 Ploha Friday and welcome to Perspectives of Global Justice Think Tech Hawaii program. This is your host Beatrice Cantelmo. Most of us have heard about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at some point in time. However, many people don't know what they are. Yet these stati articles are the milestone document in the history of human rights, drafted by representatives of the different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10th of 1948 as a common standard of achievement for all people and nations. It sets out for the first time for the mental rights that to be universally protected. Our democracy is supposed to promote and protect human rights for all people. But what happens when that is blatantly disregarded? Today, we have Caroline Goroulou as our guest and Caroline is a social worker, an advocate, a Democrat, a taxpayer, a voter and of course a wonderful dreamer. On May 4th of 2017, she wrote a very straight fold open letter to our legislators. As a constituent, we all should follow Caroline's civic duty example and reach out to our legislators. The opening paragraph for Caroline's letter to our legislators stated the following, quote, I am proud to be a Democrat because we are supposed to be the party with the best interests of people at heart. I was proud of living in a blue state but have serious questions if some legislators are respecting our state pride. Unfortunately, being a blue state has not been reality in this 2017 session, end quote. Caroline's letter addressed several bills that were important to the Democratic platform, death with dignity, compassionate choices, ban on conversion therapy, safe haven bill for the protection of our at-risk youth living on the streets, open medical cannabis dispensaries and the controversial railroad budget. Caroline ended her letter with the following statement. Starting quote, I am a taxpayer, a voter in this state and a person that values the Democratic platform who needs an answer. We want accountability and transparency. Have you bothered to see the healthcare chaos in Washington DC? Do you ever look at our actions and compare your actions with those in DC? In my opinion, Hawaii desperately needs you to vote for the best interests of the citizens of Hawaii, stopping stalling. If you can't vote for justice at this late hour, you haven't done your job. And on that note, let's get started with our conversation, Caroline. Welcome. Well, thank you and thank you for having me today. This is a real treat. Absolutely. I know the treat is ours. So to our viewers who have never learned much about you, would you might give us a little background about where you're from? And I know you've been an activist for many years. Well, I started in high school back in California. And I'm a Kennedy Democrat. I like to say that because those were the days when we stood up. The Democrats stood up for our people. And I was born in Colorado, raised in Southern California. That's why I love Hawaii so much. I'm homesick if I don't see palm trees and the blue Pacific Ocean. So I married at a young age of 19, followed my husband around the world while he was in the Air Force. And our third to last assignment, his third to last assignment, was at Hickam Air Force Base. And I absolutely fell in love. I always grew to bloom where I was planted, but Hawaii is special. And it's not just beautiful, but there's a spirit. And I think our spirit is being stifled right now by the political environment. Right. So let's talk a little bit about Aloha's spirit. And where do you see the stifling of it? I am quite impressed with the open letter that you wrote to our legislators at the end of our legislative session. And I think a part of that is that you don't see many constituents really speaking from their heart, asking what has happened under you, were able to outline bills that you followed that were important to you and to our state to many people who would have been positively impacted if things went through, which it didn't. So let's talk about it. Okay. Well, let's go. Ironically, after I sent the letter out, I also have a group of email friends. And I sent it to them. And one of them called me on the phone and said, but you forgot that the last day of the session in the house, right before the gavel was struck to end the session, everyone was told that the raise for the foster families, even though it was voted on and passed two years previously, they said, we will not be funding this session. And session is over. Bang. Is that even constitutional to have passed a bill already two years ago and not funding it? That's right. And that puts us back probably at the bottom of the barrel across the United States for the money that we give for the care and well-being of our foster children. And so to me, it's not constitutional, but apparently they have taken things into their own hands. And ironically, they may have cost this state millions of dollars with that one little vote because of the it wasn't even a vote. It was just a decision made on the made whenever. And we could lose federal funds because we've already been warned that we need to bring our foster families haven't had a raise in 22 years. That's two decades. Wow. No cost of living, nothing, nothing. You might avoid. So without that money and the decision being made at the very last minute before legislative session ended, what now? How does that reflect back to the families who actually have children under their care on the foster care system? And what's the plan moving forward? Apparently, the legislature doesn't care. But I say that they need to become vocal. I'm a big advocate for taking to the streets, telling them in no uncertain terms. And there's always naysayers out there. But think of that. If you personally had not had a cost of living wage increase in 22 years, how would you suffer? The price of milk goes up. The price of fresh fruits and vegetables goes up. It's unbelievable. It's just unbelievable. But I think it's a reflection on abuse of power. And I know I'm not the favorite person that I used to be when I was... I know before they made tax. But the thing is, I'm a social worker. And I was a social worker before I went to UH. And we earned my degree. I helped people in Europe because in Europe, in your military, you're