What's Ahead in 2022 -- Dec. 31, 2021 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet
Jim Albertini
What’s Ahead in 2022?
The US Military budget of $768 Billion for 2022 passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact, Congress added $24 Billion more to the military budget than President Joe Biden requested. Hawaii’s Congressional delegation – Mazie Hirono, Brian Schatz, Kai Kahele and Ed Case – all voted for it. Let’s face it. Weapons of war are the US modern day “Golden Calf” – False gods of metal. The U.S. needs a 12 step program to end it’s addiction to War. Red Hill military fuel leaking into Hawaii’s drinking water should be a big wake up call.
In contrast to the ever increasing US Military budget, Biden’s proposed “Build Back Better” bill has been chopped from $3.5 Trillion to $1.75 Trillion or less over 10 Years. It still hasn’t passed. Do the math: $700+ Billion per year over 10 years for militarism equals more than $7 Trillion. Congress says No problem! But $1.75 Trillion over 10 years (¼ of military spending) for meeting critical human needs is a problem – money for child and health care, combating climate change, reduce prescription drug costs, college completion grants, public housing repairs, food security, forest and park preservation, etc. It shows what the US priorities are! It’s all about big guns over human needs.
The US is saber rattling with Russia and China and the danger of nuclear war is ever present. Let’s remember, it was the US that promised Russia that NATO would not move eastward. The US broke its promise time and time again. The US and NATO are on Russia’s door step. The US helped initiate a coup in Ukraine and in many other countries. Remember the Jan. 17, 1893 coup when US troops assisted in the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and the independent nation of Hawaii?
Overall, the US is a dangerous, desperate, declining, over extended empire and it must create enemies to feed its war machine even if it starves its own people. In biblical terms the US is great at pointing at the speck in another nation’s eye while ignoring the log in its own eye. Add to this situation the continuing Covid pandemic, and a growing dangerous domestic divide with Trump fascism hanging in the balance, and the picture is not bright. But all hope is not lost. No lie can live forever! Like the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, we need to celebrate, be joyful, live a life of non-violence, kapu aloha, and work for peace, justice, a demilitarized world, a free Hawaii, and a livable planet. Never give up!
Wage Peace Not War! Happy New Year!
1. Mourn all victims of
violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3.
Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic,
anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, etc.
5. Seek peace through
peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and
around the world.
Malu ‘Aina Center for
Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a
(Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760
Phone (808) 966-7622 Email j...@malu-aina.org to receive our posts. For more information www.malu-aina.org
Dec. 31, 2021 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1057– Fridays 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
-- Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a (Kurtistown) Hawai'i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email j...@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
Malu ‘Aina Annual Appeal
Once a year, during this Holy season, we write to ask for your help to sustain the work of Malu ‘Aina. We are an our all-volunteer organization committed to justice, peace and a living planet. What a year 2021 has been, and I thought 2020 was rough! I hope you and your loved ones are healthy amid this global pandemic. Let's hope we’ll all get through this.
2021 marks 42 years since the founding of Malu 'Aina. Some of you have been with us from the start. Others more recently. Please know, we appreciate all of you, and are grateful for your donations of support. You are our base. To maintain our independence and critical voice, we do not seek corporate or government funding. We started grassroots and want to stay grassroots.
We remain committed to the principle of non-violence, kapu aloha, as our guiding light. We believe deeply that the means we use must be in line with the end that we seek. Currently we are in transition to the next generations of leadership. It's a slow process but we hope the vision of Malu ‘Aina will be carried forward for generations to come. Your ideas, and suggestions of next generation leaders, are encouraged.
We continue to grow food at Malu ‘Aina to share with people in need, but with limited volunteer farm help due to the pandemic. We have long served as an emergency food pantry. Each week we also write a new peace leaflet for widespread distribution and conduct a peace vigil at the downtown Hilo Post Office/Federal Building. Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 marked 1052 consecutive weekly peace leaflets, for a vigil that started the day after Sept. 11, 2001. You can read the new weekly leaflet on our website www.malu-aina.org. In addition, we continue our efforts to de-militarize Hawaii and the planet and shift resources from warfare to healthcare, education and the environment. Protecting the planet from nuclear war and climate disaster are two of the biggest challenges we face. But we also face this ongoing Covid 19 pandemic and the many difficulties and unmet needs that go with it.
We have plenty of work to do. Meanwhile, our old farm tractor needs some major repairs or a modest upgrade. A younger driver would also be helpful to this senior citizen turning 75! Mahalo for your continued financial support and solidarity in the journey of protecting one another and this sacred earth –mauka to makai, from the mountains to the sea. You are a blessing for justice and peace, and very much appreciated.
Jim Albertini
