Malu 'Aina

Press Release May 16, 2013

Re: Depleted Uranium in Hawaii

further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622

Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action

P.O. Box AB Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622

Email ja@malu-aina.orgwww.malu-aina.org

The Facts about Depleted Uranium (DU) in

Hawaii

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) draft brochure “The Facts about Depleted Uranium in Hawaii” has come undercriticism, with some constructive suggestions from community and technical resource people. (The DOH draft brochure is attached to this email.) Below is a summary of a community commentary. The full length commentaries from people have been sent directly to the DOH.

Retired Ph.D. Geologist, Michael Reimer, of Kona said “When the length of the commentary exceeds the length of the original document for review, something is wrong.” Doctor Reimer, offered some suggestions to correct some inaccuracies and misleading statements. For example: DOH statement “Depleted uranium has 40% less radioactivity than natural uranium.” Dr. Reimer: “This is misleading.  It has 40 percent less radioactivity at the time it is separated but daughters continue to grow and radioactivity increases.  In 50 years, the time since the use of DU at PTA, radiation has increased another 20 percent.”

Another example — DOH: “Is the public exposed to DU? It is unlikely that the general public is inhaling small particles of DU.”

Dr. Reimer: “This section might be better titled “How is the public exposed to DU?… How DU is aerosolized becomes the relevant question. At PTA, there are several mechanisms. The most likely is that spotting rounds have become pulverized when explosives strike on or near a spotting round.  The aerosol can form mechanically (the shock and friction), physically, (heat and pressure generation), or chemically (conversion to an oxide that is easily friable). DU has been found over 25 miles from its source in a study in New York State.  Aerosols move in the wind and once deposited can be resuspended and move again. Very little energy is needed to resuspend the aerosol.  Buried DU fragments, more likely to be oxidized, can be aerosolized when struck with an explosive device such as a mortar, howitzer or rocket shell or even vehicular traffic.

Dr. Reimer stated in an earlier section:

“Regarding radiation, one should not ignore the US EPA holding that all unnecessary radiation should be avoided.  They base this in the theory that radiation risk is linear related to dose and has no threshold.”

Dr. Reimer said, “As a concluding statement, I do not understand why the Army in cooperation with the Hawai`i Department of Health does not design and conduct a study to resolve the DU issue.  There is no need to speculate if DU aerosols are or are not present.  Establish adequate measurement protocols and make the measurements.  It is clear that the previous measurements of aerosols requested by the Army were insufficient to resolve whether the uranium detected was DU or natural U.

“Engage the active community in this study.  Develop a program that will address the transport fate and the distribution, if any, of depleted uranium from PTA.  This makes it a win-win-win situation.  The Army, the State, and the residents of the Big Island.  It is so simple to configure, the costs are moderate, and you will have resolved this issue.  Remove this issue from speculation and into reality.”

Others offering comment:

Retired Army MD and MPH Dr. Lorrin W. Pang said: “To bring in new agencies now, like CDC without the publics chance to raise issues with them is not fair…”

In a newly released video entitle “Pohakuloa: Now that you know. Do you care?” which can be viewed at Vimeo.com/163867248 Dr. Pang states: “DU explodes on impact at 3000 degrees, half settles to the ground, half goes into the air –aerosolized uranium. DU in and of itself is not that dangerous. But alpha particle emitters within your body is the most deadly form of radiation of all. It is stopped by your skin,but in your body it will mutate your DNA, more than any other type of radiation.”

…”A lot of people, except the U.S. and UK which have a conflict of interest, consider DU a weapon of mass destruction. Why would you have a guy (the Army) with a conflict of interest, doing his own quality assurance?”

Cory Harden, a member of the Sierra Club said “If DU is so safe, how come the Army doesn’t use it any more (in training)?” An Army spokesperson said it was banned from being used in training since 1996.

