Author: ariverworthriding

  • Petition for “Creating an Agricultural Plan for City and County of Honolulu”

    Aloha all,

    One of our new Caucus Members asked me to post information regarding an Agricultural petition called “Create an Agricultural Plan for City and County of Honolulu.” Since one of the points of this blog is to give our members a voice, I decided to oblige.

    Here is his letter:

    **************************

    Dear Friends,

    I have just read and signed the petition: “Create an Agricultural Plan for City and County of Honolulu”.

    Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. We are trying to reach 50 signatures – please sign here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/create-an-agricultural-plan-for-city-and-county-of-honolulu/

    Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking your friends and family to sign as well.

    Thank you! Arvid

    ********************

    Posted by Lynn Marie Sager

  • February 23, 2011, General Membership Meeting Reminder and Agenda

    Aloha all,

    We have an important General Membership Meeting in just a few days. We ask once again that you join us in person.

    Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2011
    Time: 6:00
    Location: St. Clement’s Episcopal Church Auditorium
    1515 Wilder Avenue
    Honolulu, HI 96822-4614
    (808) 955-7745

    Neighbor Islands: Please contact lynn@navigatinglife.org if you would like to join our meeting via teleconference.

    Tentative Meeting Agenda:
    6:00 meeting called to order with a check in from Neighbor Island Participants

    Chair Report:

    1. We have amended our Bylaw in accordance with the Rules Committee. We are  asking you to accept them. (We encourage you to review the Bylaws changes before attending the meeting. If you would like to review our amended Bylaws click on this link. All changes required and accepted by the rules committee are in bold;  these are the changes that we are asking you to accept. If you wish to have a copy of these bylaws at the meeting, we ask that you print it out yourself, as we are trying to remain as paper free as possible.).

    2. Explain and open nominations for SCC Representatives:

    ARTICLE NINE: CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS NOMINEES TO THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

    Section 1. A person seeking election as a representative of the Environmental Caucus to the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i must be a registered voter and member of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i, and of the Environmental Caucus on or before the scheduled date of the biennial State Party precinct meetings in the even-numbered year in which the person seeks election.

    Section 2. A person seeking election as a representative of the Environmental Caucus to the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i shall file, with the Secretary of the Environmental Caucus nomination papers, which shall include:

    1. Ten dollar ($10) filing fee payable to the “Democratic Party of Hawai`i”;

    2. Signatures from five members of the Environmental Caucus;

    3. Written statement showing:

    A. A demonstrated involvement and active participation with the Environmental Caucus meetings and/or Environmental Caucus activities; and

    B. Commitment to attend the State Central Committee and Environmental Caucus meetings.

    Section 3. The nomination papers shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Environmental Caucus prior to or at the meeting of the Steering Committee of the Environmental Caucus to be held ten (10) days prior to the deadline for submission of nomination papers to the Democratic Party of Hawai`i. The Steering Committee of the Environmental Caucus will meet, review and make certification(s) based upon the adopted criteria above on this date and time at said Steering Committee meeting. If application is rejected for certification, the applicant will be informed with 48 hours.

    3. We are calling for a special General Membership Meeting on March 23, 2011, (location to be announced) to vote on our SCC Representatives. All nomenies are requested to have their paper work in by our next Steering Committee meeting on March 9, 2011.

    4. Treasure/fundraising report

    5: Subcommittee Reports on Important Legislation to follow:

    Natural resouces

    Energy and Climate

    Food and Farm Sustainability

    Meeting scheduled to adjourn at 7:15.

    Then grab a bag if popcorn and get ready for an inspiring documentary because following our official meeting, the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii is sponsoring a special showing of Two Angry Mom’s

    A documentary about two women who set out to change the way their schools provide food to their children by creating school gardens. Also, an informative and inspirational “How to Guide” for how our community can to do the same.

    Check out these video clips or, visit the Two Angry Mom’s website

    The movie is schedule to start at 7:30 in the St. Clement’s Auditorium (running time  62 minutes).  Admission to view the film is free and open to anyone in the community, so please forward this e-mail to your friends, and ask everyone you know to join us at 7:30. The popcorn however is not free, and all concession profits will help us to pay for this informative Caucus event.

