Pukengkeng Power: Decolonizing University of Hawaii

Two of our dear kasama and babaylan sisters in Honolulu, Melisa Casumbal and Johanna Faith Almiron have been participating in a peaceful sit-in at UH's Bachman Hall to demand an end to the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) project, which would establish a secret military research facility to conduct Navy weapons development at the University of Hawaii. This action has been a part of longer strategy to make clear that UH's priority should be education and not war and it seems to be now coming to a head.The group, consisting of students, faculty, and concerned community members, has prepared a of legal, moral, health, cultural, and political reasons why UARC should be dropped. They have prepared a formal letter to the US Navy for Interim President David McClain to sign stating that UH is withdrawing its UARC application, because of the substantial public concern over increased secret military research. The nonviolent protesters have stated that they will not leave Bachman Hall until Mr. McClain publicly declares the end of UARC.

Please back them up with calls or e-mails of protest and concern to 1. UH Interim President David McClain (mcclain@hawaii.edu) tel (808) 956-97042. UH Board of Regents, David Iha, Exec Administrator and Sec of the BOR email: bor@hawaii.edu, tel (808)956-8213, fax (808)956-5156 3. UH-Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert, email: penglert@hawaii.edu, tel (808) 956-7651. I just placed the calls- it literally takes a second.

And ofcourse, please send positive energy and see them manifesting their ultimate goal which is to have the UARC application dropped. As Pinay sistahs on the Pukengkeng Liberation Front who are committed to decolonization of all indigenous lands, please consider this as part of your daily practice of loving justice.