“We are deeply concerned that APEC’s trend toward economic globalization is often counter-productive and even destructive to the interests and welfare of the people at the local level…”

Globalization and Localization

Our formula for compatibility

On the occasion of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

October 17, 2011

Manoa, Hawai`i

APEC’s main meetings will be held in Honolulu in the month of November.  Preliminary to such meetings, local organizations of Hawaii have joined together to set forth our views on the topic of globalization trends and the need to protect local and indigenous peoples.  We believe that our statement rings true not only for the people of Hawai`i but for people throughout the world who are faced with the trend toward globalization.  We believe that globalization should be made compatible with localization in the following ways:

Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

We believe in a globalized consciousness, respect, and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.  These rights have been well developed in the United Nations expressions in two international covenants, the first on Civil & Political Rights, and the second on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  We support, in addition, the rights of Indigenous Peoples as expressed by the United Nations General Assembly and the International Labor Organization.  The principles expressed in these documents are global in nature, yet must be respected and enforced at the local level.  It is in actions at the local level that government’s true commitment is seen.

Trade

Global respect for fair trade for all local communities must be developed.  Such fair trade must incorporate a base standard of wages and employment conditions, as well as protection of labor rights to organize and be represented independently from capital.  Workers should be paid a fair wage that affords them decent living accommodations, proper nutrition, adequate rest, appropriate health care, and continuity of care in times of injury and age, when the expected level of work can no longer be performed.

All communities that are recipients of goods and services from foreign producers must be protected in their ability to maintain self-sufficiency through protection of local cottage industries, marketplaces and local enterprises.  There must be adequate policies that can withstand the onslaught of transnational capital that swoops into local communities to drive away or kill local enterprises.  Such policies must be adopted and enforced internationally, as well as in local communities.

The unrestricted flow of capital across national borders is not a human right when such flow is invasive and becomes harmful to the health, economy, environment, culture, political stability, and historical consciousness of the people of the local community.  Communities have the right to organize to oppose this invasion, and to expect the local political authority to support such opposition.

Environment

There must be global action to protect and support the flourishing of our lands and oceans.  It is not adequate to speak only in terms of environmental sustainability, for we have already seen the failure of such a goal.  We must stop all future degradation of our environment and implement programs to encourage the increase in our positive and healthful environmental growth.  Some of this is happening already.  For every year that passes, we should work to improve the environment and reverse the degradation that occurred the prior year.

Extraction of minerals from our earth must only be done where there is full remediation to the extent of restoration of the earth to its earlier pristine state.  Extraction practices should only be permitted if and when there is an adequate program for the proper disposal of the products that result from extraction.  Such processes must take place only when there is no damage to ground water and ocean waters, or on the surrounding environment.

The processing of raw materials, including forest products and wildlife, must be accomplished only in ways that protect the soil from erosion or diminishment of productive quality in ways that do not diminish the total areas of forest, or deplete wildlife to the point of having them identified as endangered species.

Food

Food for communities implies multiple levels of sustenance for the people.  Food is an expression of one’s culture and spirituality.  Food serves particular nutritional functions, and serves as the first source of medication and well-being.  Food is the most direct connection to one’s environment, the source of exchange of resources, of expressions of humanity among people, a medium to honor ancestors and to worship God(s).

Alteration of food products must be done with a sacred consciousness of the importance of food to people.  The nutritional value of food must not be compromised through additives that will impact negatively upon the consumer.  Chemicals used as food preservatives or that combine with food products to increase flavor must carry proper warnings of any dangers to the end user.  Food must always be prepared in a manner that respects and enhances the health and safety of the consumer.

There must be an appropriate international system of food production and distribution by which political, religious and economic considerations are diminished and the needs of the hungry, the undernourished, the sick and the poor are elevated.  This new international system must begin with a new consciousness that the humanity of the world is a singular reality.  The division of humanity by race, religion, economic status, political beliefs, gender, class, and other kinds of separation is both harmful and illusory, and should not be permitted when considering who has the right to access food.

Food support includes the provision of food for people to eat.  It also includes development assistance for people to provide food for themselves.  Developmental assistance should be provided in a measured way, taking into consideration social development, appropriate environmental realities, cultural beliefs, appropriate education, and gender appropriateness, in terms of who labors to prepare and deliver food.

