Malu 'Aina

DEPLETED URANIUM FORUM

Human Health Risk Assessment of Military Training at Pohakuloa

Time- 7-9PM
Date: Monday, Aug. 30th
Place: Keaau Community Center

Army representatives have been invited to make a 30 minute presentation followed by a 30 minute presentation from community representatives.
(The Aug. 30th DU forum will go on whether or not the Army accepts Malu ‘Aina’s invitation to participate.  The Army promised transparency.  We’re still waiting.)

Public testimony and Q & A will follow.
Free Admission!  The public is invited!

Background:  The Army admits to using Depleted Uranium (DU) at Schofield Barracks on Oahu and the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) in the center of Hawaii Island.  How many radioactive rounds have been fired is not clear.  Hundreds at a minimum, perhaps thousands.
Although the Army has previously denied any adverse health effects related to DU,  the Army now says that “Depleted Uranium particles can be ingested from the soil or inhaled by airborne dust that may cause adverse health effects.”

Sponsored by Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760.

Phone 808-966-7622 email ja@interpac.net   www.malu-aina.org

HAWAI’I:

50TH OR FAKE STATE?

Aug. 21st marks the 51st anniversary of Hawai’i allegedly becoming the 50th State of the U.S.  The long history of misinformation goes like this:  in 1898 Hawai’i was annexed to the U.S. thus making Hawai’i a territory.  In 1959 Hawai’i, after first becoming a territory of the U.S., then became a state.

That history is a fraud.  International law says annexation to be legal must be by mutual agreement.   Annexation of Hawai’i was not mutual and therefore not legal.  In truth, Hawai’i has been under U.S. occupation since 1898.

There are those that say Hawai’i statehood was voted by a 9 to 1 majority.  The fact is the 1959 statehood vote was built on more than 6 decades of illegal U.S. occupation, misinformation, and a vast in migration of a U.S. settler population.  If the so-called annexation of Hawai’i was illegal in 1898, it doesn’t matter if the vote was 99-1 for statehood in 1959.  Stolen property is still stolen property.  Dr. Keanu Sai writes, “The challenge for …the fields of political science, history, and law is to distinguish between the rule of law and the politics of power.  In the history of Hawai’i, the might of the U.S. does not make it right.”  Nor does time erase the wrong.

Just because a vast majority of U.S.citizens initially supported the illegal U.S. wars and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, it didn’t make the illegal wars and occupations any less illegal.  Actually similar impulses lead to the occupation of Hawai’i, Afghanistan and Iraq.  In Hawai’i’s case the business interest was sugar .  In Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s oil and pipelines.  Expanding empire and military global positioning are also contributing factors to the ongoing occupations.

If we want genuine peace, we need to work for justice.  Justice and peace in Hawai’i means supporting….

Hawai’i Independence from U.S. Occupation!

As further symptoms of U.S. military occupation, within the next two weeks there are scoping meetings about Marine and Navy expanded operations and an Army closed door meeting about depleted uranium radiation contamination in Hawai’i.  For details see www.malu-aina.org

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

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Aug. 20, 2010 – 466th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Please email or call government officials and candidates and urge action.  Mahalo. Jim

Dear government officials and candidates,

Please help citizen voices be heard!  Please urge that public speaking be allowed on the following actions, by contacting military officials beforehand, and/or by attending relevant events in person:

1.  MARINE AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS bringing  about 1000 active duty personnel,1000 dependents,
40 aircraft, and extensive construction.
2.  NAVY SONAR, EXPLOSIVES, GUNNERY, AND SHIP-SINKING near Hawai’i and California.
3. ARMY DEPLETED URANIUM (DU) Human Health Risk Assessment.

No public speaking will apparently be allowed at these events, despite the tremendous amount of land, ocean, and airspace put to military use in Hawai’i, the severity of impacts to our environment and to native Hawaiian culture, and the plans for continued military expansion. It is important that the community  be given an opportunity to speak and hear the concerns expressed by the community.  To deny that public hearing is to disempower the community.

Details follow. Mahalo for your consideration.
Jim Albertini
Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O.Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760
phone: 808-966-7622 email: JA@interpac.net  Visit us on the web at: www.malu-aina.org

MARINE AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS scoping meetings–

HILO  August 24, 5-8 pm, Hilo High School Cafeteria, 556 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo
WAIKOLOA  August 25, 4-7 pm, Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School Cafeteria,68-1730 Ho’oko Street, Waikoloa
KANE’OHE August 26, 5-8 pm, King Intermediate School Cafeteria,46-155 Kamehameha Hwy
MOLOKA’I August 28, 2010, 1-4 pm,Kaunakakai Elementary School Library, Ailoa Street
WAIMANALO  August 30, 5-8 pm,Waimānalo Elementary & Intermediate School Cafeteria
CONTACT–mv22h1eis@beltcollins.com  (808) 472-1196
Department of the Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Attn: EV21, MV-22/H-1
EIS Project Manager258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100 Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134

