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PRESS RELEASE: A NEW CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF HAWAII.

A new contender for the position of 'Mayor of Hawaii County', Jasper Moore arrived at the County Office of Elections on the first morning of the Mayor's race. On Friday, February 1st Jasper Moore launched a brand new campaign that, he says, is inspired to focus on the fact that we are an island community, heavily dependent on oil for just about all of our needs.
    
'Instead of relying so heavily on 'fossil fuels', we need to be looking at 'the power of our community' to prepare for changes that are ahead. Most of our energy and transportation is fuelled by petroleum sources. Our industries of tourism and agriculture are dependent on fuel says Moore.  Most of the food we eat is brought in by barge. We need to be ready for the day when those fuel supplies become much more expensive or unobtainable and we will have major adjustments to make. Most people here seem to have thought a little about that and are already wondering 'What would life would be like 'If the barges stopped coming'?"

Jasper Moore says that, far from being a 'single issue' campaign, this very issue of our dependence on oil touches just about every aspect of our lives here on the Big Island.

"I love the Big Island" says fifty-nine year old Moore, licensed general contractor and a resident here of the last twenty six years.
"I consider myself lucky to have been here when sugar cane was still the mainstay though change was already happening. Those were the 'old days' to some, but the harder times prove that the Big Island people are strong." What was it that Jasper Moore remembers most about the times?  I think there was more community back then. It was community that brought about the mixed plate lunch. We had to learn how to get along. Nobody had much then. Nothing seemed as easy as it does now."

"The other thing I saw was how our whole island changed after the cane days. I think we are going to see some big changes in the near future.
I don't think it is that long before a lot of people around the world are going to have find ways to live simpler."

"Some of the residents in the 'Hawaiian Acres' subdivision are already telling me that they don't come into Hilo as often because of the price of gas. What about when the price of gas is double or triple what it is now? How will that affect the costs of even basic services and food? "

We need to find the courage as individuals and as a Community to take a good hard look at a problem that 'isn't going away'.. " I've been looking for those conversations at every level, Federal, State and County and I'm not seeing enough leadership in this area. That's why I decided to run for Mayor.

"'Peak Oil' isn't just a theory" says Moore.  "Just about every Geoscientist will agree that the supply of petroleum is limited and inevitably the costs of  fuel will continue to rise and it's the ordinary people everywhere that will feel those costs."

"If the people on the Big Island haven't begun to look at ways to come together as a community then we aren't going to be prepared to face the challenges ahead. This requires good leadership at every level.
That's what I'd like to see."

To launch his campaign, Jasper Moore handed out copies of a dvd documentary called "The Power of Community". This film was made about Cuba and Moore is saying that Cuba can provide a model for the changes other Nations will face due to fuel shortages. In a very short time period, Cuba's fuel supply was drastically reduced in the early 90's.This movie examines the changes ordinary Cubans had to make due to economic embargos from The U.S. Government and a simultaneous collapse of  the Russian economy that, up until that point, provided subsidized fuel to Cuba.  "This island community of Cuba had to learn virtually overnight how to grow all of their own food and ride bicycles or share public transportation. In the beginning, there were food shortages and power supply was interrupted. People had to learn how to get by with fewer luxuries. There were many many hardships, as many of the Cubans in this film say, but the outcomes for Cuba have been positive in many, many ways. For instance the health statistics for Cuba show that the average Cuban is much healthier than the average American. The Cuban health system is free for everyone. Their diet is based on organic produce and market gardens. Small community farms and farmer's markets have become pillars of the Cuban economy.
Cuba now imports virtually no petrochemical farm products."

" I want to talk about how we can 'thrive'.. not just 'survive' as changes come our way… We need to focus on the 'health' of this community, not just the 'wealth' of this community." Jasper Moore insists that Cuba is a lesson for communities everywhere about the importance of pulling together. There are many parallels for The Big Island he insists.  "We're an island. We haven't forgotten how to work together and we haven't forgotten that we need each other to survive.
Our future can be positive. We just need imagination, foresight and a willingness to look at the challenges now and really see what is ahead for us."

"I look forward to meeting with people and community groups on The Big Island. I look forward to meeting with the other candidates also.
Everywhere it seems people are looking for a change in this 'election year'. I hope the campaigns we see here in the lead up to the election will reflect the most important issues and solutions. I hope to see people everywhere getting involved. "

Jasper Moore may be reached at 808 443 9079 or email mooreformayor@gmail.com