isolated. And you don't have any city police, state police to help you. You have to make it on your own. And so there were times when I did fun drives for families that were being separated from the military member and wanting to go back home because they were in situations that were abusive and downright dangerous and harmful for the children. And so helping them get out, telling them that there was help. And so I really did. You gave them hope. And yeah. And you know what's very sad to me is to learn that the 12 bills that were introduced to this legislative session that would protect our children and survivors of domestic and sex violence were not passed. No, they weren't passed. Not one. And compassion choices. I say that that bill is that not passing it is persecuting those who need it because it's not a mandate. Not everyone has to make themselves available to it. It is a choice. And when you take people's choices away from them, that is forcing them to be a victim of the system. And right now they are. Well, not only that, I think it's a very controversial situation because people appeal to the part of moral and religion, which I can appreciate and respect. However, death is not always pretty. That's right. And the end of life can be very lingering and painful. And I don't think that people who are in the position of lobbying against a measure like this really take into consideration the quality of life and the suffering of those who would otherwise have a choice. It's also a financial burden on the families because when they see their parent, their family member suffering, they're suffering in a hospital, in a hospice situation, and that's costing them every day. And life is more precious than money. But some people are taking advantage of it. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest hospice owner in the state. Yes, in the state of Hawaii. I googled that. I googled that. I just googled Hospice Hawaii and I read their pamphlet online. And they brag about being the largest service of hospice service in the state. So, see, there was money involved even though they said it was all a moral issue. Well, I thought we were supposed to be our brothers and sisters caretakers. I didn't think we were supposed to force them into a painful death when we are at the state where we can help people. And one of the things I said because I was terrifically upset and yet when I talked to some of the people in the house because the house was the one, the Senate passed that bill 22 to 3. And when I said, well, this is great. You had the support of the Senate 22 to 3. And I was told, we are not a rubber stamp for the Senate. And I said that's not what I'm saying. I am saying you had support. And that's one of the really basic things that I see having a problem over at the Capitol is getting the people to work together. It's not a competition. If it's a competition, I'd like to see it a competition for helping people. Who can help the people the best? Who can make their end of life choices? And no one chooses to die. None of us do. But that is a fact of life. We're going to do it. Taxes and death. So let's take a little break. And then on our second segment, we'll talk a little bit more about that in older bills, right? That's good. Welcome back to Perspectives on Global Justice. This is your house to Beatrice Cantero. And we have Caroline Goliou with us. So, Caroline, we took a little break. And I know that some people may have a misconception that your passion is about anger. So let's talk about that as an activist because I can relate to that. That's right. Well, someone, a few people have said, oh, you're so angry. And I have learned to counter that with saying, you mistake my anger because it's really passion. When I believe in something wholeheartedly, I go for it. I have spent a lot of my years being silent as a good, dutiful wife and as a good Catholic girl. You don't have thoughts of your own. Don't speak out. And I'm on my second lifetime. And it's going to be done speaking out so that no one mistakes that my silence is in agreement with any of the situations that we talked about. And that passion is very necessary. And I feel like if we're not outraged about what's happening, we're not paying attention. And I think it's impossible not to be outraged because right now, I think we're getting bombarded with so much injustice and unfairness from every single direction, from a federal level and a state level. There's no even breaks or times to breathe because every day is something new. And I feel at least like at a state level, there is a little bit more leverage to be able to negotiate some of the decision making in the policymaking process. And I think one observation you made is that even when the people support us at a measure, that is not being respected in lieu of lobbying from other parties or political favors. And I'm glad that you're passionate and there are older people, they are passionate, saying, ah, this has got to stop and we do need transparency and accountability and much needed reforms. So along with those lines, I know that there are older bills that were quite important to you. Yes. And that's all there's as well. So you want to talk about it. Well, one of the bills and it just, numbers of bills don't even matter anymore because once a session ends, those bill numbers are no more and they create new bill numbers because we have a biannual House and Senate. And so some of the bills that were entered this year have two years. And so they can be looked at again next year. And so that's why I want to get people active and motivated, you know, a postcard even. And we had a postcard event recently. Yes. And that was, that was, that's right. Prisoners. That was Chesnia in Russia where, and that goes against our declaration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have a life, we have a right to live without persecution, without torture. And thank goodness we have the United Nations. They funded a study and in that study, and they documented it. So it's not someone's idea or they're trying to, it's doc, well documented that in Chesnia, which is part of Russia, they were rounding up, kidnapping, torturing and killing some of our gay men. And you know, that ran chills through me because us as