Fw: protest of Stryker EIS decision (PA)

 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 10:08 AM
Subject: protest of Stryker EIS decision

Malu `Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
Phone 808-966-7622
 
 
Press Release Feb. 15, 2008
Re: Stryker EIS decision basing
further comments: Jim Albertini 966-7622
 
"The decision to base a Stryker Brigade in Hawaii, despite the most significant environmental impacts of any site considered, shows the military's disregard for Hawaii's environment and the democratic process," says Jim Albertini, of Malu `Aina Center. Albertini said, " testimony at public hearings was overwhelmingly against Strykers in Hawaii.  But before the Stryker public hearing process even began, Hawaii's senior senator, Daniel Inouye, was quoted as saying that he's been assured of a Stryker Brigade for Hawaii."  Albertini called the Strykers " modern chariots of empire and Dan Inouye pork for the war profiteers."
 
Albertini said a protest of the military's disregard for the environmnet is planned for Sat. Feb. 23rd from 11AM-1PM at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) located in the center of Hawaii island.  (See flyer below)  The military is a planning a major live-fire training exercise at PTA which is confirmed to be contaminated with radiation.  Live-fire risks spreading the contamination.  The full extent of the contamination is not yet know,  Comprehensive testing has not been done.   Basing a Stryker Brigade in Hawaii shows the same disregard for the environment, and the health and safety of people,  as the military live-fire planned in an area contaminated with radiation."
 
                                                                                                -pau-
 

Protest Military Live-Fire on Hawaii's Sacred Mountains

Saturday, February 23, 2008 11AM-1PM Pohakuloa Training Area

     Major military live-fire training will be held in late February 2008 by the U.S. Marines at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA), located in the saddle area between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, Hawaii's two most sacred mountains. The Army confirmed on Aug. 20, 2007 that PTA is contaminated with radiation from military weapons training. The Army admits to training with radioactive spotting rounds called depleted uranium (DU) for the Davy Crockett nuclear weapon system in the 1960s at Schofield Barracks on Oahu and Pohakuloa on Hawaii Island. The Army's admission only came after peace groups disclosed the facts found in court records.

     The full extent of military radiation contamination in Hawaii is unknown due to the extensive size of firing ranges, poor record keeping by the military, and incomplete testing to date. PTA alone is more than 133,000-acres in size. It has not been confirmed if other radioactive spotting rounds involving 50-60 different nuclear weapon systems have also been used in Hawaii.. Nor has it been confirmed if armor penetrating DU rounds have been used, though additional radiation contamination beyond "Davy Crockett" is highly suspected.

     Continuing military live-fire training risks spreading the radiation by vaporizing existing uranium in target areas. Citizens recorded elevated radiation readings off the base (3- 4 times background) on May 29, 2007 with winds blowing directly off the PTA live-fire target impact area and dust devils clearly visible in the air. A major question is whether continued training at confirmed military radiaiton contaminated sites endangers troops, visitors, and residents of Hawaii. Despite military efforts to downplay the hazards of DU spotting and armor penetrating rounds, more and more evidence is suggesting that airborne DU particles are particularly hazardous when inhaled.

     In light of the above, Malu `Aina calls for the following:

1. The immediate establishment (at military expense) of independent, high tech monitors with a paper trail around all range impact areas where real-time data is available to the public on-line 24/7.

2. Testing (at military expense) for DU exposure of military personnel and members of the civilian community who believe they may have been exposed to DU. (The U.S. is spending $2 billion a day on the military. There should be funds available to see if troops and civilians are being contaminated by their own radioactive weapons.)

3. Stop training for war. Military exercises risk spreading contamination, deepen the Iraq quagmire and take the US closer to the brink of an attack on Iran. We will not stand for the Bush administration waging another illegal and immoral imperial war of aggression. We want Hawaii to be a beacon of justice, peace, independence, and aloha, with a clean, not a radioactive contaminated, environment.

Join the Protest on Saturday, February 23rd

Meet 11AM at Mauna Kea State Park. Protest 11AM to 1PM at Pohakuloa

Car pools will leave Hilo 9:30AM from makai parking lot on Kamehameha Ave. near Pauahi St.

(Be prepared for all weather conditions --sun/rain/cold/hot. Bring water, snacks, lunch, sun screen, rain jacket, warm clothes, good walking shoes.

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination: anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, etc. 5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Ola`a (Kurtistown),

Hawai`i 96760. Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@interpac.net http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (February 15, 2008 - 335th week) - Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

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