Steps Forward

Richard Ha writes:

I wrote recently that Matt Simmons, one of the world’s leading experts on Peak Oil, sounded pretty pessimistic in a recent CNBC interview. View it here
 if you haven't seen it.

It’s one more in a long series of reminders that we here in Hawai‘i (as well as those elsewhere) need to figure out how we can be sustainable. Many people are already taking action and making changes. We can each do our small part.



We all need to look at things differently than we have been. I
 attended the Peak Oil conference this past October, so the events of today 
do not surprise me.

I’ve also had some time to think about all this. Here’s what I think is most important, and they are steps everyone can move toward:

•  Support your local farmers.


•  Learn how to grow your own food.


•  Support education. The young ones need to have the tools to solve 
the problems of tomorrow. We must help them now so they will be prepared.


•  Diversify our economy. We need to expand and cannot depend too much on tourism. If done in a sustainable way, the Thirty Meter Telescope coming to Mauna Kea can help us with
 education and diversification.


•  Avoid petroleum costs whenever you can.

Another thing you can do, of course, is to check out the E Malama 'Aina
 Festival coming up November 7th and 8th.

Comments

[Julie Cade]

Thank you for taking the leadership role in bringing Peak Oil awareness and the issue of our food security to Hawaii residents. I believe there is a tsunami coming due to fuel shortage, tourism going bust here, and resulting job losses. The festival seems like a great way to get the masses aware, and teaching people how to grow some food for themselves is so very important. Also, has someone thought of creating a seed bank for the island (maybe CTAHR)? If something happened and we were truly cut off from the mainland, do we have enough seed and basic planting materials on island to allow families to get started growing and saving their seeds? This seems more important in the long run than having some cots stored up for the next tropical storm or hurricane.
Many mahalos for all you are doing and for those Fabulous! Heirloom! Tomatoes! :)

[Richard]

Aloha Julie:
The world is changing and we need to adapt, sooner rather than later.
As you suggest, it may be very vluable for CTAHR to expand its seed program. Nancy Redfeather is very active in saving seed. Hawai'i Island
Seed Exchange
Saturday, June 16
8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Info: 323-3318
Nancy Redfeather is a teacher and gardener in Kona and Coordinator of the Hawai'i Island Seed Exchange. She and her husband Gerry Herbert are developing a 1.2 acre organic/sustainable experimental and educational mini-farm in Honalo.
Thanks