Americans came to this continent because we were running from persecution, religious persecution in Europe. Now I want to run back to Europe because they certainly have a better handle on it. No, no, don't run away. The trick is stay and fight. I think what most people, exactly what most people don't understand is that United Nations, Amnesty International, any organization that walks with human rights, we can come up with the reporting and the exposure, the awareness and the education and the advocacy part for law being for different outcomes. But in truth, it is the people and the pressure that the people put on those matters that becomes priority in a certain country or a state is what moves things ahead. That's right. You know, you have the Amnesty Women's We don't have the power in itself alone to change things, but it is the collective effort and the civic engagement of the people that make those differences. I wish we could clone you. No, no, because look at all the other people. Look at Teresa Schuch from Maui that started the Women's March on Washington, that changed the world. Women came out in bigger numbers across the globe than they'd ever come before. And one of the best things to be said about it, it was the most peaceful march on the face of this earth. That shows that we aren't angry, but we want change. We have to see equal rights for in wages, fair pay for equal hours. We need to have sexism, scratched off, you know, that's right. And so from that, Sherri Campania and I were talking one day and Chesnia came up. And between the two of us, we came up with this, okay, we're going to have Kenlite Vigil and we're going to have people sign cards. Thank you, postcards. And we wanted them for people to buy different types of beautiful postcards from Hawaii, letting them know that we appreciated the fact that they were willing to spend their money, spend their time and their talent and document this horrific, horrific. And I think about it, had we had a United Nations, which we didn't back before World War II, we could have stopped it. We could, if we knew that people were being put on trains and taken to extermination camps, that could have been stopped. So there is great hope, but it takes great action. Absolutely. Yes. And that has to be an ongoing process. And my biggest hope in the upcoming future is that not only we have more voters registered to do the voting, but to be more civically engaged. But that we also have more balance in every segment of government in regards to gender, equity, ethnicity. I would like an age. That's right. Oh, ages. We haven't even touched on that one yet. So back on the tensions of what has happened here in Hawaii with our legislators, which I think a lot of people were very unhappy. I know one thing that really shocked me was the bill that would allocate funding for runaway youth to be in shelters and also new laws that would allow minors to register in the shelter system, which is not possible. It's not possible. They have to have a parent signature. Now, if they're running away from home from abuse, if they've been thrown out of their home, there are those who, young women, who end up with child, pregnant, and their family goes, sorry, our religion doesn't approve of that and throws them out at the moment that they need the most help there on the street. If they're being harassed at school because someone even thinks they're gay, you know, and there was a comedian back in the 60s that used to say something about a camera. Children, if I don't like my child, it was supposed to be a joke, but apparently it's taken hold. I don't like my child. I can just take another picture. Those were the days of the, remember the cameras flash and you'd wait for it to come out and as you watched it would. It would just come up. Yeah. And so children are not accessories. Children are not a status symbol. Children are there because you love them. If you can't love them, if you can't protect them and provide for them, then give them up. There's so many people wanting to have children who can't for whatever reason. Don't be selfish and keep them and then abuse them, neglect them because neglect is abuse. And so it's, but this state has to get rid of that archaic law that says a child has to have the signature and approval of one of the parents. And that law was started decades and decades ago because of divorce. They didn't want one parent to get it and whatever they, and so that's what they wrote into it. So well, we are going to pretty much bring that up in the future. I'm pretty sure because the bill, you know, that was supposed to. It's going to be, we're not going away. We're not going away. And it's not reflective of today's reality. So it needs to be amended to ensure that that's possible. I would like to offer an opportunity to your viewers and that is on Thursday afternoons from four to six, we gather at the Capitol and this week, every week I have another different sign. This week my sign was more jobs, no hiring freeze because that is a federal mandate that has come down. That's already affecting our people. The care and the process within federal buildings are stymied right now. And what does that mean to us? People aren't being given good jobs with health care and with holidays and vacation times. And those aren't a privilege. Those are right. You have to replenish your body and your mind. You can't when you have to work every day, when you have to work three jobs. And now this is one more, we'll know whether or not this is totally damaged to us, to how many more homeless people and homeless families end up on the streets. Absolutely. You have to stand up and be counted. Yes, absolutely. So I can't believe that our 30 minute have passed. However, may this be the faster of many visits that we have together and that we converse in more depth about all the issues. I want to thank you so much from the heart for all of the beautiful work that you do as a social worker, as an activist, as a sister. And we met in the middle of the field. Yes, we are all alone. And that concludes our show for today. Thank you again. Thank you. And I look forward to seeing you again many times. Thank you. And I want to thank our viewers for being here with us. And join us again next Friday. And until then, a wee hope.