Katy Rose's Blog (11)

Anyone who read the Garden Island’s two-part series on teen drug use could not help but feel tremendous sadness and compassion for the Matthews family. Most of us cannot even imagine the weight of such a loss. Yet this should not stop us from forming a critical analysis of the information in the articles, particularly since media attention to issues is often the pre-curser to the formation of public policy. What, exactly, did we learn from these articles? That youthful drug experimentation has… Continue

"Civil unrest" - the purported justification for the acquisition of riot gear - is caused by social injustice. Where there is more equitable distribution of wealth and power in a community, more people feel inclined to adhere to "social norms." As people begin to feel that an elite is increasingly taking more than their share and making it more difficult for average people to make a comfortable living, exercise self-determination and have their voices heard and respected in the public sphere, u… Continue

Ola Na Iwi: The Bones Live By Hale Mawae In caring for my ancestors, I know that it is within the bones of our people, na o‘iwi o Ko Hawai‘i Pae ‘Aina, that our ancestors live. Ku‘u ewe, ku‘u piko, ku‘u iwi, ku‘u koko. My umbilical cord, my navel, my bones, my blood. All the elements of our body that constitute us as kanaka maoli. All cherished pieces of ourselves that connect us to that iwi. Ola na iwi. The bones live. Here within the iwi is the life of our people. Our deep spiritual r… Continue

WHAT IS LIFE IN OCCUPIED IRAQ REALLY LIKE? ASK IRAQI JOURNALIST RAED JARRAR! Take part in this once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear an Iraqi journalist's personal account of living through Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bring your questions and let's talk story!! TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2008 7-10 PM KAUA'I COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS CENTER Sponsored by: Kaua'i Alliance for peace and Social Justice Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i (ASUH) at Kaua'i Community College Hawai'i American Friend… Continue

This is a pretty good video put out by the carpenters union that explains how globalization is impacting workers. I like how it breaks it down in simple terms that even I can understand. I also appreciate its message about immigrant and foreign workers (solidarity!) and the way our broken health care system impacts our standard of living. Even though my husband is a proud carpenters union member we are critical of the carpenters union for alot of reasons. (I think we should all be critical of an… Continue

In Hawai'i, there is a long tradition of respecting the rights of workers to decent pay, benefits and working conditions. That's why many here - whether they are in favor of the Superferry or not - would be interested to know that both the ferry's shipbuilder (AustalUSA) and its operator (Hornblower) are engaged in bitter labor disputes. HORNBLOWER YACHTS – UNION-BUSTING SUBCONTRACTOR Hornblower Yachts is the subcontractor that Hawai'i Superferry uses to staff its operations. Everyone who wor… Continue

Small Retailers Being Forced Out By Government Subsidies to Big Chains by Sherwood Ross / March 25th, 2008 Small retailers the nation over are being pushed out of business by government subsidies to chain competitors such as Wal-Mart and Target through a variety of “corporate socialism” schemes, taxation authority David Cay Johnston says. Municipalities are permitting “tax increment financing” that allow the big chains “to keep the sales taxes that you are forced to pay at the tax register,” J… Continue

Demonstration Will Highlight the Cost of 5 years of War in Iraq The March 19 Organizing Committee, or M-19, an ad-hoc citizens alliance, is calling for an observance of the fifth anniversary of the War in Iraq Wednesday from 5 to 6 PM at the intersection of Kuhio Highway and Hardy Street in Lihue, on the sidewalk fronting the Army Recruiting Station. The action will highlight the cost of the war, and contrast it with the unmet social needs resulting from war spending. According to… Continue

Press Conference: Stop the OHA Settlement Bill Monday 3/17, 1:30 pm at the Queen Liliuokalani statue (prior to a 2:45 pm hearing on the OHA settlement bill) Speakers: Mililani Trask, Former OHA Trustee Moanikeala Akaka, Former OHA Trustee Clarence Ku Ching, Former OHA Trustee Written Messages from: Walter Ritte, Former OHA Trustee Jon Osorio, UH Manoa Center for Hawaiian Studies The OHA settlement agreement has received a very critical response from the Hawaiian community. Since its unveil… Continue

We all know how important it is to create links between issues and broad coalitions to advance positive social change. But knowing it doesn't make it easy or simple to do. Often, when we are passionate about an important concern, whether its economic justice, the environment, racism, militarism, sovereignty or gender justice, it's easy to become narrowly focussed and convinced that all the world's problems radiate from that one particular area of concern, and that the solution is for everybody… Continue

The March 19th Organizing Committee (M-19) will be meeting again next Saturday, March 8, at 10 am at the Kapaa Ballpark Pavillion near the tennis courts. We will be making signs, so bring cardboard and markers. We will also be sharing ideas for chants and visuals. The March 19 Organizing Committee (M-19) had its first meeting today, and we established a time, place and message for our action to take place on the fifth anniversary of the start of the war: THE COST OF WAR We will hold an obser… Continue