be healed.Over the ensuing years I saw Neda's life go on; children graduate, grandchildren born, cheering at the kids sporting events and keeping her hand close in her family's ebb and flow. That was Neda. When cancer came back, her words were these, "I am healed. Don't worry about me. If you look at me and feel sorry for me, or think you are seeing a ghost, you have to do one of two things: get that idea out of your head or get out of my face. I need to surround myself with positivity and hope." So profoundly touched was I that I thanked her for giving me this critical life skill: how to treat someone who is fighting cancer.From that time until this summer, whenever I saw Neda, our conversations were all about counting current blessings. We did lunches and coffee. We connected over our children's activities, supermarket runs, and spontaneous meet-ups. Our friendship was sweet and real, and I always left her presence with an uplifted spirit.I cannot believe she is gone, and while I understand that she no longer suffers, the glow of sunrise this morning reminded me that today started the first day of her family's life continuing on without her. That fact that overwhelmed me once again, to cry feral, primal tears for the loss of my dear friend.

Wahi a Jane, Wahi a Fischer

Posted by Noelani on September 20, 2008 at 6:00pm

Instead of proving the wrongs of the past that were wrought upon Hawaiians and the kingdom, really, what are your questions?What is it that we have to ask as writers, intellectuals, scholars and subjects of the nation?Jane suggested the part about "what are your questions."I added the extra stuff.Rather than writing against---------------how about you write "for?"~David Hackett Fischer

RESIDENTS WANT MOLOKAI RANCH CONDEMNED

Posted by Free Hawai`i on September 19, 2008 at 6:51pm

"We are asking the county of Maui to condemn the property, so the people of Molokai can take care of the land they love," said Karen Holt at a press conference prior to the meeting."We are demanding courage of our elected officials to save the last Hawaiian island."Read The Story Here

Syngenta buys Kunia land for $14M

Posted by Pono Kealoha on September 19, 2008 at 2:13pm

World By Monsanto - Shocking documentary everyone must see.

Syngenta buys Kunia land for $14M

The company plans to add workers and expand corn and soybean research

By Kristen Consillio
kconsillio@starbulletin.com

Syngenta Hawaii LLC, part of a $9.2 billion global agricultural firm, has purchased 848 acres of land in Kunia for $14 million to expand its corn and soybean research operations in the islands.

The company, part of Switzerland-based Syngenta Inc., acquired the land from James Campbell Co. LLC and expects to hire more than 100 full-time workers over the next few months, said Ray Riley, who oversees Syngenta's research and development of corn and soy. It has more than 300 workers locally, including third-party contractors, at facilities on Oahu and Kauai.

"The key thing driving increased activity in Hawaii is taking advantage of emerging new genetic information, research and product development effective in increasing agricultural activity," he said.

The company operates an existing facility on leased land adjacent to the newly purchased parcels and is currently developing the 848 acres for genetic research and seed production focusing on corn hybrids and soybean varieties used in the U.S. and overseas.

Syngenta doesn't develop direct-to-consumer products, but focuses on breeding better seeds to help farmers and feed companies increase crop productivity.

An estimated two-thirds of the land will be used for farming, while the remainder will remain as open space and for preservation of native Hawaiian plants, the company said.

The land acquisition, which closed on Sept. 3, brings the total acreage for Syngenta's research and parent seed operations to more than 4,800 acres. The company will be investing tens of millions of dollars in capital improvements over the next several years, Riley said.

Syngenta, launched in 2001 when AstraZeneca and Novartis merged agribusinesses, has operations in vegetables, flowers and other crops.

Hawaii's seed crop industry is valued at a record $146.3 million for the 2007 and 2008 season, up 42 percent from the year-earlier period, according to the National Agriculture Statistics Service.