Luis Alberto Urrea – Borders are Liminal Spaces

“The wonderful writer Luis Alberto Urrea says that a deep truth of our time is that “we miss each other.” He is singularly wise about the deep meaning and the problem of borders. The Mexican-American border, as he likes to say, ran straight through his parents’ Mexican-American marriage and divorce. His works of fiction and non-fiction confuse every dehumanizing caricature of Mexicans — and of U.S. border guards. The possibility of our time, as he lives and witnesses with his writing, is to evolve the old melting pot to the 21st-century richness of “us” — with all the mess and necessary humor required.

Top Climate & Clean Energy Bills to Support

“During the 2021 legislative session, Blue Planet is prioritizing a portfolio of policy solutions featured in Waypoints to accelerate our transition to a carbon-free economy. These measures seek to significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring that everyone benefits from the transition to a cleaner, more resilient future.”

https://mailchi.mp/ba0999cf1ccf/climate-clean-energy-bills-to-support-this-session?e=2c45a426c9

EF trip to Italy

For those of you traveling to Italy in May, 2022 and for those of you still interested: Mark your calendar for March 2 at 1:30 PM – we will be doing a webcast with the EF representatives — a great opportunity to get more detailed information into the trip specifics and start the planning process.  EF (which stands for “Education First”) has extended the “worry-free” deadline until February 28th, in which you can get a full-refund of any monies paid to EF if you change your mind before May 1, 2021.

The early enrollment discount for the month of February is $225. The link to our website is: EFCST.COM/2430099KJ  I will send out the link to the webcast in a later email (I will post the info when it becomes available).

The 6 Worst Foods To Buy If You Care About Humanity

Check out this article about the six worst foods you can buy…and yes, shrimp is on the list! Sorry 🙁 if you like shrimp or any of the other foods on this list compiled by Global Citizen.

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/deadliest-foods-produce-tomato-shrimp-chocolate-te/

In this photo (taken on 9/3/2015), female workers sort shrimp at a seafood market in Mahachai, Thailand. Shrimp is the most-loved seafood in the U.S., with Americans downing 1.3 billion pounds every year, or about 4 pounds per person. Thailand sends nearly half of its supply to the U.S. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) NY877

How to submit testimony on climate and clean energy bills

Blue Planet Foundation is “a community organization that’s changing the conversation about clean energy. By creating sustainable models in Hawaii, we’re fueling the global transformation from fossil fuels to renewable solutions.”

This foundation has set up an easy way to submit testimony to the 2021 Hawaiʻi Legislative Session on climate and clean energy bills. Click on the link below to learn more!

https://mailchi.mp/7fa20f506a6a/get-ready-to-make-an-impact-this-legislative-session?e=2c45a426c9

America’s Hidden Duopoly

Check out this interesting podcast from Freakonomics on “America’s Hidden Duopoly.”

We all know our political system is “broken” — but what if that’s not true? Some say the Republicans and Democrats constitute a wildly successful industry that has colluded to kill off competition, stifle reform, and drive the country apart. So what are you going to do about it?

http://freakonomics.com/podcast/politics-industry/

 

Maui Business Brainstormers Community alert – Highway 30 to Close- Please Help!

One of my students brought this petition to my attention and I thought I should share it for anyone who wishes to sign it!  It was created by Maui Business Brainstormers.  Here is a link to their website:  Maui Business Brainstormers

A a service to our members, we are making you aware of this communication about the Lahaina Bypass, which in fact affects everyone on Maui and especially businesses in the tourism industry as well as West Side businesses. Any of you who have customers driving to or from the West Side to get to your business will be affected, and the reputation of Maui overall is likely to be impacted.

Please take one moment to help get some discussion and community input on the imminent opening of the new section of the Bypass, and  the CLOSING of highway 30 at that point – by signing the online petition here:

www.protectlahaina.com

Please pass it along!

