Today I’m sharing a handful of short “must reads” and encourage you to take a moment to review them when you can grab some quiet time. I found each provided me valuable insight into the four different subject matter pillars.

But first, please check out a piece I wrote for Civil Beat! It actually lays out a rough plan for winning in 2022 (Spoiler Alert: It involves showing up.)

“Without a concerted effort to increase civic engagement, demand government accountability, and elect new leaders at all levels, we are headed for hell in a handbasket.” Hawaii needs you to run for public office.”

Now the other 4 short but very important and stimulating reads:

1) This is written by Hawaii physician Dr. Seiji Yamada and published in CounterPunch. I found his words both compelling and unsettling – please read through until the end: “Twenty years after 9-11, a health workers perspective”

2) Published in Civil Beat, this paragraph will give you a flavor (pun intended) of this very interesting and forwards thinking read “In Waikiki Elementary’s fourth-grade class in 2006, there was not a single student willing to eat a tomato. It was clear that the students had no relationship to the tomato or understanding of what a real tomato should taste like.” “It’s time for the DOE to take the lead on food and education”

3) An eye-opening interview with board-certified pediatrician, a Fellow at the American Academy of Pediatrics, and former head of Wilcox Hospital, Dr. Lee Evslin, “Breakfast at Monsanto sheds light on health dangers of the world’s most widely used weedkiller.”

4) Last but certainly not least, a labor day special by Heather Cox Richardson who writes about Frances Perkins. If you do not know who Frances Perkins is and what she is responsible for, you MUST read this. Trust me. It’s not long. Read it and understand the power of one.