Molokai Hunters to protest The Nature Conservancy
Received via
email...PRESS
RELEASEContact Walter Ritte Sec. MHA. Phone:
1-808 558-0111 cell, 336-0510 e-mail: rittew @
hotmail.comMOLOKAI PROTEST OF NATURE
CONSERVANCY AT HONOLULU GUN SHOWThe
Molokai Hunters Association will be protesting The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on
Sat. Sept. 1st, starting at 9:30am. The protest will be at the Neal Blasdell
Center during the Hawaii Historic Arms Association GREAT GUNS Gun
Show.The Molokai Hunters Association
(MHA) is trying to avoid a dangerous confrontation with the private New Zealand
Pro Hunt group, which TNC has hired to manage the wild life on Molokai. TNC and
Pro Hunt will implement a new management plan of our forest with no community
participation and input. Instead TNC has conducted numerous secret
meetings.Continued...
MHA has made numerous requests for posted PUBLIC
meetings in order to make appropriate input on the impacts this new program will
have on our economy and native Hawaiian Gathering Rights. As the secretary of
MHA, I have personally talked with executive director Susan Case (5212302),
board chairman David Cole (6650735), who have refused to have PUBLIC MEETINGS. I
have also talked to board members Peter Baldwin (8705544), Jim Haynes (8776141)
and Sam Cooke (5216700) who all support community participation and
input.
TNC has insulted our hunters by
bringing in outside hunters to manage our wildlife, which is an important part
of our economy.
TNC have ignored our
state constitution and HRS laws, which protect Native Hawaiian Gathering Rights.
Hawaiians have not had a chance to comment on the impacts this new program will
have on their economy.
Nature
Conservancy's dictatorship style has made them a threat to Molokai, and have
forced us to do this protest. The solution
is to have public meetings to take input and concerns from the people of
Molokai.
Posted: Wed - August 29, 2007 at 07:00 AM