Submit a question for Hawaii County Mayoral candidates
Bob Duerr of the Big Island Press Club said non $45 lunch goers at the Sept. 21 Yacht club Mayoral forum can submit a question for the Mayoral candidates. Send your question now. No later than Thursday Sept 5th. Send to Nancy at nclauer@gmail.com. In 50 words or less “Write Your Question Directed to Both Hawaii Island Mayor Candidates.”
Here’s my question for Mitch Roth and KImo Alameda:
What are you going to do to prevent Pohakuloa from becoming our Big Island “Red Hill” toxic water disaster, our Lahaina firestorm from bombing and shelling in the dry windy Saddle Area, and all of us on Hawaii Island from becoming nuclear (and other airborne toxic) down winders?
Jim Albertini
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Food NOT Bombs!
Photo: $250,000 Javelin anti-tank missile fired at Pohakuloa while 40% of families on Hawaii Island (33% statewide) are food insecure.
It’s election season and few candidates are talking about the Elephant in the center of Hawaii Island – the Pohakuloa Toxic Area (PTA). Pohakuloa has been bombed and shelled for more than 80 years, Millions of live rounds, from a wide variety of weapon systems, are fired annually at PTA. The US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and foreign countries, bomb and shell Pohakuloa. Many of the weapons fired at PTA contain toxins such as lead, Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation, perchlorate, etc. With continued bombing and shelling in the dry, high-wind Saddle Area, these toxins can be resuspended and blow long distances in the wind.
Since 1975, the US military has admitted to starting 892 wildfires at Pohakuloa from military activities. One fire started in August 2022 (1 year before the Lahaina fire) and burned more than 17,000 acres, including more than 12,000 acres off base in an endangered species habitat. What toxins blow in the dust and smoke coming off PTA?
All Hawaii residents have recently become aware of Navy jet fuel leaks from Red Hill storage tanks contaminating Oahu’s water wells. Thousands have been sickened by fuel in their water. Are military toxins at PTA, located at 6500 feet in the center of our island getting into our water? Pohakuloa spends over a million dollars a year hauling water to the base. More than 10 years ago PTA drilled 2 water wells on the base and hit water at shallow depths – 750 and 1200 feet below the surface. But they are still not using water from those wells? Why? Are military toxins in those PTA water wells? We all know that whatever you do mauka, eventually comes makai. We are all downhill and downwind from PTA. It’s time we demand candidates and elected officials speak out — Stop Bombing and Shut Down Pohakuloa, Cancel, don’t renew, the state military land lease at PTA, Make the military clean up its toxic mess, and return the land to the Hawaiian people. Shift the Trillion dollar US military budget to meet human needs – food, housing, education, healthcare, child & elder care, and addressing the global climate crisis. The US military is the largest consumer of oil and emitter of CO2. No More Wars! In Gaza, in the wider Middle East, with Iran, with Russia, with China. Make the US Empire heel to a new multipolar world of civilized nations! There will be no winners in a nuclear war! Peace is a Victory for All.
Election Candidates: Where Do You Stand?
Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760
Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org to receive our posts. 2 on the planet.
For more information see https://www.malu-aina.org
Aug. 30, 2024, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1196– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office
— Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
Please read the Excellent OHA Sept. 2024 articles on Pohakuloa
pages 14-17 at the links below
https://kawaiola.news/cover/pohakuloa-a-land-besieged/
https://kawaiola.news/aina/the-army-and-pohakuloa/
I’m amazed at how ignorant many Hawaii elected officials are about what’s happening at Pohakuloa.
It’s an indictment of our officials, local news media, and military secrecy about what’s happening in our island’s center. We need fundamental change. Please speak out.
— Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