Kona resident, Doug Fox said : “Don’t look, don’t find, don’t tell.   Uranium is not primarily a gamma emitter (it’s alpha) so that to test a range by helicopter for gamma emission is inadequate methodology.   Only one per cent of the site was ever tested by them using the wrong methodology.”

“The DOH statement that “The health effects of uranium are due to its chemical toxicity, rather than radiation” is not true. “Inhaled DU alpha particles are one of the most powerful mutagens known to science.”

DOH said: “It is not known whether  uranium is harmful to an unborn child”  Fox retorts: “This is willful ignorance.   Birth defects have been vividly portrayed in Life magazine showing armless children of US vets exposed to DU munitions smoke.” An “Epidemiological study by Dr. Chris Busby of the UK showed the impact of DU munitions on Fallujah, Iraq was higher than radiation exposures at Hiroshima.”

DOH: “It is unlikely that the general public is inhaling small particles of DU”.   Fox: “This is another smokescreen.  The truth is it is very likely that travelers through the Mauna Kea State Park area have been exposed in the past.  I personally witnessed a big spike in radiation detection from a dust devil coming off the old Range 11 in May 2007.   Range 11 is where anti tank penetrator munitions have been tested.”  

Doug Rokke Ph.D.; Major, retired/disabled; U.S. Army former Director, U.S. Army Depleted Uranium Project had this to say about the DOH DU draft brochure:

“As the former director of the United States Army Depleted Uranium Project, former 3rd U.S. Army DU team health physicist and team medic during Operation Desert Storm, and confirmed DU casualty I AM UPSET AND HORRIFIED at the amount of misinformation – down-right wrong information  contained in your DU fact paper that negates- ignores actual health and environmental effects. .. false information… is required by direct written DOD- Army orders per the 1991 Los Alamos memo ( see http://www.traprockpeace.org/twomemos.html ) in order to sustain the use of uranium weapons while avoiding all liability for the known serious adverse health and environmental effects as were specified in the March 1991 Defense Nuclear agency memo  and thousands of pages of other reports.As to radiological measurements-any effective measurement: that is detection and quantification requires very specialized equipment (AN PDR 77 with RPO kit) and techniques that I and my team developed and validated for the US Army during the DU project burn and impact tests. .. once du is released into the environment… it will never be safe at all no matter what is done. THE REGION AND EQUIPMENT- STRUCTURES-TERRAIN- FOOD- WATER – VEGETATION  WITHIN THE DANGER ZONE EXTENDING OUT  DOZENS OF MILES ACTUALLY HUNDREDS OF MILESREMAIN A HAZARD FOR ETERNITY.”

According to Dr. Rokke, “DOD documents confirm that potential health effects, including:  lung cancer, respiratory, eye, skin, and genetic abnormalities.  The VA reports DU causing:  sleep problems, mood swings, upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms, neuropsychological symptoms (including memory loss), chronic fatigue and immune system dysfunction, skin rashes and unusual hair loss, aching joints, headaches, abdominal pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, menstrual disorders, gastrointestinal symptoms, nervous disorders (such as numbness of a limb), multiple chemical sensitivity, birth defects in children whose parents were exposed.”

Points raised by Hawaii peace activist Jim Albertini

1.  A New York State DU factory study showed DU dispersed more than 25 miles away.
2.  My understanding is the Army was only prohibited from using DU in training in 1996. It was first used at PTA in 1961 according to the Army. What does that tell you? It tells me that if it was not prohibited in training, it was likely used in training. What about other military branches and foreign countries that have trained at PTA?
3.  No mention of other possible DU use than Davy Crockett. Cluster bombs and a wide range of other weapons have been used at PTA, many of which may have involved DU.
4.  What does the DOH “ambient background surveys” consist — monitor on for 5 minutes once a month?
5.  Offer 24 hour urine tests for PTA and DLNR  long term workers in or around PTA, Mauna Kea Park, etc.
6   My understanding is The Waiki’i sample did not rule out the presence of DU
7.  Less than 1% of PTA has been tested for DU
8.  My radiation monitor Digilert-50, picked up 2 spikes of over 30CPM at Mauna Kea park on Sunday 4/28/13 when background readings were between 5-20 for 3 hours.  The wind was coming from the south where DU had been confirmed fired approximately 1 mile from Mauna Kea Park.
9.  No mention that spotting rounds bombed for 50 years with high explosives likely would burn the DU.  If not where are all the large fragments –unaccounted for, missing?
10. No mention of the horrendous health problems of Fallujah Iraq which was heavily bombed with DU by the U.S. Birth defects, cancers, etc.

