I am a strong proponent of freedom and openness ("information wants to be free"). But in Hawai'i we face a severe challenge:

Some hawai'i residents-- as progressive as they are-- have deeply ingrained biases against us, basically thinking we are hippies in the negative sense of the word-- naive, dirty, drugged, ecologically insensitive, and so on-- you've heard the litany. Even worse, they may not know or even care if this is actually the case, yet they will help perpetuate this disinformation anyway. Disinformation causes unnecessary fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), and may lead to violence or the threat of violence against us.

Disinformation is a form of psy-ops, and forms a climate of information warfare. We didn't ask for this, it was imposed upon us.

My first proposal is that the location of the 2009 gathering will not be announced on the website. Not even any hint of what region. So, how will people actually find out where the gathering is? Word of mouth, of course. But also, my second proposal is that I (or other people) will be willing to send out the directions to the staging ground only-- over private tribe mail to anybody who can convince me that they are interested in coming to the gathering. How will you convince me? If you know me personally, just send me a tribe message reminding me who you are.

Otherwise, your only hope to get the directions over the internet is to send me (or somebody else who knows), via a private tribe mail, a short essay (50 words or more) about why you enjoy rainbow gatherings, if you have attended any previously-- or why you think you would enjoy a rainbow gathering, if you have not (please no plagiarizing). And to make sure you really get my attention: tell me whether or not you plan on bringing or consuming alcohol at the gathering. :-p

Yes, these essays can be faked. But so what-- if somebody who wants to shut us down takes the time to try to write an essay about why they enjoy rainbow gatherings, they will have at least put themselves in our shoes for the brief time it takes to pen the essay. Then this whole process will have accomplished at least that. Walking in somebody else's shoes is a beautiful spiritual practice. Plus, I will be able to look forward to reading positive tribe messages.

Don't wait to the last minute folks. Your essays will be due before whenever I get my last chance to use the internet. :-), and often I'm rushed in the last week before I head out, or I may need to ask you a couple of questions, so leave ample time for some back and forth dialog. And never "misunderestimate" technological snafus/downtime, and the learning curve of using tribe mail, if you haven't yet.

Yes, those who want to shut us down can figure out other ways to pinpoint where we are on the map. All it takes is one blabbermouth (loose lips sink ships, as they say, so use your best judgment). Or maybe they will see our smoke and hear our happy drum beats in the horizon. Or maybe they will stalk our staging ground and try to follow somebody in. Oh well, we're doing the best we can, learning and growing. And if we are forced to move from one site to another, really, it's nothing we can't handle together as a community.

Feedback or comments are welcome on this forum, or at any of our upcoming councils. I really hope the weather clears for Wed, Feb 20, so we can get a good view of the full moon rising partially eclipsed, and I hope that the fact that directions will not be announced on this website will not discourage anybody who wants to from coming.

Aloha,
Benjamin