A GLORIOUS demonstration

[Greg]

I don't think direct action would be successful if attempted by a few isolated individuals. In fact isolated acts would probably play into the hands of the industry.

Events like "Hands" bring people together and set the stage for future strategies and actions by large coordinated groups. I would support a regularly scheduled "embargo", maybe tied with a "critical mass" type demonstration where lots of people bust out their bicycles for a leisurely mass commute to Hilo, legally disrupting automobile traffic. This type of demonstration would also point out our lack of alternative escape routes from Puna.

Thoughts?

[JerryCarr]

The "Hands" demonstration likely raised the awareness level of both participants and observers, so I see it as a positive thing. It only follows that it is likely to lead to some sort of constructive action on the part of at least some of those touched by it. This is especially significant given the apathy prevalent here and elsewhere.

Greg, your bike idea is appealing on a certain level, but could backfire, given the tendency of many people to become angry when their routine (in this case commute or trip to go shopping) is disrupted. It would make them think about the issue, but not necessarily in the way you want.

[CFB483]

Mu.

[MarkP]

CFB483 has a very valid point. While none of the responses were derogatory or excessively critical, some of them seemed to be on the verge of scolding for being negative. That would be counterproductive. The situation is what it is and it is true that consciousness raising only goes so far and often is only preaching to the choir. Also, confrontational acts on the part of those perceived to be outside the mainstream carry a great risk of being counterproductive. For example I like the idea of preserving old growth timber but people sitting in trees for months on end on someone else's property does elicit some negative feelings for me. Perhaps I ought to see the bigger picture but - NEWS FLASH - lots, even most, people don't and they are the ones most in need of convincing.

[Carey]

What some did on island for the Hands across the Sand event (From Megan, the event coordinator):

"Many many thanks to all the volunteers at our beach cleanup Saturday, June 26th!!! There were 6 cars FULL of folks who care a lot about the ocean and keeping our island free of debris. For some, it was their first trip down that dusty road to the Waiohinu Coast. We had a great day, thanks SO much to everyone who offered their time, energy, 4WD space, and fancy off-roading skills

June 26, 2010 recap:
6 Vehicles
24 Participants
2000 lbs of fishing net/line
1015 lbs of plastics and other rubbish in garbage bags

A very successful cleanup! We did a great job on the 3 worst debris coves between Ka`alu`alu and Green Sands.

Interesting finds included:
-2 small Man-O-Wars (Not debris, but still carried by the wind and still interesting!)
-Hot Wheels toys
-Something that says "REMOVE BEFORE LOADING IN LAUNCHER"
-80's style flip comb
-Headless, limbless army man toy
-Weird rubber squares melted into the rocks
-We also collected several lighters for a researcher in Japan... They are tracking lighters and can identify where they came from based on their construction. (Let me know if you want to know more about this project.)

This cleanup coincided with "Hands Across the Sand" events which took place at beaches all over the world. We had our own version... Hands Across the Lava!"

[Frankie Stapleton]

Aloha e CFB483...

I hear what you are saying and I don't disagree with much of what you say. As to the measured results, since HATS was a grass roots effort, the ability to count the #s who took part is severely limited and still going on. I'd say HATS hopes for really measurable results in November! And ripple effect among Hawaii's younger citizens in the form of smarter political and economic decisions and actions.

As for the revolutionary type activities you suggest, I often feel the urge to do those things myself but videos of such activity at G8/G20-type summits (Toronto, Pittsburgh, Seattle for example) shows me the futility of such action! So I tried to do something (albeit on a very small scale) that would help move the extremely long arc of justice even a smidgen in the right direction. I'd love to see a collective economic and political action here regarding HEI, even more so after what I was told by a state Transportation official at a public meeting last night!

I'm not trying to scold you (as I DO APPRECIATE this conversation) but as we continue to reveal ourselves thru this discourse, my next observation would be that I've probably had more life experience (as well as time dealing with the public here in Hawaii) than you. I could be completely wrong but that's my perception at this time. And MY actions are based on my perceptions. I'm afraid we passed critical mass a couple of centuries ago and even the Zero Population Growth movement started in the 60s and 70s can't reverse that, unfortunately. Nature will take care of overpopulation sooner or later, I feel.

I do believe it's going to take a seismic, cataclysmic event to change the status quo. And while I'm not a 2012er or whatever, I feel globalization was inevitable, given capitalism and infinity, but globalization is killing life as we know it on Earth. Maybe BP's puncturing Earth's crust to get to the Moho will eventually turn out to be that cataclysmic event ... who knows???

My original object in this post was to share the unheralded action of several hundred people in Hilo making a statement (in hopes of better public awareness) and to thank those who supported that effort. I could go on forever philosophically but I do need to keep some personal boundaries regarding my deepest feelings and I won't do that if I keep typing.

All the best, CFB483 and malama pono. Frankie

[LeeE]

Punaweb no ka oi.

[CFB483]

Mu.

[PaulW]

Sorry CFB483, sounds to me like you're promotong violence.
See you on the barricades - on the opposite side.

[CFB483]

Mu.