What can we actually do to help stop the out-of-control wrecking ball now smashing through civil society?
“We’re going through very dark times: socially, politically and especially environmentally. If you think globally, you get really depressed, so act locally. Each one of us makes some impact… every single day.” — Jane Goodall, 1934-2025
Today’s message is for those who actually want to make an impact.
Below are four important actions we can each take TODAY that epitomize thinking GLOBALLY and acting LOCALLY. If you don’t like my suggestions, please come up with your own.
Trust me. Take action and you will feel better.
1) Call Governor Josh Green (808/586-0034) and ask him to stand up to the Trump Administration, convene a special session to deal proactively with the federal budget impacts, AND require the U.S. military to follow Hawaiʻi laws pertaining to land lease extensions or renewals at Pōhakuloa.
Note: This is an easy call. You will reach staff or voice mail. Please just leave a short on-point message, leave your name, zip code, contact info, AND request a reply. You can also email but that requires going to the website and navigating through an email form as the Governor (and others) do not provide a easy to access “public email address”.
Governor Green is currently in Japan promoting tourism, and — at the invitation of tech billionaire Marc Benioff — speaking at the San Francisco Dreamforce Conference. Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke is “acting governor” until October 15.
2) Call Lieutenant Governor Luke (808/586-0255) and ask her to order that flags be flown at half-mast in honor of UN Messenger of Peace and world-renowned ethologist, conservationist, and humanitarian Jane Goodall, who died on October 1st.
3) Share your thoughts on Pōhakuloa with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (202/224-6361) U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (202/224-3934), Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (202/225-4906), and Congressman Ed Case (202/225-2726). Tell them clearly that the U.S. military’s threat to take these lands by force without complying with Hawaiʻi law, and against the will of the Hawaiian people, is unacceptable.
4) Forward these calls to action to your email list AND post/share on social media.
Trust me. We have the power to make change happen.
“¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” The people united will never be defeated. — A well-known Chilean chant for social change
The long-term foundation for global sustained action is built at home.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Ghandi
“Being the change” starts at a very basic non-political personal level. We must look after our own homes and families, then help our neighbors and friends, then our greater communities.
Spend your money locally. Shop at local farmers markets, local restaurants and thrift stores. SERIOUSLY, folks. Buying local and non-corporate is probably the single most important long-term LOCAL action you can take.
USE YOUR VOICE and speak out in support of your values. Post your thoughts, feelings, hopes, and actions on social media. SHARE the posts of others.
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world… would do this, it would change the earth.” –William Faulkner
JOIN WITH OTHERS. Identify a local organization whose goals and values align with your own. Sign up for their action alerts, attend their meetings, get involved.
PARTICIPATE. Show up to help rebuild the fishpond, testify at the public hearing, help clean up the beaches, donate money if you can. Join the protests, marches, and sign-holding on October 18th.
GET POLITICAL LOCALLY. Register to vote. Know by name your council members AND your state and federal legislators. Email or call them about issues important to you. Seek out and support new candidates.
Are you serious about being part of the solution?
Trust me on this: If you take action, change will come.
“Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up… Don’t give up the fight!” — Bob Marley
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My local action of the day is to make sure it is noted here that Jane Goodall was a vegan and became so during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, having previously been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for many decades. She shifted to a vegan diet primarily for ethical reasons concerning animal welfare in the dairy and egg industries, as well as for environmental concerns related to industrial farming.
Jane Goodall was also an animal rights activist who’s actions included, but are not limited to:
Campaigning Against Animal Abuse: She spoke out against the use of animals in entertainment, puppy mills, the bear bile industry, and trophy hunting, advocating for an end to their exploitation and abuse.
Founding Organizations: Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute to carry out research, conservation, and community-based programs. She also founded Roots & Shoots, a global youth movement empowering young people to make a positive impact on animal welfare and environmental conservation.
Challenging the Human-Animal Divide: Goodall’s groundbreaking work with chimpanzees showed that animals have unique minds, emotions, and even cultures, fundamentally changing how humans view their place in the natural world.
Promoting Plant-Based Diets: Goodall advocated for a plant-based diet in the 1960s, citing the damaging environmental impacts of meat production and the suffering in factory farms as her primary reasons.
Thank you Frank. Please make sure LG Luke gets your message and share far and wide with others. I’m thinking this action is totally doable and LG Luke…just might…she just might see the positive need to take this action and do it. Of course she’d probably want to check with the Governor while he is traveling…and he might not agree…or may he also would see the light and positive message it would send by having Hawaii lead and post our flags at half mast for this true champion.
Done.
Let’s see if they can eek out a symbolic gesture of endorsing compassion.
Aloha, Gary,
Mahalo for these actions. I might add to the first point that standing up to the Trump administration should specifically include the idea that ICE agents be forbidden to wear masks or be otherwise anonymous. Hawai’i should take the stand that anyone who is not identified as law enforcement personnel cannot detain anyone.
Aloha,
Eileen Cain, Honolulu
I agree 100%! This action could be done in a special session and/or by executive order…also each County Mayor and/Council could do the similar actions and forbid County services, property, or county law enforcement from cooperating or supporting Ice and related federal actions.
I didn’t know this could be done by executive order or by Mayors. Mahalo!
Hello again Eileen. Wanted to clarify and drill down on this a bit more…it’s hard to do in a short comment but will try.
Neither the County nor the State has jurisdiction over the federal ICE agency/employees BUT the State and County both have control over their own employees and resources (buildings, jails, prisons, etc)
The State and the County can each prohibit the use of state resources and people and/or the manner of support (no masks, no support except when there strong reason to believe the immigrant or whoever is a dangerous criminal or whatever.
The State and the County can each use their voices to publicly declare their values and oppose ICE inappropriate activity.
The State power can be exercised by the legislature and the governor by passing laws and Resolutions and/or by the Governor via executive order – the limits to the Governor’s executive order powers vary…depending on the circumstances
Likewise, the County Mayor and the Council have similar roles to play governing the County employees and agencies.
Hope this helps!