Wellness and Health Care

The first consideration of wellness for people lies in the nutrition that they receive from the natural food of their environment.  The second consideration deals with activities, including exercise and interaction of people with their environment.  The third lies in social, spiritual, economic, and educational development.  When even one of these three tiers of wellness is altered, the result is always a threat to the wellness of the whole.

Any introduction of modernity that alters a people’s natural food intake, activities, and social, spiritual, economic and educational development impacts, generally negatively, the people of the community in which such altered practices are introduced.  There is a moral and ethical responsibility for those responsible for the introduction of such altered practices to anticipate the negative consequences of such practices and to remediate such negative consequences by returning the environment and the people to wellness.

The introduction of a new profession of medical specialist, of pharmaceutical products, and systems of medical care as replacements for returning a community to its prior position of wellness is not an adequate remedy for negative consequences to a people’s health.  Such systems of medical care encourage dependence of those who have fallen ill that is more often directed to maintaining a life of illness as opposed to recovering from illness.  What has resulted is the creation of medical systems that have become industries whose purpose is not to heal, but to generate profit.  Thus, pharmaceutical corporations, medical establishments, including health management organizations (HMOs), and insurance companies thrive at the expense of the people, their patients and clients.

We recognize the validity and usefulness of new medical knowledge and technology to advance the wellness of a people.  The introduction of such knowledge and technology must be accomplished with due care, recognizing and avoiding the dangers of creating dependency on modernity at the expense of self-sufficiency of a people’s health care system and wellness practices.

Transnational corporations in the health/medical fields should adjust their practices and policies in accordance with the above sentiment.

APEC Climate Symposium 2011

APEC’s symposium is directed to Harnessing and Using Climate Information for Decision Making.  From such information, climate predictions and development of policy and practice are to be formed, especially as regards agriculture, water resource management and energy efficiency and safety.

We support the community’s desire to seek compatibility between globalization and localization, as it is important to include all concerned voices in any process of decision-making regarding impact on community resources.  It is not sufficient to simply include a few countries’ governmental representatives, especially when leaving out a majority of the island communities who will be most affected by such climate changes as they relate to rising ocean levels.  This is a global problem that must include a wide representative voice of the people.

Self-Determination and Decolonization

In returning to the first position taken, that of the globalized consciousness of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, we call upon all nations and states to be mindful that such lofty principles can only be effectuated “on the ground,” one instance at a time, to be addressed as we face each violation in each local arena.

It has been said that the Father and the Mother of all human rights is the right of self-determination.  The colonization practice over countries and peoples is a direct affront to the principle of self-determination.  Colonization may raise its head in many different circumstances, from the invasion, overthrow, and establishment of puppet regimes that act on behalf of the colonial entity to grant largess, territory, or other favors to the colonial party, to the territorial invasion by capital interests into indigenous territories for extraction of minerals or timber or other resources, to a multitude of other like actions that threaten the concept and the right to self-determination.

We call upon APEC not to be a pawn to the practice of colonization, not to close its eyes to what has occurred and continues to occur as member APEC nations threaten the right of smaller countries and communities to self-determination, not to be a participant or to sit idly by as colonization is being practiced within those very boundaries in which APEC conferences are held.  Instead, APEC participants must use the opportunity to meet in a foreign land as an open invitation, indeed as a duty, to investigate the inviting member state’s conduct in such lands, and to hold that state accountable for behaviors that are colonial and block the right to self-determination.  And in the case of Hawaii, APEC participants must recognize the U.S. military-based occupation of our homeland for over a century. We propose that Hawai`i, where the United States has convened APEC members for its most recent meetings, is an apt beginning point in meeting globalized responsibility to Human Rights.

Organizing Committee for compatibility between Globalization and Localization

Poka Laenui – plaenui@hawaiianperspectives.org phone (808) 697-3045

Lynette Cruz – palolo@hawaii.rr.com phone (808) 284-3460

Leon Siu – leon@hits.net phone (808)

Pilipo Souza – pilipohale@hawaii.rr.com phone (808)

Piilani Kaopuiki

Henry Curtis

Kat Brady

Dee Texidor

Christine Meadows

Emily Kandagawa

Mark Swearingen

Kaiwi Lum

Pono Kealoha

Pomaikai Kinney

Casina Waterman

Laulani Teale

Sylvia Krewson-Reck

Bok-Dong Yoon

P. Ka`anohi Kaleikini

Jean Stavrue

Curtis Peahi

Brian Cruz

Tony Castanha

Tane Inciong

Kealaula Cockett

Rolf Nordahl

Ben Shafer

Adam Bensley