11. No mention is made of the Saddle Rd as a possible avenue of exposure to DU. For 50 years the old Saddle Rd came within ½ mile of ranges where DU was used. Signs along the old Saddle Rd read “Live Fire Overhead.” The New Saddle Rd. has resulted in increased traffic which risks exposing more people to DU and transporting DU around the island in the same way little fire ants, cocqui frogs, and weed seeds are transported by vehicles.
12. Uranium in urine: I know of 3 Hilo MDs and a naturopathic doctor who have patients with elevated uranium in their urine found by 24 hour urine tests for heavy metals. Recently I asked the PTA commander as an act of good faith to the community to offer 24 hour urine tests to long-term PTA employees to see if any have elevated uranium readings as well. The commander refused. I’ve asked the DOH to offer similar test to state workers at Mauna Kea park and others who work in the area or travel the Saddel Rd regularly. I am still waiting for a response.
13. Has DU been used at Makua military reservation? Kaho’olawe island and other present or former military ranges in Hawaii? What other ranges are being investigated for possible exposure to DU and what is the status of the investigations?
14. In July 2008, the Hawaii County Council, by a vote of 8-1 passed resolution 639-08. That resolution called for the military to take 8 actions to address the potential hazard of DU, including “a complete halt to B-2 bombing missions and to all live-firing exercises and other activities at the Pohakuloa Training Area that create dust until there is an assessment and clean up of the depleted uranium already present.” The seven other actions called for establishing a permanent high tech monitoring system to ensure air quality control; citizen monitoring system to work with the military to assure transparency and community confidence; host quarterly meetings to update and inform the public; ensure permanent funds are available for the monitoring programs; provide a liaison to the County of Hawaii to facilitate communication; provide semiannual reports to the County summarizing DU monitoring , detection, and mitigation efforts; the military shall conduct a search of all records for firing DU at PTA and other Hawaii state military sites and release the information to the public.

To date, it does not appear that any of the actions requested of the military by the Hawaii County Council in July 2008 have been taken by the military.  Why?

   Additional comments by Hawaii Public Health Doctor/researcher, Carol Murry, DrPH:  “the information in the draft brochure concerning the discovery of the use of DU in Hawai’i ignored the fact that the military denied its use for several years.   Despite statements that the Department of Health has no responsibility concerning DU, the DOH is responsible for the health of its citizens and, thus, does have a duty to be involved.  The areas surrounding the military sites where DU was used are vulnerable to exposure and some of the landhas been leased to the military by the state. It appears that the DOH has shared its monitoring methods and results with the NRC and Army, but not its citizens, leading to mistrust.  The section on health effects of DU appears to ignore known health issues and to misstate that the only effect is due to chemical toxicity rather than radiation.  The section on studies done in Hawai’i doesn’t address the issues of those working at Pohakuloa, those traveling the saddle Rd, or downwind vs. the general population of the Big Island.  The section on exposure discusses dust, soil and sediment testing, but not monitoring radiation in the air.  Many will not believe or trust the DOH until it works in partnership with concerned citizens, rather than solely in partnership with the military and the ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry).”

DOH brochure statement: “Given the nature of the spotting rounds, the environmental data indicating a low potential for DU to become airborne, and the distance to populated areas, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry(ATSDR), a federal health agency, concluded that the general population around PTA is not exposed to DU. The Hawaii Department of Health concurs with ATSDR’s conclusion.”

