Choose a nonviolent Thanksgiving observance

While President Trump is pardoning two turkeys for Thanksgiving, every one of us can exercise that same presidential power by choosing a nonviolent Thanksgiving observance.

And here are some other good reasons:

You can brag about pardoning a turkey – like Trump (or not).

You will stay awake for your entire favorite football game.

Your sensible vegetarian kid won’t have to boycott the family dinner.

Plant-based holiday roasts don’t have to carry government warning labels.

You won’t have to call the Poultry Hotline to keep your family out of the hospital.

Your body will appreciate a holiday from the fat, cholesterol and hormones.

You won’t sweat the environment and food resources devastation guilt trip.

You won’t spend a sleepless night wondering how the turkey lived and died.

Seriously, this Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for our good fortune, health and happiness with a life-affirming, cruelty-free feast of plant-based holiday roast, vegetables, fruits, and grains. Our own dinner will feature a store-bought, plant-based holiday roast, mashed potatoes, stuffed squash, candied yams, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

An Internet search on “vegetarian Thanksgiving” is getting us more recipes than we could possibly use.

LESTER NAITO, Lahaina

——————

Many millenials balance caregiving and a career

Currently, one in six millennials (born 1981-96) are serving as caregivers to someone living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Caregiving can be especially challenging for millennials. Many work full-time jobs and must balance caregiving and work responsibilities during a point in their careers when opportunities for job growth and advancement are greatest. In addition, opportunities to develop and advance personal relationships, start a family or maintain a social life are severely compromised. It has been reported that 70 percent of caregivers experience difficulties at work because of the dual responsibilities.

The challenges and sacrifices for millennial caregivers are tremendous. Despite this, according to a 2017 Alzheimer’s Association survey, millennials were more likely to cite positive aspects of their caregiving experiences than other groups of caregivers. Almost half of millennials (47 percent) reported developing a stronger relationship with the person they were caring for. And 85 percent of millennials said being the primary caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia has positively changed relationships in their family. Could millennial caregivers be the unsung heroes of our healthcare world?

During November – National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month – the Alzheimer’s Association recognizes and honors Alzheimer’s millennial caregivers and caregivers of all ages. We kindly ask all Maui residents to reach out and lend a hand.

Take time to support a caregiver you know. Run errands, help with a household chore, give caregivers a break by spending time with the person with dementia, and educate yourself about the disease – the more you know, the easier it will be to help. On average, millennial caregivers provide 18.5 hours of care weekly caregiving. These small gestures can make a big difference and offer well-deserved support to those who give so much.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and to find resources for caregivers, families and people living with the disease, sign up for the free Alzheimer’s Association Community Forum on Dec. 5, 2018 in Kahului. There will be a 30-minute presentation followed by a group discussion. To find out more, or to RSVP, e-mail cespencer@alz.org.

CHRISTINE SPENCER, Regional Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association

—————–

Restore native forests and Maui agriculture

Posing costly and life-threatening environments, drastic measures must be taken. “We cannot ourselves alone accomplish such an object – God must be our aid.” (Hawaiian Constitution 1840)

Families mourn, wondering if the smoke of Lahaina’s wildfire accelerated an elderly kupuna’s death. Entities, including the state, are responsible for the land’s deplorable condition.

Government experts blame unproductive farm land on landholders that cannot make economic sense of doing agricultural ventures. Lucrative real-estate sales dissuade any real efforts toward agriculture industries.

Make undeveloped agriculture land unsaleable; conserve it for farming and permanent affordable housing. Rather than increasing wages, lower the cost of living. Enforce Hawaiian land laws with generational owner-occupied covenants. Recycle heirless properties into the land trust.

Kingdom law includes non-native residents to be treated as native-born Hawaiians. Vetted individuals are awarded land in a lottery system. Bonds funding infrastructure and vertical construction are paid back with interest by homeowners.

Provide cluster housing for farmhands on agriculture land. Areas designated for resorts, schools, hospitals and first responders include employee housing. Allocate land for conservation areas, parks, roads and other public-uses.

Restore native forests and agriculture; allocate taxes to fund food security and healthy ecosystems. Tourists, volunteers, students, welfare recipients, inmates and ex-prisoners can help facilitate these endeavors.

“‘Lord, help us! Fires consumed the open pastures.’ The Lord says, ‘Come back to me with all your heart!'” The Bible shows how God restores lands and peoples. “Then you’ll know that I am the Lord your God. There is no other!”

MICHELE LINCOLN, Lahaina