We think many folks on Maui don’t realize that in March when they open the southernmost section of the “Lahaina ByPass”, they will be permanently CLOSING Highway 30 (Honoapiilani Highway) at that point, near “cut mountain’.   ALL TRAFFIC WILL BE ROUTED ONTO THE BYPASS AT THAT POINT.   You will no longer be able to drive from Lahaina/Launioapoko through to Olowalu (or the reverse) – that section of road will be permanently closed. Coming from Kahului toward Lahaina, ALL TRAFFIC WILL BE ROUTED ONTO THE BYPASS just past Olowalu to go north.   To me, that means this is not a Bypass but a replacement highway – replacing 2 lanes (one in each direction) with 2 lanes, which does not help us with the traffic congestion to and from the West Side.  And worse, the northern end now stops at Keawe Street, with no real traffic plan there at all to manage all the forced Bypass traffic trying to go north that will now be dumped off at Keawe (where Barnes & Noble and Walgreens are).  Keawe Street is already dangerous (try exiting left from Walgreen’s, or worse yet, try crossing from Walgreen’s over to Foodland Farms…and we don’t even have the full ByPass traffic yet!!!  There are no stop lights or anything planned for Keawe, other than a new right turn lane onto the lower highway.  And with this plan, the lower highway that goes straight through Lahaina and out toward Kaanapali will become ONE LANE as it moves from Papalaua Street out towards Safeway (before and after Keawe), so Lahaina Town is going to get REALLY backed up going either direction across that intersection.

A meeting was held recently where the community attendees unanimously asked for the following:

1) Do not open the new southern Bypass section until there is a connector farther NORTH of Keawe, to bring the traffic pass Lahaina’s already-congested area

2) Keep the lower highway open permanently as an alternative to the Bypass. A “Bypass” means you can bypass another route – this plan shuts down any alternate route.

3) Improve Keawe Street to make it safe for the cross-traffic in and out of the Emerald Plaza  industrial areas and the 2 shopping plazas (B&N, Walgreen’s).

But we were told the project is moving ahead anyway as planned and will open in Feb/March.

PLEASE sign the petition to help us at least have some input to the plan. PASS THIS ON TO AS MANY MAUI RESIDENTS AS YOU CAN. This affects everyone really, since West Maui is a huge tax base for the whole island and the traffic is rapidly becoming an inhibitor to residents and visitors alike. And of course all of us on the West Side have a vested interest to get a plan in place that will actually HELP traffic, not make it worse. Please sign and forward this link to others!!! !

“Lahaina- if you are not aware of the entirety of the proposed upcoming changes to our only highway…please look into it to see how you WILL be affected. Our community has significantly changed since the drafting of this proposal and we deserve proper urban planning as well as safe, effective traffic management. Please sign the petition to buy us all more time, so that the project can be done correctly and efficiently!!”

You can see the actual road plans here:

http://www.lahainabypass1b-2.com/project-details.php

Study Abroad Scholarships

Next Monday, January 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. an information table introducing the UHCC International/Study Abroad Scholarships for year 2017-2018 will be
​set up​ in front of the Ka Lama building. ​Class visits by the reps from UHCC VP Morton’s office to various classes are also scheduled for that day.

Each year our international scholarship recipients from UH Maui College have had life-changing experiences due to study abroad opportunities.  Please spread the word and encourage your students to apply to one or more of the following scholarships:

Honda Study Abroad Scholarship (deadline: March 1, 2017 at 4:00pm HST)
$2,000 – $8,000 in financial assistance to study anywhere in the world

Hakuoh University International Study Tour (deadline: March 1, 2017 at 4:00pm HST)

10-day summer homestay in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Aichi University Exchange Program (deadline: March 1, 2017 at 4:00pm HST)

One semester or one year student exchange program in Aichi, Japan

Monbukagakusho Scholarship (deadline: April 21, 2017 at 4:00pm HST)

One year of intensive Japanese language study followed by two years at a Senshu-gakko (specialized training college) in Japan

Apply Online

Study Abroad in Prague at Anglo-American University, Prague, Czech Republic

Participants may be eligible for a grant of $3,000 for one semester or $6,000 for academic year  

Apply directly at http://www.aauni.edu/how-to-apply/

If you have any questions, contact Jami Kurts, Community Colleges & International Education Manager at Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges at (808) 956-3855 or [email protected].
 
***Shanghai, China Hospitality Internship Presentations are scheduled for
Thursday, January 26 at 9:30-10:15 a.m. in Ka Lama 206A
.Everyone welcome!