Conclusion of Malu Aina:

ATSDR and the DOH have not presented credible evidence and good science to support the above statement. More research and testing are needed to determine the amount of DU used at Pohakuloa, its dispersal, and possible health impacts to troops, residents, and visitors alike.

Show the community good faith, transparency, credible evidence, good science, respect, and partnership. To date all are lacking.

Mahalo.

Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.orgwww.malu-aina.org

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Aloha Peace Ohana.  We are having a memorial for our sister Moana who passed away on April 21st.  We’ll gather this coming Monday, May 6th from 5 pm to 7pm at Coconut Island.  Her brother Tony is still on the island and will be with us to celebrate Moana.  Hope you can make it. We’ll start with a pule and then anyone who wants to share a few words is welcome to do so.  There are some seats at the island but please feel free to bring a chair to assure your comfort.  Also, we will end with a pot luck so please bring something to share if you can.  And lastly, please bring a flower from nature that we can toss off the bridge into the bay with little wishes for Moana.

Hope To See You Soon, Love To All,
galen
–
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org

Stop

Bombing

Pohakuloa!

Where’s

the Outrage?

    According to military documents up to 14.8 million live rounds are fired annually at the 133,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA), the largest military training area outside the U.S. PTA is located at 6,500 feet elevation in the center of the Hawaii Island. All branches of the U.S. military train at PTA and all sorts of weapon systems are fired there, from small arms to heavy bombers. PTA is contaminated with Depleted Uranium (DU) and other military toxins. Continued live-fire training, frequent high winds, flash flooding, increasing traffic through the area, all risk spreading the contamination.

      On Sunday, April 28^th a cross section and mix of all ages of Big Island residents stood for 2 hours opposite the PTA main gate on Saddle Rd holding signs with a variety of messages –”Stop the Bombing,” “Shut Down PTA,” “Ground the Drones,” “Void the PTA Lease,” etc.  Messages also called for more testing for Depleted Uranium contamination. 

      The protest began with an opening Pule (prayer) and Oli  (chant) ceremony of Ti-leaf blessing of the land and people. We were blessed to have Kupuna “Uncle Sam” Kaleleiki, a 30-year Marine, retired Sergeant Major, join us.  Uncle Sam is now with the Reinstated Lawful Government of the Kingdom of Hawaii.  He had a large plywood sign in front of him that read “End U.S. occupation.” We stood in solidarity with protests taking place globally against U.S. drone bombings in several countries –Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, etc. Shadow and Raven drones, and possibly others, train at PTA.

      There is a drone airfield which can be viewed from Google Earth located close to Mauna Kea State Park –about 1/2 mile south and east of the park between the old and new Saddle Rd.  It should also be noted that the military is attempting to renegotiate a long-term lease with the State of Hawaii for it’s live-fire training base at Pohakuloa.  We need to oppose this illegal lease and the continuing desecration and contamination of Hawaiian Kingdom Crown and Government land.  The State Board of Land & Natural Resources will be addressing the PTA lease in the next few months and we need to speak out in protest.

      Kaho’olawe is a case study of the mess the military makes. It bombed the island for 50 years before protest forced it to be stopped.  Over $400 million dollars was spent to clean up the island but it’s still a mess. There are lots of unexploded bombs on the island.  Pohakuloa is nearly 5 times larger than Kaho’olawe plus it is contaminated with Depleted Uranium. 

Following the protest we had a pot luck lunch at Mauna Kea Park. Our radiation monitor, which we had operating throughout the entire protest picked up 2 spike readings at the park of over 30 counts per minute.  Normal background readings are between 5-20cpm. The winds were coming from the south — from the direction of the training ranges known to be contaminated with DU.We have plenty of work to do to return Pohakuloa to a place of peace and healing.  Please join in this effort.  We need you. We owe it to future generations and the earth itself. As we have said, “We pray that the U.S. not do to others what the U.S. has already done and continues to do to Hawaii: unlawfully occupy its government and nation, desecrate its sacred sites, contaminate its air, land, water, people, plants, and animals with military toxins.”