NAVY SONAR, EXPLOSIVES, GUNNERY, AND SHIP-SINKING scoping meetings–

KAUA’I  August 24, 4-8 pm, Kauai Community College Cafeteria, 3-1901 Kaumualii Highway, Lihue
HONOLULU August 25, 4-8 pm, Keehi Lagoon, Disabled American Veterans Hall – Weinberg Hall, 2685 North Nimitz Highway
HILO August 26, 4 -8 pm, Hilo High School Cafeteria, 556 Waianuenue Ave, Hilo
MAUI August 27, 4-8 pm, Maui Waena Intermediate School Cafeteria, 795 Onehee Ave, Kahului
CONTACT— http://www.hstteis.com/GetInvolved/OnlineCommentForm.aspx
Mr. Kent Randall – HSTT EIS/OEIS Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest
1220 Pacific Highway, Building 1, Floor 5 San Diego, CA, 92132

DEPLETED URANIUM Human Health Risk Assessment presentation for invited guests only–

POHAKULOA August 31, 2 pm
CONTACT Mike Egami, Army Public Affairs 808-656-3152
–Celso Tadeo (808) 969-2401/2402 celso.tadeo@us.army.mil

Don’t forget to mark your calendars: Colonel (Ret.) Ann Wright to speak Monday, Aug. 16th 7PM in Hilo at Ka Huina Gallery, at the corner of Mamo & Keawe Sts.  The theme of her talk is “Eyewitness to History –Israel’s attack on the Gaza Flotilla.”  Please help pass the word!  Mahalo.  Free Admission.
******************************

Support Alleged Whistleblower Bradley Manning

(Graphic & Photo of Bradley Manning)

On July 6, 2010, Private Bradley Manning, a 22 year old intelligence analyst with the United States Army in Baghdad, was charged with disclosing this video (see http://collateralmurder.com/). The whistleblower behind the Vietnam era’s Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg, has called Mr. Manning a hero. ”I admire the courage of Bradley Manning for sacrificing himself to make the public aware of the futility of the war…” says Ellsberg. Manning is currently imprisoned in the brig at Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia.

Manning faces 52 years in prison for exposing war crimes.

James M. Branum, an attorney that works with Oklahoma Center for Conscience (OCC) on military law cases, calls the Pentagon’s treatment of Manning “extreme” and designed to set up the case “as an example of the punishment waiting for others who would consider exposing violations of military regs and international law.” “We are saying that exposing war crimes is not a crime,” he said.  Writing a letter to Bradley is one step in attempting to break his isolation.  Mail to: Inmate Bradley Manning: TFCF, APO AE 09366; USA

We need whistleblowers who will expose the full truth about illegal depleted uranium (DU) radiation used by the military in Hawai’i.

Stop The Wars!   Bring the Troops Home Now!

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 Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760. Phone (808) 966-7622.

Email ja@interpac.net http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (August 13, 2010 – 465th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Press Release:  Army invited to PUBLIC community forum on Depleted Uranium Monday Aug. 30th in Keaau
further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622  ja@interpac.net

Below is a copy of a letter of invitation mailed today to Pohakuloa Commander Lt. Col. Rolland C. Niles from Malu ‘Aina.
Email versions were sent to Celso Tadeo at Pohakuloa (celso.tadeo@us.army.mil)  and Mike Egami, Army Public Affairs officer on Oahu  (Mike.Egami@us.army.mil) with a request that the invitation be extended up the chain of command to Col. Douglas S. Mulbury. Commander, US Army Garrison – Hawaii.  The Aug. 30th DU forum will go on whether or not the Army accepts Malu ‘Aina’s invitation to participate.  “The Army promised transparency.  We’re still waiting,” said 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@interpac.net
Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org

August 14, 2010

Lieutenant Colonel Rolland C. Niles
Commander, US Army Garrison – Pohakuloa
P.O. Box 4607
Hilo, Hawaii 96720-0607

Dear Lieutenant Colonel Niles:

Aloha and welcome to our Island home.

We invite the Army to participate in a BALANCED PUBLIC FORUM on Deleted Uranium Health Risk Assessment.  Monday, Aug. 30th from 7-9PM at the Keaau Community Center.  The Army is invited to start the evening off with a 30 minute presentation followed by a 30 minute presentation from community representatives.  Public testimony and Moderated Q & A will follow.  The event is free and THE PUBLIC IS INVITED.
Please R.S.V.P. by August 23 to our organization which is the sponsor of the event. Contact information is listed below.

We are aware that the Army has scheduled a presentation on the Depleted Uranium Health Risk Assessment for PTA to be held Tuesday, Aug. 31st at 2PM at Pohakuloa Training Area.
We object that this presentation is:
1. “By invitation only”
2.  Not balanced with community representatives being given equal time
3.  Held at PTA instead of in the community (preferably forums in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and Na’alehu).  The winds, dust devils, and vehicles that travel through Pohakuloa travel around this island.  Everyone on this island is potentially at risk from military radiation contamination at Pohakuloa.

We appeal to you to come out of your bunker, your “Green Zone” on Hawaii Island, and meet and treat the people of this island with respect.  Democracy is not by invitation only.  Furthermore, it is we civilians who are paying for the military budget, including your salaries.

Mahalo for your consideration.

Jim Albertini
President