Massive Military Toxic Burn Pit possible with Mauna Loa lava flow
Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 4PM
If the Mauna Loa Lava flow moves further west into the main portion of the Military Pohakuloa Training Area — there is the potential for a massive military toxic burn pit spread of contamination.
The Mauna Loa lava flow is still heading north toward Saddle Rd. If the flow continues, at some point it will turn either right (east toward Hilo) or left (west toward the main portion of the Pohakuloa Military base). It will not continue north — uphill toward Mauna Kea. Actually, the flow is already in the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) base on the easternmost portion of the 133,000-acre base approximately 2 miles from the Saddle Rd. and a little over 3 miles from the 55,000-acre “Impact Area” of the base where tens of millions of live rounds have been fired over the past 75 years. All sorts of weapon systems, both ground and air have been used at PTA, containing a wide range of high explosives and toxins, including lead, Depleted Uranium (DU), etc. If a lava flow enters this impact area, it could create a very large military toxic burn pit. Toxic fumes could endanger military personnel, and residents and visitors of Hawaii Island, and perhaps beyond Hawaii Island. In such an event, there should be extensive independent (not military) air monitoring for toxic particulate matter, and advance warning for evacuations. Allowing the military to do the monitoring would be like letting the fox be in charge of the hen house.
Depleted Uranium metal when hit with high explosives burns and turns into small Depleted Uranium oxide particles that can be easily inhaled. These particles once inside the body can cause various cancers and birth defects affecting generations to come.
Watch the short 14 min video on Pohakuloa –Now that you know, do you care? to learn the serious hazards of Depleted Uranium. Click on the link https://vimeo.com/94598875
Jim Albertini
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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
The lava viewing area closed due to military grenade found
Lava parking area temporarily closed after discovery of unexploded ordinance
Jim Albertini said “Not surprising in the least. To all who drove the old Saddle Rd., remember the signs “Caution–Live Fire Overhead.” There is a lot worse military Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) than a possible grenade. Lots of toxins too, including Depleted Uranium (radiation) rounds have been fired at Pohakuloa.
See the Pohakoloa fact sheet below and especially watch the short 14 min video –“Pohakuloa: Now that you know, do you care?”
https://vimeo.com/94598875
-- 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
Stop Bombing
Pohakuloa Toxic Area (PTA)
Pohakuloa is NOT safe for soldiers, residents, and visitors to Hawaii Island. The area has been bombed for 75 years with a wide range of toxins, including lead, Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation, etc. Millions of live rounds are fired annually. The multiple toxins are resuspended in the air by high explosives and can be carried long distances in the wind. Everyone on Hawaii Island is downhill, downwind, and downstream of PTA’s toxins. Whatever happens mauka comes makai. PTA is Hawaii Island’s Red Hill and Camp Lejeune! Stop the Bombing! Cancel the State Lease! Shut Down Pohakuloa! Clean Up the military mess and return the land to the Hawaiian people! ENOUGH!
The Military Pohakuloa Toxic (Training) Area, located in the center of Hawaii Island at 6500 feet elevation totals 133,000 acres, or more than 200 square miles in size. That’s as big as the island of Guam. PTA has been used as a live fire training area since WWII by all branches of the military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and foreign troops too. Much of what goes on up at PTA is secret – training for nuclear war, assassination drone training, B-2 and B-52 bombing runs, the long list of various munitions used over the years, and even the number of live rounds fired annually. The last figure released nearly 2 decades ago was 14.8 million live rounds are fired annually at PTA.
The military leases 23,000 acres of Hawaiian crown and government lands from the State DLNR at Pohakuloa for a total cost of ONE DOLLAR for 65 years. The military is now trying to get that lease renewed. The current lease expires in 2029. 84,000 additional acres at PTA were simply seized in 1964 by a presidential executive order of Lyndon B. Johnson at ZERO cost. The military claims the 84,000 acres are “Federally owned land.” That’s like someone stealing your car and claiming they now own it. See Presidential Executive Order #11167 https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-11167-setting-aside-for-the-use-the-united-states-certain-public-lands-and
See Attached State DLNR criticism of PTA lease PTA DLNR comment doc.pdf
See Pohakuloa 14 minute video “Now That You Know, Do You Care? https://vimeo.com/94598875
If you believe you have suffered harmful health effects connected to the Pohakuloa Toxic Area, contact our organization listed below.
Cancel, Don’t Renew, PTA State Land Lease!
Return Federally Seized Lands!
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
November 18, 2022, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1103– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office
