Malu 'Aina

May 25, 2018 Press release  on Connections Public Charter School and Pohakuloa Earth Day

By Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action

For Immediate Release  8PM

further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622, email ja@malu-aina.org

The information leaflet below was handed out this afternoon between 1-1:45PM to students and parents at the Connections Public Charter School in downtown Hilo in the Kress Bldg on Kamehameha Ave. Principal John Thatcher (935-2395) and his security team of 5-7 people ordered students not to accept our leaflet as they were leaving school, getting on the school buses, or being picked up by parents.  Security attempted to block our access on the public sidewalk from offering the leaflets.  Still, 4 people associated with Malu ‘Aina were able to hand out a few dozen leaflets to parents, staff and students.  What is the school afraid of?  We were being courteous in our efforts. We would be willing to do educational sessions on the dangers of Depleted Uranium (DU), even inviting Dr. Lorrin Pang. MD retired Army Medical Corps to be part of the presentation for principles, trustees, and parents of Public Charter Schools.

A Public Service Announcement (PSA) was sent out to every school on the island one month in advance of Earth Day events held at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on April 20, 2018.  We do not know if the PSA was shared with students, parents, teachers and staff of Connections.   Additional recent efforts to contact the school by phone and email have gone unanswered so Malu Aina offered information to Connections students and parents today outside the school.

PTA is an 133,000-acre military base contaminated with Depleted Uranium (DU), lead, and other military toxins from more than 70 years of military live-fire training. More than 14 million live-rounds are fired annually at PTA from a wide variety of weapon systems by all branches of the military. Even global strike B-52, B-1 and B-2 strategic bombers fly non stop from Louisiana, Missouri, and Guam to bomb Pohakuloa as practice for nuclear war.

-- 
Jim Albertini, President
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
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To Students, Parents, Teachers and staff of

Connections Public Charter School

Please make the CONNECTIONS on Earth Day field trip to the

Military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA)

*Between Earth Day and Depleted Uranium (DU) oxide contamination at PTA.  Depleted Uranium (DU) is a radioactive material that has been used in weapons firing at Pohakuloa. It has a half-life of 4.5 billion years.

*Between DU oxide and cancer and genetic damage.

*Between possibly being exposed at PTA and the health of children.  At least 3 Connections classes attended the April 20, 2018  “Earth Day” at PTA.  Connections classes also attended the 2017 PTA Earth Day events. On Earth Day 2018, Malu Aina monitors recorded spikes of 68 CPM (Counts per minute) at PTA, which is above background count.

      Please view the short video of Dr. Lorrin Pang, M.D., public health officer and retired Army Medical Corps explaining the health dangers of inhaling DU oxide dust particles (See https://vimeo.com/19153948). As Dr. Pang explains, especially vulnerable are young children and pregnant women.  Dr. Pang says the inhalation of Depleted Uranium (DU) oxide dust particles are “the most deadly form of radiation.” If anyone inhails DU oxide particles those particles can remain in your body for decades causing a wide range of problems including cancer, and genetic damage to future generations. 

      If school administrators don’t take responsibility, it may be up to parents to hold the school liable if their children get sick from DU exposure.

Mahalo. 

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