Return Pohakuloa to a Place of

Peace and Healing!

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622.  Emailja@malu-aina.org   http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (May 3, 2013– 606th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Aloha Peace Ohana,

We had a good protest today at the Military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) in the heart of the Big Island, in solidarity with protests taking place globally against U.S. drones.  Surprisingly, the “Gathering of Eagles,” a right wing pro-war group that usually is there to counter our message, was no where to be seen.  A local friendly Sergeant at the base who came out to greet us, said he appreciates our personal spirit of aloha and respect for all people, even those who disagree with us.  He said the “Eagles” can be mean spirited and insulting.

Our protest began with an opening Pule (prayer) and Oli  (chant) ceremony of Ti-leaf blessing of the land and people by Kanaka Maoli women, Napua and Lia.  It was a beautiful sunny day on the mountain and the spirit of the group was very positive and peaceful.  It was pleasant not to have to endure insults from the “Eagles” shouted from bull horns from across the highway.  We were blessed to have Kupuna “Uncle Sam” Kaleleiki, a 30-year Marine, retired Sergeant Major, join us.  Uncle Sam is now with the Reinstated Lawful Government of the Kingdom of Hawaii.  He had a large plywood sign that read “End U.S. occupation.”

For 2 hours our group of 20 ( a good cross section and mix of all ages) stood opposite the main gate holding signs with a variety of messages: “Stop the Bombing,” “Shut Down PTA,” “Ground the Drones,” “Void the PTA Lease,” etc.  Messages also called for Testing for Depleted Uranium contamination.  We erected a large Hawaiian Flag on a bamboo pole topped with Ti-leaves  to hover above our protest and we placed peace flags along the highway fencing.  There was a lot of support from passing cars.

It should be noted that drones train at the 133,000-acre PTA base.  It has been confirmed that the Shadow and Raven drones train at PTA and possibly other drones as well.  There is a drone airfield which can be viewed from Google Earth located close to Mauna Kea State Park –about 1/2 mile south and east of the park between the old and new Saddle Rd.  It should also be noted that the military is attempting to renegotiate a long-term lease with the State of Hawaii for it’s live-fire training base at Pohakuloa.  We need to oppose this illegal lease and the continuing desecration and contamination of Hawaiian Kingdom Crown and Government land.  Government documents state that up to 14.8 million live-rounds are fired annually at PTA.  The State Board of Land & Natural Resources will be addressing the PTA lease in the next few months and we need to speak up in protest.

Kaho’olawe is an example of the mess the military makes of Hawaii’s land.  It bombed the island for 50 years before protest forced it to be stopped.  Over $400 million dollars was spent to clean up the island but there are still lots of unexploded ordnance on the island.  Pohakuloa is nearly 5 times larger than Kaho’olawe plus it is confirmed to be contaminated with Depleted Uranium (DU).  As we have said, ” We pray that the U.S. not do to others what the U.S. has already done and continues to do to Hawaii: unlawfully occupy its government and nation, desecrate its sacred sites, contaminate its air, land, water, people, plants, and animals with military toxins.”

Following the protest we had a pot luck lunch at Mauna Kea Park. Our radiation monitor, which we had operating throughout the entire time picked up two spike readings at the park of over 30 counts per minute.  Normal background readings are between 5-20cpm. The winds were coming from the south – from the direction of the training ranges known to be contaminated with DU.

Uncle Sam had to leave the pot luck a little early.  He was taking a flight to Maui with his wife‘s ashes for burial.  We are very grateful for him joining us at Pohakuloa.
We have plenty of work to do to return Pohakuloa to a place of peace and healing.  Please join in this effort.  We need you. We owe it to future generations and the earth itself. Mahalo
Jim Albertini