Support local businesses on Pohnpei

This morning all locally owned and operated store owners and employee closed their doors and marched on capitol hill to make known their disagreement with a recently passed alteration of the foreign investment laws on Pohnpei. While the particulars of the change are not entirely clear to this author, the event was a demonstration of democracy in action. A people aggrieved showed up en mass at their legislature to petition for redress. History in the making.
Taking the lead marching up main street.

Employees on the march in support of small, locally owned and operated businesses. Part of the core of Pohnpei's small island identity. A people place, a family place.
Virtually every locally owned and operated store along main street was shut door. According to one owner, this was the first time they had seen the local businesses so unified.
No business was forced to close, and some smaller operations chose to remain open.
The legislature met and was filled beyond capacity. I was informed that the vote last week was 12 to 7 in favor of the amended foreign investment act. The seven who voted against felt strongly that the new legislation endangered locally owned and operated businesses, and the business owners clearly agreed.

No CNN, no security forces. A very calm and peaceful atmosphere prevailed. There were placards and signs, and some slogans shouted, but nothing more exuberant than that. Free speech and democracy in action.
The new state capitol looms in the background of the following photo.
For my partner, this was his first time to join in a civil action, to march with like-minded and kindred spirits. He remained awake as long as he could, finally falling asleep when a cheer rose from inside the legislature.

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