Musings: Pirates, Posers and Protectors

If you ask kanaka, “What's the most pressing issue facing you and the Islands right now?” I'm pretty sure — like 99.9% certain — the answer won't be seed crop pesticides.

But hey, if you use enough Hawaiian words, cop a line from a David Malo chant, plan a poi-pounding event at Iolani Palace and call the participants “Aina Protectors,” you can speak for kanaka — and everybody else. Right?

So believe the usual cast of motley characters — led by the oh-so-indigenous luxury Realtor-founded Maui SHAKA group and D.C.-based Center for Food Safety — that are hosting the “E hui ana na moku: 'Aina Protectors United” march and rally on Sunday:

We hope through this event to continue to build relationships and express alliances regarding issues that are impacting the management and use of land and natural resources in Hawai'i. At the forefront of these issues is the regulation of pesticide use on our agricultural lands and the impact on our rural communities, as we prepare for a series of upcoming, history making court proceedings.

The purpose of the march-rally is simple: Try and influence the federal judges who will be hearing the appeal of rulings that overturned anti-GMO bills on Kauai, Maui and Big Island.

Here's the antis' take on the events leading to the march, and from there, Wednesday's court hearing:

In 2014, the islands of Hawai'i, Kaua'i and Maui County all separately passed local bills to regulate the pesticide heavy agricultural practices of the chemical company owned GMO seed industry. The industry fought back and Federal Judges attempted to invalidate each county's will to govern their own agricultural practices, leading to continued harm occurring on all of the islands of Hawai'i.

First, the judges didn't “attempt to invalidate,” they did. All three ordinances were thrown out of court on the basis of pre-emption: the state has authority over such issues, not the counties. And as even the anti-stacked Joint Fact Finding group recently found, there is zero indication of harm from these practices, even on “ground zero” Kauai.

The anti-GMO spinmiesters continue:

Corporate power and influence has negated the most fundamental of our democratic rights, as well as the unique principals [sic] of the Hawai'i state constitution. The 5 separate appeals are being heard together in Honolulu, on Wednesday June 15th, and the rulings on these cases will have significant impact not only on our own food sovereignty, but also on similar legislation that has been passed across the continent.

Ah, yes, another reminder that Hawaii is but a pawn in a national political movement. Oh, and just to correct their “facts,” not that such things matter to them, the bills were overturned precisely because of the state constitution. Furthermore, they have no affect on local food sovereignty, which could be advanced by the antis actually getting their asses onto the aina, rather than Honolulu pavement. The antis also can't seem to grasp that they have no democratic right to pass illegal bills. 

And do they really believe that “corporate power” influenced these judicial decisions?

Apparently, because now they're thinking that if the get enough people in the street — the sheeple are all directed to wear red, in keeping with the lockstep mentality of the anti-GMO movement — they can influence the intermediate court decision.

The Shaksters have tried hard to give their event relevance:

The assaults on our land and natural resources are happening at an unprecedented rate, therefore we need to ORGANIZE in unprecedented fashion and raise a collective voice that can no longer be ignored.

Unprecedented? Really? Come on, get real. Here's a tip, guys: So long as you put posers at the front of your movement, so long as you fail to act in the transparent manner you demand of others, so long as you keep lying, and flat-out making stuff up, your voice, collective or singular, is easy to ignore.

Even among your own devotees.

Because the allure of free tee-shirts — promised to the first 500 “aina protectors” — free food — "locally sourced," of course — free admission to the palace — it's "Kamaaina Sunday" so you can use their lua — and free parking downtown apparently isn't enough to draw crowds. Numbers on the event's Facebook page paint a dismal picture: Invited 1.9K; Interested 310; Going 187.

Spend $200 on airfare to get a free tee-shirt! What a deal!

Shoots, you'd think they'd be flocking, given all them freebies and a speaker line up that includes such stellar thinkers as Dustin Barca, Klayton Kubo and Walter Ritte. “Plus more,” the Facebook page promises, though it's hard to see how it can get any better than that.

The lead up to the court hearing also includes a Monday night Honolulu screening of the propaganda films “Aina,” featuring JFF group member Kawika Winter (but no, that panel wasn't biased), and “Circle of Poison,” with an ever-so-enlightening discussion led by truth-challenged anti-GMO crusaders Ashley Lukens and Hector Valenzuela.

Well, at least one critical-thinker is calling bullshit:

‪Mahatma Kama Puaa

[The chant] E Hui Na Moku is not about GMO farming. The Shaka Movement supports Aloha Aina? Sounds like they are using Hawaiians for their agenda. A Free Hawaii? Sounds like they are just using our words. I don't like being used. I have never heard of SHAKA supporting Hawaiian Independence‬.

Aw, come on. Don't quibble over reality. It's all about pretending to belong, doncha see?  I mean, what else can explain a cringe-worthy exhortation like this?

SHAKA Movement

Cinch up your malo and make sure get threads on your marching slippahz!!

Puke.