    Finally, for those who are interested, we have  invited several local educational and garden experts to lead a question and answer session after the film.

    I hope to see you there.

    Lynn

  • General Membership Meeting Reminder

    Environmental Caucus Special Announcement
    General Membership Meeting and Movie Night
    Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2011
    Time: 6:00
    Location:  St. Clement’s Episcopal Church Auditorium
    1515 Wilder Avenue
    Honolulu, HI 96822-4614
    (808) 955-7745

    Tentative Meeting Agenda:
    6:00 call to order
    Steering Committee Reports:

    Big items:

    1. We are introducing the Bylaw Amendments made in accordance with the Rules Committee and asking you to review and accept them.

    2. We are opening up nominations for our Caucus’s representatives to the State Central Committee, to be voted upon on March 23, 2011.

    3. We are calling for a Special General Caucus Membership Meeting on March 23, 2011, to vote on all of the above.  (Location to be announced.)

    Following these announcements, we will update you on all Steering Committee and Subcommittee reports.

    Meeting scheduled to adjourn at 7:20.

    Following our official meeting, the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii will be sponsoring a special showing of Two Angry Mom’s

    A documentary about two women who set out to change the way their schools provide food to their children by creating school gardens. Also, an informative and inspirational “How to Guide” for how our community can to do the same.

    Check out these video clips or, visit the Two Angry Mom’s website

    The movie is schedule to start at 7:30 in the St. Clement’s Auditorium.

    Admission to view the film is free and open to anyone in the community. So please forward this e-mail to your friends, and ask everyone you know to join us at 7:30.

    Finally I want to give a special shout out to St. Clement’s for letting us use their auditorium to present this wonderful film.

    Mahalo, and I hope to see you all at our meeting on Wednesday.

    Lynn Marie Sager
    Vice Chair
    Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i

  • We’re Official!

    Aloha Members,

    As many but not all of you know, the need to create an Environmental Caucus was overwhelming supported at the last State Democratic Convention. Since that time, we have been allowed to function as a Caucus without being officially recognized as a Caucus. In order to become officially recognized, we needed to supply three things:

    1) Proof that we meet the minimum requirement of twenty members to form a Caucus. We currently have over 150 members and growing.

    2) Proof that we represent more that three counties. We currently have members on every Island with the exception of Moloka’i; so send a copy of this e-mail to your environmentally concerned friends on Molokai’i and ask them to give us a call.

    3) Our Bylaws needed to be recommended to the State Central Committee by the Democratic Rules Committee in order for the State Central Committee to officially certify us as a Caucus.

    The third requirement was by far our biggest hurdle, and today our Caucus received that recommendation. Following a brief question and discussion period, the State Central Committee overwhelmingly certified our Caucus and welcomed us aboard. So it is official. We are no longer the baby Caucus. We are no longer the Environmental Group. We are officially the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i.

    I personally wish to thank those members of our Caucus who attend today’s SCC meeting with me: Alan Burke, Mike DeWeert, Mary Guinger, Juanita Kawamoto, and Charlie Ice. Mike in particular spent many midnight hours putting last-minute touches on the bylaws to ensure the Rules Committee gave us a favorable report. I also want to thank everyone on the rules committee, with a special shout out to Lynne, for working with us ensure that we passed this final hurdle. And more than anything, I want to thank the many dedicated members who worked on writing our bylaws in the first place. I don’t know all your names, but you know who you are. We as a Caucus are grateful.

    So let’s take a moment to celebrate.

    Next, we need to pick our representatives to the State Central Committee. More about that in my next posting. Just keep February 23 and March 23 available. We have two extremely important General Caucus  Meetings that we would like you all to attend.

    More specifics and details  are soon to follow.

    Lynn Marie Sager
    Vice Chair
    Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i

  • Action Alert: Food and Farm Sustainability

     Subcommittee Update

    At our December General Membership Meeting, our Caucus voted to support legislation regarding the expansion of long term Agricultural leases and the study of a Agribusiness Cooperative Program, both designed to encourage local small family farmers to invest in Hawaii’s future food sustainability.

