Army won’t participate in balanced public forum on DU
Follow up Press release
for more information contact Jim Albertini 966-7622
FYI Army declines invitation to balance public forum on DU in Keaau On Aug. 30, 2010. The Army will go forward with its one sided, by invitation only, presentation on Aug. 31st at Pohakuloa. That event will be protested. See below.
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
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Pohakuloa Protest
Time: 1-3PM
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 31st
Place: Pohakuloa Training Area Main Gate on Saddle Road
(car pools will leave Hilo promptly at 12 noon from the Bay Front parking lot closest to Hamakua side of Pauahi St./Kamehameha Ave. intersection)
Reason for the protest: the Army has scheduled a presentation on its Depleted Uranium Health Risk Assessment to be held Tuesday, Aug. 31st at 2PM at Pohakuloa.
We object that this presentation is: 1. “By invitation only;” 2. Not balanced with community representatives being given equal time; and 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 Army officials 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.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Fwd: FW: Invitation to Army representatives to DU forum Aug. 30, 2010 in Keaau (UNCLASSIFIED)
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:28:32 +0000
From: <mikeegami@hawaii.rr.com>
To: ja@interpac.net
Jim,
I am forwarding to you from my personal email address. The Army system is giving me a bounceback.
FW: Invitation to Army representatives to DU forum Aug. 30, 2010 in Keaau (UNCLASSIFIED)
Subject:
FW: Invitation to Army representatives to DU forum Aug. 30, 2010 in Keaau (UNCLASSIFIED)
From:
“Egami, Mike T Mr CIV US USA IMCOM” <Mike.Egami@us.army.mil>
Date:
Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:22:23 -1000
To:
“‘mikeegami@hawaii.rr.com'” <mikeegami@hawaii.rr.com>
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO
—–Original Message—–
From: Egami, Mike T Mr CIV US USA IMCOM
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 8:07 AM
To: ‘Jim Albertini’
Subject: RE: Invitation to Army representatives to DU forum Aug. 30, 2010 in
Keaau (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO
Good morning Jim,
Thank you again for inviting the Army to participate in the balanced public
forum on Monday, August 30 at Keeau Community Center. We appreciate the
invitation, but we respectfully decline the invitation to participate.
The Army takes very seriously all issues and public concerns arising from
depleted uranium. The communities health and safety is the top priority,
and with the Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment event at PTA on the 31
Aug, we are committed to addressing public concerns.
The status of the Army’s application to the Nuclear Regulation Commission
for a license to possess and manage residual quantities of depleted uranium
is still pending. We anticipate a determination soon.
Thank you again. We look forward to your attendance at the Baseline Human
Health Risk Assessment event on the August 31 at PTA.
Aloha and regards,
Mike
Mike Egami
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii
Ph. 808 656-3152
Cell Ph. 808 387-8511
How are we doing? Comments welcome at http://tinyurl.com/pao-ice.
—–Original Message—–
From: Jim Albertini [mailto:ja@interpac.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 5:44 PM
To: Egami, Mike T Mr CIV US USA IMCOM; Tadeo, Celso Mr CIV US USA IMCOM
Subject: Invitation to Army representatives to DU forum Aug. 30, 2010 in
Keaau
Mike Egami, Army Public Affairs Oahu
Celso Tadeo, Pohakuloa
Aloha Mike and Celso,
Please forward this invitation to Col. Douglas S. Mulbury, Commander, US
Army Garrison – Hawaii and Lt. Col. Rolland C. Niles, Commander, US Army
Garrison – Pohakuloa, and others involved with DU contamination in Hawaii.
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 and dust devils that blow 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
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
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO
