Press Release on Pohakuloa Environmental Assessment

Malu Aina 966-7622  ja@malu-aina.org

A  request for a 2 week extension of the public comment period was sent to the Army today and assistance was asked from the offices of Senator Brian Schatz and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

Below is Jim Albertini’s email to the Army

Attn: Lisa Graham usaghi.pao.comrel@us.army.mil US Army EA Public Works Environmental Division Our organization requests an extension of the comment period beyond Aug. 7, 2018 for the EA concerning construction of new buildings at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA). The original publication in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald on July 13, 2018 page A-8 listed a site to view the EA that was not accessible. As far as I know there has been no republication of a correct on-line site for viewing the document. I had to make numerous phone calls to get a correct link to access the site. In addition an Army site link contains a WARNING to my web browser and others that the site is not secure and advises not to go forward. This is not conducive and inviting for public input and should be corrected. I would suggest at least a 2 week extension of the deadline for public comments and a republication in the Big island daily newspapers of an online site for accessing the EA if you really want public input. Mahalo for your consideration. Aloha, — Jim Albertini 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

$210 Million for Military Building at Pohakuloa Training Area

Community Input Needed

      A major $210 million upgrade is planned at the 133,000-acre military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) located in the center of Hawaii Island. PTA is used as a live-fire training area for all branches of the US military, and even other countries as with RIMPAC 2018. From June 27 until Aug. 2, 2018 some 26 nations (including Israel for the first time) will participate in RIMPAC war games on land, sea and air in and around Hawaii.  Participating will be 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.  The war exercises include bombing and shelling the Pohakuloa Training Area in the center of Hawaii Island.

     The 191 page Environmental Assessment (EA) done for the PTA building upgrade is available here oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/Other_TEN_Publications/2018-07-23-HA-NEPA-EA-Draft-FONSI-Pohakuloa-Training-Area-Cantonment-Facilities-Improvement.pdf#search=PTA  Paper copies are suppose to be available at the Hilo, Kona, and Waimea libraries. Deadline for public comments to be received via email or postal mail is Tuesday August 7, 2018 though an extension of time has been requested, but not yet granted. Comments with reasons calling for a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and/or NO action can be submitted via email to Attn: Lisa Graham usaghi.pao.comrel@us.army.mil or sent via US postal mail Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division (IMHW-PWE) Attn: Lisa Graham, 947 Wright Ave. Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857-5013.

      The $210 million upgrade at PTA includes the demolition and replacing 123 buildings. Nothing in the current EA addresses the wide range of military toxins, including radioactive Depleted Uranium oxide particles (DU oxide) which have been used in the 75 years of bombing and other live-fire at PTA. There needs to be comprehensive, independent testing and monitoring for DU oxide and other military toxins at these PTA buildings which are adjacent to the newly improved Saddle Rd. The EA does not make clear the land status of the building area. Is it leased lands, approximately 23,000-acres (lease DA-94-626-ENG-80due to expire in 2029) Presidential Executive Order #11167 (approximately 84,000-acre) seized land, Governor’s Executive Order #1719 (approximately 800-acres) seized lands, or lands more recently purchased from Parker Ranch – approximately 23,000-acres.

      More information in recent years has become available about the US illegal overthrow and continuing illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom. No treaty of Annexation of Hawaii exists. Therefore, would not Presidential and Governor Executive Orders and leases of illegally seized Hawaiian Kingdom lands also be illegal?

Free Hawaii! De-Militarize and De-Occupy Hawaii 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, 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/

August 3, 2018 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet — 880th week – Fridays 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

On 7/29/2018 7:37 PM, Jim Albertini wrote:

STOP BOMBING HAWAII!

For people, plants, and animals, air, land and sea!

PROTEST

Wednesday, Aug. 1^st

10AM – 12 Noon

Pohakuloa Main Gate

Carpools leave Hilo 9AM. Meet at Komohana & Saddle Rd.

From June 27 until Aug. 2, 2018 some 26 nations (including Israel for the first time) will participate in RIMPAC war games on land, sea and air in and around Hawaii.  Participating will be 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.  The war exercises include bombing and shelling the Pohakuloa Training Area in the center of Hawaii Island.

Please pass the word! Mahalo.

For more information 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/

STOP BOMBING HAWAII!

For people, plants, and animals, air, land and sea!

PROTEST

Wednesday, Aug. 1^st

10AM – 12 Noon

Pohakuloa Main Gate

Carpools leave Hilo 9AM. Meet at Komohana & Saddle Rd.

From June 27 until Aug. 2, 2018 some 26 nations (including Israel for the first time) will participate in RIMPAC war games on land, sea and air in and around Hawaii.  Participating will be 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.  The war exercises include bombing and shelling the Pohakuloa Training Area in the center of Hawaii Island.

Please pass the word! Mahalo.

For more information 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/

Aloha kakou,

I was in Hilo this AM (Wednesday, July 25, 2018) to make copies of this weeks peace vigil leaflet, etc.  Afterward, I went to the the following:

1. county council hearing on the Hamakua Community Development Plan.  Since Pohakuloa is in the Hamakua District, I put on record –the leaflet on DU Human Experimentation, notice of new Pohakuloa construction and calling for independent investigation of possible DU contamination as well as lead, asbestos, etc.  before demolition of old buildings, and the protest flyer for Aug. 1 (all below)
2. Ran into Blake Watson of Councilwoman Jen Ruggles office so gave him a set of above and also alerted him to county council reso 639-08 that passed on July 2, 2008 calling for stopping all live fire at PTA and 7 other actions, none of which have been done.
3. Delivered the same 3 documents to the Mayor’s office, Parks and Rec that manages Mauna Kea Park, and County Prosecutor Mitch Roth’s office alerting them to the fact that on numerous occasions we have detected high radiation spike readings outside of PTA, and at Mauna Kea Park which is now in County hands.  Spoke to staff in all of the above

Jim

— Jim Albertini 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

Military Pohakuloa Bombing:

Unethical DU Human Experimentation

      The 133,000-acre Military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA), located in the center of Hawaii island is contaminated with Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation and a wide range of military toxins from 75 years of live-fire training by all branches of the US military and training by foreign countries. High Explosives turns DU metal into DU oxide dust particles that can be carried long distances by the wind and when inhaled is the most deadly form of radiation (causing cancers and genetic damage) according to Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD, MPH who spent 24 years in the Army Medical Corps. Dr. Pang gave a community presentation on July 9, 2018 on “DU Human Experimentation.” where he compared the military bombing of DU contaminated Pohakuloa to unethical human experimentation condemned by the Nuremberg war crime trials following WWII for which some Nazis were hung. A video of his presentation DU & Unethical Human Experimentation can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwlrPvieTB4 Dr. Pang’s Power Point slides can be viewed here http://malu-aina.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/DU-Human-Experimentation.pdf

      According to the Nuremberg principles, if experiments have known bad effects and are still carried out that constitutes a crime. If there is doubt, bad effects are not intentional, or those conducting the experiments think they are safe, the experiments still require informed consent, both individual and community consent. There can be no coercion. And the individual has the right to opt out. The majority (community) cannot over rule the individual, and national security, science, etc. cannot be used to override the right of informed consent.

      Citizen radiation monitoring has detected radiation spikes well above background radiation levels outside PTA on many occasions, including Mauna Kea Park, where many who travel the improved Saddle Road stop for picnics, use the restrooms and the children’s play area. DU has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. Please view Dr. Pang’s short video https://vimeo.com/19153948 on the health dangers of inhaling DU oxide dust particles. Once inhaled DU oxide particles stay in the body for decades.

Where is the Informed Consent? Stop the Bombing!

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/

July 27, 2018 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet — 879th week – Fridays 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Testimony needed on Pohakuloa new construction

Published by jalbertini on July 24th, 2018 in Hawaii Independence, Military, Pohakuloa, Public Events, Radiation, Social Justice, Take Action!.

Major construction planned for the military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA)

Link for EA at Pohakuloa $210 million in new construction

Deadline for comments is Aug. 7^th. I would think at a minimum, before any demolition of those 123 existing buildings, there should be an independent thorough check for DU and other toxins from 75 years of military live-fire. Especially since we recorded numerous above background radiation readings just outside the main gate over the past 10 years. There should be a full EIS not simply an EA. There are lots of issues that should be addressed. But the biggest issue is that Pohakuloa is stolen lands and Pohakuloa is part of illegal US occupation.

See the draft EA here

http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/Other_TEN_Publications/2018-07-23-HA-NEPA-EA-Draft-FONSI-Pohakuloa-Training-Area-Cantonment-Facilities-Improvement.pdf#search=PTA
—
Comments should be sent to usaghi.pao.comrel@us.army.mil

or Directorate of PublicWorks, Environmental Division (IMHW-PWE), attn: Lisa Graham 947 Wright Ave. Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857-5013

Mahalo. Jim Albertini

STOP BOMBING HAWAII!

For people, plants, and animals, air, land and sea, and FOR SOVEREIGNTY!

PROTEST

Wednesday, Aug. 1^st

10AM – 12 Noon

Pohakuloa Main Gate

Carpools leave Hilo 9AM. Meet at Komohana & Saddle Rd.

From June 27 until Aug. 2, 2018 some 26 nations (including Israel for the first time) will participate in RIMPAC war games on land, sea and air in and around Hawaii.  Participating will be 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.  The war exercises include bombing and shelling the Pohakuloa Training Area in the center of Hawaii Island.

Please pass the word! Mahalo.

For more information 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/

Important quote for peace action

“Of course, let us have peace, we cry, “but at the same time let us have normalcy, let us lose nothing, let our lives stand intact, let us know neither prison, nor ill repute nor disruption of ties…”  Because we want peace with half a heart and half a life and will, the war, of course, continues, because the waging of war, by its nature, is total but the waging of peace … is partial.”

From the late Peace activist Father Daniel Berrigan

Major construction planned for the military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA)

Link for EA at Pohakuloa $210 million in new construction

Deadline for comments is Aug. 7^th. I would think at a minimum, before any demolition of those 123 existing buildings, there should be an independent thorough check for DU and other toxins from 75 years of military live-fire. Especially since we recorded numerous above background radiation readings just outside the main gate over the past 10 years. The should be a full EIS not simply an EA. There are lots of issues that should be addressed. But the biggest issue is that Pohakuloa is stolen lands and Pohakuloa is part of illegal US occupation.

See the draft EA here

http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/Other_TEN_Publications/2018-07-23-HA-NEPA-EA-Draft-FONSI-Pohakuloa-Training-Area-Cantonment-Facilities-Improvement.pdf#search=PTA
—
Comments should be sent to usaghi.pao.comrel@us.army.mil

or Directorate of PublicWorks, Environmental Division (IMHW-PWE), attn: Lisa Graham 947 Wright Ave. Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857-5013

Mahalo. Jim Albertini