     Subcommittee Chair Juanita Kawamoto has been working hard to move legislation on these important issues forward, and she has asked me to post this personal note and action alert update.

     Personal note from Juanita Kawamoto:

    Please support our Small Family Farms in Hawaii

     Small Family Farms make up a large portion of food farms in the State of Hawaii. For centuries, they have provided food for our communities. Large corporate plantations and organized corporate conglomerates may provide our State tax revenues, but they give little back to the people of Hawaii. 

     Small family farms in Hawaii provide:

     1.      Fresh healthy produce, livestock, and value added locally produced products.

     2.      Knowledge and experience regarding local land management. They help address issues like Hawaiian food sustainability, environmental protection, and community cooperation.

     3.      Job opportunities for future farmers who wish to keep farming an honored Hawaiian profession. These farms will also be great educational tools for Hawaii’s future farmers.

     Hawaii’s small farms currently are facing the worst economic times since the great depression, yet small family farms keep 100% of their revenues in the State of Hawaii, supporting Hawaii’s economy, schools, hospitals, roads, housing.

     We must tell our legislators to support subsidies, cooperatives, local feed mills, and the expansion of long-term leases for small food farms on current agricultural State land.

     Please send testimony supporting the following bills, so we can continue to help keep small farms growing in Hawaii:

     SB 1155 – Long Term Ag lease task force – currently being reviewed by the Ag committee. Will move on to WAM upon approval. Please contact members of both committees to show your support.

     SB 1156 – Relating to the establishment of an agribusiness cooperative program.

    Waiting for hearing to be scheduled on Education. Please ask Senator Jill Tokuda to hear this Bill. We are hoping Dr. Sabry Shehata can help us move this to hearing.

     HB1496 – Agribusiness Cooperative Program: UH Task force—HED Chair Scott Nishimoto has agreed to hear the bill this Thursday, February 10th at 2pm in room 309. Please submit testimony in support at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony/?measure=HB1496

     HB 920– Agricultural Leases: Task Force Appropriation–We are working with AGR chair Rep. Clift Tsuji to set up hearing for this bill. Please send in support testimony to hear this bill to reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov.

     Finally, please forward this e-mail to your friends and ask them to do the same.

     Mahalo

     You can learn more about Caucus at http://environmentalcaucusofthedemocraticpartyofhawaii.com

  • Action Alert: Help Save 100 Miles of Big Island Shoreline for Furtue Generations

    We just heard from Debbie Hecht on the Big island that Chairman Jerry Chang, the Big Island representative from South Hilo, has said he does not intend to give  HB1385 a hearing. This bill, regarding the shoreline set back on the Big Island of Hawai’i, is a priority  of our Caucus.

    Please write to him today and ask him why he won’t even give this bill a hearing.

    Here as a complete copy of Debbie’s original action alert:

    **********

    Email members of the Water Land and Ocean Resources Committee and ask them to PUT ON THE AGENDA

    Bill 1385- Relating to Coastline Preservation to preserve almost  100 MILES OF HAWAII ISLAND SHORELINE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

    TALKING POINTS: Bill 1385 will protect almost 100 miles of coastline on Hawaii Island by preserving ocean access, protect the reefs from sedimentation and protecting habitat for ocean species, protect the Ala Kahakai Trail, protect over 35 cultural sites along the Trail, link the 4 National Parks, provide room to build a parallel trail for hiking and biking for residents and visitors, that could be the foundation of an eco-tourism industry and provide jobs for people of our island.

    IN YOUR EMAIL at the subject line- write BILL 1385-COASTLINE PRESERVATION- SUPPORT

    ASK THE COMMITTEE TO PUT THIS ON THEIR AGENDA FOR 2011.

    To Read the text of Bill 1385 and to see a map of the almost 100 miles of shoreline to be preserved go to www.dhecht.com

    Bill 1385 is a top priority for the Democratic Party’s Environmental Caucus and the Surfrider Foundation. We are asking groups for letters of support.

