Dangerous War Escalation in Syria

Inching Closer & Closer to Major War, Including Nuclear War 

What is the U.S. Doing?

      This week a U.S. F-18 fighter jet shot down a Syrian government warplane in Syria, in a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty, and international law. Only the U.S. can destroy another State’s plane in THEIR own country and call it “Self-defense” – See more at:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/47280.htm#sthash.0P7RiOWb.dpuf

      Under the U.S. guise of ‘fighting terrorism” the U.S. is backing terrorists in an attempt to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Today the entire region is in chaos. Just look at countries where the U.S. has intervened: Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etc. But things could get much worse and fast. This most recent act of U.S. military aggression in Syria is bound to escalate tensions in an already dangerous international situation with Syria, Russia, and Iran. U.S. signals intent to occupy and divide Syria http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/47276.htm U.S. Sec. Of State Rex Tillerson admits that the U.S. is working on regime change in Iran. https://popularresistance.org/rex-tillerson-admits-us-working-towards-regime-change-in-iran/

      According to the Associated Press, “Russia says it will treat US-led coalition planes in Syria, west of the Euphrates, as targets after US downed Syrian jet.”

      Given the unstable nature of U.S. President, Donald Trump, there is growing concern that he could escalate matters further to divert attention from the widening investigations against him at home. Either by accident, miscalculation, or design, the situation could quickly escalate to a widening war involving countries with nuclear weapons.

See https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/06/19/russia-us-warplanes-west-euphrates-syria-now-legitimate-targets?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=email_this&utm_source=email

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/47268.htm

U.S. Russia Collision http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/47275.htm

Diplomacy Not War!

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 peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org

Sign up on our website to receive our posts  http://www.malu-aina.org/

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet June 23, 2017– 822nd week – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Here are email addresses for letters to the editor  I just sent the letter below.  Both the Hawaii Tribune Herald and West Hawaii Today carried an article 6/16/17 about the NRC denying our petition for a hearing, but didn’t say anything about the danger of inhaling DU oxide dust particles.  I don’t know about the Honolulu Star-Advertiser if it covered the NRC ruling.

Hilo –Hawaii Tribune Herald      letters@hawaiitribune-herald.com

Kona — West Hawaii Today     letters@westhawaiitoday.com

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser      letters@staradvertiser.com

Letter to the editor

License to Poison

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) actions of June 13, 2017 denied Big Island residents a hearing about the dangers of inhaling Depleted Uranium (DU) oxide dust particles from military radiation at the 133,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area.  These particles can be dispersed and carried long distance from PTA by the wind, military high explosives and other activity at PTA that creates dust.  Neither the military, nor the NRC, want to deal with this main hazard of inhalation of DU oxide dust particles.  They only talk about there being no external radiation hazard  which is not really an issue with DU. The NRC and military actions fail to protect troops, residents, and visitors health and safety.  In short, the NRC has issued the military a license to poison us.  The military “mission” and efforts to avoid liability trumps all.  Troops, residents, and visitors are being treated as lab rats for military experiments.  Whatever happened to informed consent.   I encourage everyone to view the short video by Hawaii Doctor Lorrin Pang, MD explaining the health dangers of inhaling DU oxide dust particles and judge for yourself if there are health dangers.  See the video here

https://vimeo.com/19153948)

-- 
Jim Albertini, one of the NRC petitioners and president of 
Malu 'Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489
Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
Phone 808-966-7622
email ja@malu-aina.org
visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
sign up on our website to automatically receive our posts

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DEPLETED URANIUM HEARING DENIED

Hilo, Hawai’i, June 14, 2017

Four Hawai’i Island residents are expressing disappointment in a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) decision to deny them a hearing on the Army license for depleted uranium (DU) at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA). The residents raised numerous concerns about Army studies and monitoring plans.

Jim Albertini said, “Citizen radiation monitors on numerous occasions have detected radiation levels three to four times background levels in public areas around PTA….How much DU oxide dust is being dispersed from Pohakuloa is unknown.”

