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2007 is off to a great start. Keep pushing ahead, you are making a real difference!
*Malama Kaua'i is a Kilauea based non-profit working to raise awareness on the importance of sustainability, to assist in implementing sustainable practices and support sustainable projects beneficial to the community.
Malama Kaua'i has worked with Diana LaBedz on several projects over the last several months including the Max3r Conference, Eco-Roundtable and her upcoming Peace for the Pacific event (a demonstration against the Navy's use of active sonar on March 16) and wanted to share her story and her passion for sustainable and safe oceans.
Malama: You've been battling the Navy against sonar testing for a number of years now. How did you got involved with this issue, and what kind of work you've been doing to stop the Navy from using sonar technology?
Diana: In 2001, I was on vacation and heard a radio show about how low frequency active sonar, 10,000 times louder than a rocket launch, was being blasted thousands of miles through out the entire ocean. When I learned that this would break the ear drums of whales and dolphins, and I just cried. I was in such a shock that humans wanted to do so much harm and torture the innocent. When I came home I asked everyone I knew and nobody was aware of this atrocity. Among producing a number of TV shows, I put together "The Whales Are Crying" event and went on a 30 day hunger strike for the whales.
Malama: You are such an inspiring environmentalist activist, when did you become passionate about the environment, and who inspires you?
Diana: My first venture was when I attempted to ban gasoline leaf blowers because the harm they do to workers and the noise and air pollution they cause to communities, especially the elderly. I ran for city council to platform environmental issues. I was scared stiff that I might win. I did pretty well with a no budget campaign and won 20% of 20,000 votes.
Malama: You're making a real impact with community awareness about the important island issue of waste management and have been helping to pitch the idea of a "Zero Waste Kaua'i". Can you explain a bit about what "Zero Waste" means, and also give some suggestions on how the average person can work toward this goal?
Diana: Zero waste means stop buying so much stuff that you don't need. It means don't buy things that have too much packaging. Hand soap in a bar VS a plastic bottle. Laundry detergent and bleach in a box instead of big plastic containers. Use matches VS lighters. Lighters are known to kill sea birds and last thousands of years. There are so many items we can switch to with little trouble. It means recycle. It means compost your green waste and restore the soil. It means pressure the county council to start curbside recycling and double and triple the cost per second garbage can.
Malama: What do you think are the most important environmental issues facing us today?
Diana: By far, the most destructive environmental issue we face today is war. We must choose existence vs. extinction. The human collective must learn the sacredness of all living things. We need to appreciate the web of life and protect it ALL along with our precious sons and daughters. The second is over population. My slogan, "More Sex and Less Babies!". The third is protecting Mother Ocean. She is dying. 90% of the ocean's big fish are gone. 70% of zoe plankton is gone.(the bottom of the ocean food chain). Fishing needs to stop for awhile and allow the fish to recover and our fishing methods need to change in order that we don't end here again.
Catch Diana LaBedz, along with Dr. Marsha Green, this Friday, March 9, noon - 1:00 PM on the Malama Kaua'i radio program on KKCR, 91.9 or streaming live on the internet at www.KKCR.org. For more information about the show visit www.malamakauai.org/getRadio.php. Diana is also hosting the Peace in the Pacific event at Kaua'i Community College in Puhi, Friday, March 16 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. For more information on that please see the events calendar listing at www.malamakauai.org/getCalendar.php.
The Hawai'i 2050 Task Force, a state level, legislative entity that is promoting a sustainable Hawai'i by the year 2050, has released a sustainability toolkit that allows island residents to offer their input on what sustainability means to them and how to contribute to forming this master plan for the state. For more information or to download the toolkit, visit their website at www.hawaii2050.org. Your local contact for more information is the Kaua'i Planning & Action Alliance, online at www.KauaiNetwork.org.
If you want affordable housing you had better pay attention to the County of Kaua'i's Housing Policy, which is currently in committee, needs your support. A large portion of what this bill seeks to do is create what's called inclusionary zoning, that means that if a developer wants to build alot of homes then a portion, roughly 40% according to the proposed bill, would need to be "affordable". Affordable in this case means serving Kaua'i residents making a normal, workring wage. This is a huge step towards affordable housing for Kaua'i IF the bill is passed with the bulk of provisions in place. There are also several areas that could be more comprehensive, such as the applicability section. In the current version of the bill applicability is basically tied to zoning. There are already thousands of units zoned so it doesn't do much to address speculative development on those lands, however, if applicability were also tied to permitting, which currently zoned properties don't necessarily have, then you could see new developments having to include much larger portions of housing at affordable levels. Maui's Ordinance #3418 current ties applicability to zoning and permiting, while also allowing their Council to make exceptions on a per case basis. Get a copy of our County's proposed Bill #2202 here and give it a read, it's only 30 pages and could change your life and the lives of Kaua'i's children dramatically. Please bring your thoughts and show up on Tuesday, March 27, when they are holding a public workshop on this bill, to express them. 9:00 AM, Council Chambers, Lihu'e.
The first Eco-Roundtable meeting took place on February 13, 2007. Over 30 environmental groups and 70+ people were in attendance. Nearly all groups agreed it was a great meeting to increase the networking and collaboration potential for Kaua'i's environmental community. A website portal has been set up to list announcements and provide links to the many groups that call the island home: www.EcoRoundtable.org. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at the Peace & Freedom Hall in Lihu'e (formerly known as the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall).
- March 9, Friday, 12:00 PM
KKCR Sustainability Radio Show
@ KKCR 91.9 FM or www.KKCR.org - More Info
- March 16, Saturday, 4:00 PM
Peace for the Pacific Demonstration
@ Kaua'i Community College, Puhi - More Info
- March 17, Saturday, 12:00 PM
KIUC Voting Polls Close
@ mail in ballot - More Info
- March 17, Saturday, 9:00 AM
March Beach Clean-up with Surfrider Kaua'i
@ Larsen's Beach in Moloa'a - More Info
- March 23, Friday, 12:00 PM
Sustainability Radio Show
@ KKCR 91.9 FM or streaming live at www.KKCR.org - More Info
- March 27, Tueday, 9:00 AM
County of Kaua'i Housing Bill Workshop
@ Council Chambers, County Building, Lihu'e - More Info
- March 31, Saturday, 12:00 PM
Wahine Fest 2007
@ Kapa'a Beach Park - More Info
- April 1, Sunday, 12:00 PM
Vegan Potluck Luncheon and Lecture w/Gordan LaBedz
@ Kapa'a Neighborhood Center - More Info
- April 22 , Sunday, 9:00 AM
March Beach Clean-up with Surfrider & Sierra Club Kaua'i
@ Ahihi Bay, Kealia - More Info
- May 8, Tuesday, 6:00 PM
Eco-Roundtable Quarterly Gathering
@ Peace Memorial - More Info
If you know of an upcoming event that should receive a mention please let us know at: info@malamakauai.org or 828-0685.
Malama Kaua'i is a Kilauea based non-profit working to raise awareness on the importance of sustainability, to assist in implementing sustainable practices and support sustainable projects beneficial to the community.
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