I am writing you today as President of the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), with an urgent request for your financial support of the “Campaign to Defend Hawaii’s Future”.
HAPA is a new 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to action and advocacy that puts the needs of people and the environment above the agenda of large corporations. HAPA is committed to revitalizing and supporting grassroots democracy, and is a movement conceived on Kauaʻi and born from the experience of the community’s effort to assert its values and guide its future.
Kauaʻi is “ground zero” for a small group of international chemical companies that apply large quantities of dangerous “restricted use” pesticides near Kauaʻi homes, schools, hospitals and streams. In response to community concerns, the Kauaʻi County Council passed Bill 2491 (now Ordinance 960) last year. This new law establishes pesticide-free buffer zones and requires large users of pesticides to publicly disclose their use.
Rather than comply, the chemical companies filed a lawsuit in federal court and began aggressively lobbying at the State legislature to take away our County authority. On June 9, law suits were also filed against Hawaii County attempting to strike down their recently passed ordinance as well. Now these companies are targeting the 2014 State and County elections.
We are determined to fight back. HAPA, in alliance with other public interest groups, is committed to defending Kauaʻi and all Hawaiʻi from the harmful actions of these companies. HAPA is committed to a solutions-based vision that includes food self-sufficiency, valuing health and environment above corporate profits, and most importantly, fostering a community engaged in its own governance.
Your help today and prior to June 18th is critically important. Please visit www.HAPAhi.org and contribute to the “Campaign to Defend Hawaii’s Future”. Your donation will be used for the nuts and bolts of building a movement plus the core actions involving communication, education and legal defense.
Please, we can prove that grassroots democracy works, we can preserve and expand our gains and we can set an example for communities everywhere – but to do so your support is needed now.
Sincerely,
Gary Hooser*
President, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action
www.hawaiiallianceforprogressiveaction.com
The Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) is a non-profit organization incorporated in Hawaiʻi on March 31, 2014. HAPA’s application for IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is currently pending. Be advised that any contribution is not tax deductible until and unless such recognition is obtained. HAPA will notify all contributors of the IRS’s decision.
*HAPA is not engaged in any lobbying activity before the Kauaʻi County Council nor any government body. Gary Hooser serves as the President of HAPA in a volunteer capacity.
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