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Murashige, Laura <br /> From: Donald Wessels [dfwJr@yahoo.com] <br /> <br /> Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 2:51 AM <br /> Subject: PunalutuSJustthe@Beginninghi.us L("~ ]u` p']rl .gyp !'r <br /> <br /> Aloha, Hawaii County Councilpersons <br /> ~~1:-._. <br /> The fight to save Punalu'u must be just the beginning of a much broader battle. Why is it <br /> true that every living system on our planet is in decline? There is something <br /> fundamentally wrong with the way we are doing business. We are trampling the Earth's life <br /> into submission. It seems that our priority is the extraction of wealth often at expense <br /> to the people and the land on which we depend. The modern suburban style housing <br /> developments built on Hawaii Island make lots of profits while leaving a powerfully <br /> disruptive ecological foot print upon the land. Modern housing development should acutely <br /> the suburban adulteration of the land for the benefit of making profit. <br /> The primary mission, by law, of housing developers is their short term profit. Concern for <br /> the people and land we all depend on is secondary to the legal purpose of modern business. <br /> Our choice, as Hawaii County Citizens, should NOT be how to minimize the devastation of <br /> development. Our choice MUST be how can we legally ensure that developers are accountable <br /> to the enrichment our communities into perpetuity. The care of community must sit as the <br /> primary legal authority that all businesses should held accountable to. <br /> The short sighted drive for immediate return on investment is the economic engine that is <br /> eating up and laying waste to the Hawaiian Islands and the World. The modern developer'-s <br /> primary job isn't to work for us, our families, or the land we live on they exist to <br /> maximize profit. The pursuit of profit must take a back seat to the habitability of our <br /> communities. The 150 acres of Punal'uu needs to be conserved for the people of Ka'u and <br /> should be the first step of many toward making legal that the making profits is <br /> subordinate to serving the people of County of Hawaii. <br /> Conservation Laws like Resolution 169-07 saves the the land so we and our children have a <br /> prosperous future. The authority to govern is given to you, the members Hawaii County <br /> Council, by the citizens of this County. The rightful authority of how to use the <br /> resources of this island also resides with the citizens of this County, not to those who <br /> stand to profit from its exploitation. We must redefine the legal purpose of all business <br /> to reflect the just and rightful authority of the citizens to govern their communities and <br /> the resources it contains. <br /> Ultimately it all comes down to values. We all want and need money but do we value <br /> maximized profit over the well-being of our communities? We must charter businesses that <br /> serve people as its primary purpose and ethic. The ethic of making profit can motivate one <br /> to excel and drive us to powerful technological innovations. But, the over-riding desire <br /> for wealth can also drive one to rationalize and ignore any damage one does to the Earth's <br /> communities. The "profit as the only reason for doing business" model we have now not only <br /> doesn't work it is destructive. If we are going to transition to a sustainable society <br /> businesses must, by the force of law, meet the needs of local communities first over its <br /> own profit or it simple should not to be allowed to do business. <br /> Take Care, <br /> Donald Wessels <br /> Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. <br /> "By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe." ~ ~ » 8 <br /> - Faust as quoted in V for Vendetta - 1 <br /> ~ •f <br /> Ref. Tos_,.~„~---Q~ <br /> Ref. Date Jl1L <br /> 9~---_ <br /> Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather <br /> shortcut. <br /> 1 <br /> <br />