    These are the committee members of the WATER, LANDS AND OCEAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE.

    Cut and paste the following email addresses to send an email TODAY:

    repchang@Capitol.hawaii.gov, rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcabanilla@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcarroll@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repchong@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcoffman@capitol.hawaii.gov,repherkes@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repito@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repmorita@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov, repriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov, repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov

    We are very lucky to have 4 Big island reps on committee, If these representatives are from your district please make sure you stress that you are a voter in that district.

    1. Chair Chang from South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha and
    2. Nakashima from Kohala and Hamakua and Hilo,
    3. Herkes from South Kona and Ka’u,
    4. Coffman from Kona.

    HOW YOU CAN HELP:

    1. Do you have a group that we can meet with to get a letter or support?
    2. Hand out the attached information sheet.
    3. Read the text of the Bill at www.dhecht.com and download the map.
    4. Can we put your name on the Angels List to be kept informed?
    5. WCould you be a key person to keep other people in your email contacts informed?
    Mahalo-

    Debbie Hecht
    Kailua Kona, HI
    www.dhecht.com

  • Let’s celebrate World Wetland’s Day together

    Aloha members,

    Did you know that O’ahu has one of the most priceless wetlands in America?

    Come celebrate the protection of this wetland and learn more about its unique place in our landscape. All events are free of charge, including games, music, and tours into the marsh led by local experts. To download a pdf flier with full location and time details, click on this link.

    Our Caucus will be manning a coffee and Malasada booth, so be sure to drop by and visit with us after your walking tour. The day promises to be wonderful, so take a moment to invite your friends.

    If you would like to lean more about World Wetland’s Day, here is the official Ramsar link. (I feel compelled to add that if you work with kids as I do, you will want to check out all the great wetlands awareness activities that their site provides free of charge. Click here for details. You will need to scroll down to the bottom of the page and download the pdf Index files. They include fourteen years of posters, cartoons, and activities for kids.)

    Hope to see you on February 5, and be sure to forward this post to your friends,

    Lynn Marie Sager

  • Action Alert regarding Caucus Priority–House Bill 1385, relating to Shoreline Setback

    Aloha Members,

    At our last General Caucus meeting, we selected this item as one of our nine priority items. We will be advocating on its behalf, but you can do more by helping to spread the word, and writing your representatives to express your individual support for this bill.  I have copied an e-mail from Debbie Hecht on the Big Island, with contact information and talking points.

    Let’s get the word out that we support this bill. You will find details below.

    **********************************

    Please write to the members of the Water Land and Ocean Resources Committee and ask them to support

    Bill 1385- Relating to Coastline Preservation.

    IF PASSED THIS MEASURE WOULD PRESERVE ALMOST 100 MILES OF HAWAII ISLAND SHORELINE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

    TALKING POINTS: Bill 1385 will protect almost 100 miles of coastline on Hawaii Island by preserving ocean access, protect the reefs from sedimentation and protecting habitat for ocean species, protect the Ala Kahakai Trail, protect over 35 cultural sites along the Trail, link the 4 National Parks, provide room to build a parallel trail for hiking and biking for residents and visitors, that could be the foundation of an eco-tourism industry and provide jobs for people of our island.

    IN YOUR EMAIL at the subject line- write BILL 1385-COASTLINE PRESERVATION- SUPPORT

    ASK THE COMMITTEE TO PUT THIS ON THEIR AGENDA FOR 2011.

    To Read the text of Bill 1385 and to see a map of the almost 100 miles of shoreline to be preserved go to www.dhecht.com

    Bill 1385 is a top priority for the Democratic Party’s Environmental Caucus and the Surfrider Foundation. We are asking groups for letters of support.

    These are the committee members of the WATER, LANDS AND OCEAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE.

    Cut and paste the following email addresses to send an email TODAY:

    repchang@Capitol.hawaii.gov, rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcabanilla@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcarroll@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repchong@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcoffman@capitol.hawaii.gov,repherkes@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repito@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repmorita@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov, repriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov, repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov

    We are very lucky to have 4 Big island reps on committee, If these representatives are from your district please make sure you stress that you are a voter in that district.

    1. Chair Chang from South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha and
    2. Nakashima from Kohala and Hamakua and Hilo,
    3. Herkes from South Kona and Ka’u,
    4. Coffman from Kona.

    HOW YOU CAN HELP:

    1. Do you have a group that we can meet with to get a letter or support?
    2. Hand out the attached information sheet.
    3. Read the text of the Bill at www.dhecht.com and download the map.
    4. Can we put your name on the Angels List to be kept informed?
    5. Could you be a key person to keep other people in your email contacts informed?

  • An Action Alert Regarding SB762

    Aloha Members,

    I just received this action alert from Robert Harris of the Sierra Club. Although it is not one of our Caucus priorities, I felt it was worth passing along to our own members. You may read his full action alert below:

    *******************************

    We really need your help. On Monday, the Senate is hearing a bill (SB762) that would automatically approve any application in 30 days if an agency fails to establish maximum time periods for application processing. It would also automatically approve any application before the State Historic Preservation Division (a notoriously underfunded and understaffed office) in 60 days.

    We’re all for speeding up government, but automatic approval of any project is bad policy. Permits should be granted on their merits, not because of mistake or governmental inefficiency. No community should suffer because government failed to perform.

    Hawaii has already been bitten by similar proposals. For example, in 1996 the Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 3-2 to deny Hawaii Electric Light Company’s request to install two combustion turbines on conservation district land in Ke`ahole on the Island of Hawaii. One member recused himself because he held stock in the utility. Despite the vote, a Big Island circuit court held that since a majority of all 6 members of the BLNR are needed to ratify any action, no legally-binding decision was reached prior to the deadline for action. Therefore, the court held, the permit was automatically granted (despite a majority of votes saying “no”).

    Let’s make sure bad projects don’t become automatically permitted in your community. Can you please submit email testimony to: EDTTestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov this weekend?  Please indicate the measure (SB762), date and time of the hearing (January 31st, 1:30 pm).

    Talking points:

    • I am opposed to SB762.
    • Agencies shouldn’t just respond to developer applications. They should also consider the public’s concerns and natural resource needs. Automatic permit approvals tilt the balance too far in favor of development.
    • There are better ideas to be explored. Like creating an office of the ombudsmen to fix problems with misbehaving agencies. Or simply finding ways to give underfunded agencies the resources they need to perform.
    • We need real leadership, with real solutions. If government is broken, we should fix it. We shouldn’t just turn agencies into rubber stamps for development.

  • Caucus Testimony Policy

    Aloha Members of the Environmental Caucus of Hawai’i,

    As we enter this important next stage of our advocacy, the Steering Committee felt the need to set a testimony policy for those appearing on behalf of the Caucus. While individual members are always free to offer testimony on their own behalf, if you want to testify on behalf of the Caucus, we ask that you follow the policy we adopted at our last Steering Committee meeting.

    I have included a copy of that policy below.

    Caucus Testimony Policy

    Testimony on Bills before the Hawaii State Legislature may be provided on behalf of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii as follows:

    1) Subcommittee Chairs, their designee and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on all measures officially adopted as Caucus priorities.  For the 2011 legislative session, there are 9 priorities and the intent is that there will be 9 identified Bills on which official Caucus testimony may be offered.

    2)  Subcommittee Chairs, their designee and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on all measures before the legislature that are substantially similar to those Bills officially adopted as Caucus priorities.

    3)  Subcommittee Chairs and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on any measures that have been otherwise approved by a majority of the Steering Committee.

    • Those seeking majority approval may circulate an e-mail request to the full Steering Committee asking for approval.
    • Only e-mail responses indicating approval will count as a yes vote.
    • Once the votes are in, the requester must e-mail a vote outcome to the Steering Committee, to ensure the votes were counted accurately.

    4)  Copies of all testimony given “on behalf of the Caucus” must be provided to the Steering Committee at the Steering Committee Meeting held following the presentation of the testimony.