U.S. Military Propaganda Machine! June 24, 2022 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet
U.S. Military Propaganda Machine!
The Sunday, June 19, 2022, Hawaii Tribune-Herald front-page news article about the military Pohakuloa Toxic Area (PTA) was a classic case of mainstream media pro-war bias that feeds America’s addiction to war. The Pohakuloa article was entitled “With more training, we’re more proficient” – US Army holds artillery, aerial training at PTA.” The article contained lots of photos of troops, ammo, live fire, and a military drone. But not one word about the toxic contamination of air, land, and water, and the danger to people, plants, and animals from the wide range of military toxins, including Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation, etc. used over the past 75 years at PTA. Nor did the article include any comment about the wide range of protests from the community, including recent testimony about ending the military lease of 23,000 acres of state lands at Pohakuloa and the demand for a comprehensive clean-up of the entire 133,000 acres at PTA.
Starting next week, from June 29 to Aug. 4, the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military destructive war games will be taking place in and around Hawaii – in the air, on land, and in the sea. It really amounts to a military invasion and further poisoning of Hawaii involving 26 countries, 25,000 military personnel, 38 ships, 170 aircraft, and 4 submarines. Ships will be bombed, shelled, and sunk in Hawaiian waters, there will be destructive amphibious landings on Hawaiian shores, and usually, Pohakuloa is the target of bombing and live-fire assault. I trust we’ll be seeing another war machine propaganda article soon about “With more training, we’re more proficient.” But training for what? We need to call RIMPAC for what it is – dangerous, provocative, and destructive war games that increase the risk of nuclear war and the extermination of life on the planet. Stay tuned.
In Hawaii and throughout the U.S. the number of people living in poverty, or on the edge of poverty, continues to grow. Affordable housing is hard to find. The number of children going to bed hungry is increasing. Drug overdose deaths surpass 100,000 annually. Inflation soars. Wages are stagnant. The Climate Crisis is escalating. US debt is now $30 TRILLION. Instead of addressing these pressing problems, the US pours more and more funds into militarism. This year more than $800 BILLION. Hawaii and the world are paying a heavy social price for US militarism. Increasing gun violence, and growing unmet human needs in the US are a reflection of this. So too is rising hate, racism, and white supremacy across the US. Where are the voices of elected officials – at the county, state, and Federal levels speaking out for an end to US military madness? Where are our educators and media voices for peace? And what has happened to some people who were a part of the anti-war movement? Where are you today? Are you now cheering on the war in Ukraine and the new McCarthy-era anti-Russian and anti-Chinese hysteria? I agree with Noam Chomsky: “We are living in the most dangerous time in history.” Enough! More war is Not the Answer! Peace, built on a foundation of justice, is a victory for all.
1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination: anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Russian, etc.
5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
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. For more information http://www.malu-aina.org
June 24, 2022, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1082– Fridays 3:30-5PM 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
