U.S. Military Arrogance at Pohakuloa, etc.
U.S. Military Arrogance is Hard to Top!
Army wants Categorical Exclusion from Radiation Monitoring
and Clean Up at Military Sites
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced that the Army wants a “Categorical Exclusion” (CATX) to the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements for its use of Depleted Uranium (DU) on military bases, including Pohakuloa and other sites in Hawaii. In short, the military does not want to do any air, water, or soil sampling or monitoring to determine the full extent of the radiation contamination, nor does it want to do any clean up. In fact it wants to continue to conduct high explosive training (bombing, shelling, etc.) in areas known to be contaminated. Such blatant disregard for the health and safety of its own troops and the surrounding civilian residential communities, and visitors to Hawaii, is hard to top.
DU was first used in Hawaii beginning in the early 1960s with a spotting round for the nuclear weapons system known as “Davy Crockett.” More than 2000 DU spotting rounds may have been fired at Pohakuloa alone. Others were fired at Schofield Barracks, and possibly Makua Valley on Oahu. The U.S. also fired Davy Crockett DU spotting rounds in 13 other states and 3 foreign countries. Today DU is used in a wide variety of weapons for armor piercing and bunker busting. It was used by the U.S. in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and possibly other countries. It results in radiation contamination that is long lived. DU has a half life of 4.5 billion years. It’s health hazard is mainly from inhalation of small dust particles that can lodge in the lungs and get into the lymph system causing cancer and other health problems.
In 2008 the Hawaii County Council passed resolution 639-08 by a vote of 8 to 1 which called for stopping all live fire at Pohakuloa and clean up of the DU present at Pohakuloa. The military has ignored the Council’s voice. State and Congressional legislators have done little or nothing to take on this issue to protect public health. So it’s business as usual.
Clarence Kūkauakahi Ching and Mary Maxine Kahaulelio have filed suit against the State of Hawaii for it’s failure to protect public trust lands leased to the military at Pohakuloa, The case is pending and the military is trying to renegotiate a long term lease of lands at Pohakuloa beyond the current lease expiration of 2029. In total, the military controls 133,000-acres of land at Pohakuloa and fires upwards of 14 million live rounds annually there according to military documents.
It’s time for action at all levels –grassroots people power, county, state and federal, to stop the bombing. Enough is enough. No more destruction and desecration. Cancel the military lease. Military clean-up not build up needs to happen. Return the land to the Hawaiian people and the Hawaii nation.
Aloha ‘Aina! Stop the Bombing!
For Justice, Peace, and the Planet!
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.
Contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org
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Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Aug. 28, 2015 – 727th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