 Cory Harden said “Records point to about 2,000 DU spotting rounds used at PTA, but only a few fragments have been found. Only 1,000 acres of the 51,000-acre PTA impact area were surveyed for DU. Concerns raised by professionals outside the Army and NRC were largely ignored.”

 Ruth Aloua and Hāwane Rios said, “We are Kanaka Maoli that live within five miles of PTA in Waikiʻi Ranch. We have used the citizen radiation monitors at the farm during live-fire trainings and recorded radiation spikes of 62 counts per minute. If we are getting these readings here, what is happening to the rest of the island? In 2008 the Hawaii County Council approved Resolution 639-08 urging for comprehensive independent testing and monitoring to determine the extent of radioactive contamination of Pōhakuloa. The conditions of this resolution still havenʻt been met and the concerns of the community have not been addressed. There is a need for in-depth, long term, independent air monitoring of DU and, tragically, this is being blatantly and strategically ignored.We demand accountability, truth, and action. We are not afraid, we will not be silenced, and we are not defeated. The people deserve answers and Pōhakuloa deserves justice. Aloha ʻĀina! ”

 The four say they will continue to seek resolution for unanswered questions about  DU hazards.

Cory Harden, 808-959-7747, 333cory@gmail.com

License to Poison!

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fails to Protect Troops, Residents, and Visitors from Military Radiation on Hawaii Island

      On June 13, 2017, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) denied a hearing request about Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation dangers at the 133,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) located in the center of Hawaii island. Concerns raised by Big island petitioners Ruth Aloua, Hawane Rios, Cory Harden and Jim Albertini involved the danger of inhaling Depleted Uranium (DU) oxide dust particles dispersed by winds and high explosives. This applies to the health and safety of troops who train at Pohakuloa, residents and visitors alike. Other concerns included contamination of water, sacred sites, plants and animals. The NRC located in Rockville, Maryland said we who live on Hawaii island have “NO Standing” about military radiation in the center of our Island. Ruth and Hawane are Kanaka Maoli who live and farm only a few miles from Pohakuloa. If they don’t have standing, who does? Petitioner Jim Albertini said it appears that the military “mission” trumps all. We are being treated as lab rats for military experiments. What ever happened to inform consent.”

      Albertini said “I have come to see the so called Nuclear Regulators much like Bank Regulators.  They are insiders and rubber stamps of the industries they are suppose to be regulating.  The fact is, there is little or no regulation. There has been no comprehensive study to determine the full extent of Depleted Uranium contamination and other military toxins on PTA and no comprehensive studies to determine what is coming off the base.  Citizen radiation monitors, on numerous occasions, have detected radiation levels 3-4 times background levels in public areas around PTA. More needs to be done.  I ask fellow citizens to view the short video by Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD explaining the health dangers of inhaling DU oxide dust particles and judge for yourself if there are health dangers.   See

https://vimeo.com/19153948)

      Nearly 9 years ago, on July 2, 2008, the Hawaii County Council passed resolution 639-08 which called for stopping all live fire at Pohakuloa, comprehensive testing and monitoring, and clean up of the DU present at Pohakuloa.  The military has ignored the Council’s voice.

      The military bombing Pohakuloa known to be contaminated with Depleted Uranium and other military toxins is not defense training. It is criminal reckless endangering. War Crimes! The NRC has placed the military mongoose in charge of the hen house. In short, the military has been issued an NRC license to poison. How much DU oxide dust is being dispersed from Pohakuloa is unknown. Hold your breath. The answer is blowing in the wind.

Stop Bombing Hawaii!

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 peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org

Sign up on our website to receive our posts  http://www.malu-aina.org/

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet June 16, 2017– 821st week – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

NRC letter attached–conclusion:

“We deny the hearing requests and dismiss the petitions of Petitioners Albertini, Harden,

Rios, and Aloua for lack of standing and failure to proffer an admissible contention…

Any Petitioner may appeal this decision to the Commission, pursuant to 10 C.F.R. § 2.311,”

within 25 days of service of this Memorandum and Order.

ISSUE DU 2017 6-13 NRC to petitioners