June 28, 2002
Quality Integrity Accountability
DoD Environmental Community
Involvement Programs at Test
and Training Ranges
(D-2002-122)
Policy and Guidance
DoD test and training ranges were not provided adequate guidance to develop
comprehensive community involvement programs. No DoD policies or
environmental laws discuss the essential elements of a comprehensive
community involvement program.
Existing Policy. DoD and Service policies do not incorporate all of the
elements necessary for a comprehensive community involvement program. The
most comprehensive DoD policy that currently exists is DoD Directive 5410.18,
“Public Affairs Community Relations Policy,” November 20, 2001; however,
DoD Directive 5410.18 focuses on establishing authority and assigning
responsibilities for public affairs offices. These responsibilities are concentrated
on promotional events that provide one-way communication and do not address
community involvement elements.
Environmental Laws Requiring Community Involvement. Environmental
laws exist that require community involvement to varying degrees. Many of the
existing laws and acts require public feedback or comments regarding
environmental issues. Although these laws involve the public with
environmental actions, the laws do not address a comprehensive community
involvement program.
Draft Directive. The outreach working group, formed by the Defense Test and
Training Steering Group, has been developing an outreach directive,
“Coordination and Outreach for Sustainable Ranges and Operating Areas,”
since September 2001. The purpose of the directive is to establish policy and
assign responsibilities for implementing community involvement. The directive
will support sustainable management of ranges and operating areas within DoD.
The directive will require national, regional, and local coordination for
community involvement programs to promote sustainable range management
and encroachment issue resolution. The directive will also require community
involvement programs to include strategy, implementation mechanisms, and
performance metrics.
With a little bit of research one can find this article in PDF form. It is worth reading.
Replies
In the early 70s, a lot of us were new to the movement and still feeling the effects of George Helm, we met constantly. I must admit I knew very little but just knew that things were happening. Mnay of us were standing up in our communities as Na Kanaka and meeting with each other to discuss the latest confrontation. Those confrontations were evictions, language loss, human loss, food access no more things were happening state wide.
One of the places that we did meet and had to stay overnight for the discussions were long was --Makua. I passed Makua when it was forested, and than I passed again when it was set on fire as a contained fire by the military. Almost the entire valley was set on fire by the military--I don't have a picture of it just a memory. I did not stay too long because of the burning and too smokey.
Besides, we were filled with all sorts of issues and very difficult to hold on to all without it spilling into each others issues. Sot the talks were long and some people that were on drugs (paka) could talk endlessly. I was very silent and quiet. Hard to believe, Huh?
Water, evictions, and lots of authority abuses went on many Na Kanaka working for the other side too. The same stuff, but what is differnt today, is the intensity of the authority abuse and the letting go of our integrity for a few bucks and social friendship. The direct cruelty exist by our own people.
The intensity of abuse to children and their ohana. I am embarrased everytime I go to a community meeting and I see the pigs (na kanaka) bad mouthing our makaainana for not being able to pay rent and live in a house like an assimulated kanaka. Especially, when they were once at the helm and had the gavel in their hands for justice. In my mind they are far more criminal than those sitting in a cell block.
The cruel inhumane voices upon our children is just mind boogling to me. Yeah there's drugs but much more of this shit exist in the assimulated houses of the US Americans and their civility hearts and minds, body's and soul.
No excuse for anyone to be acting badly towards each other.
What's truly sad is that we have (Waianae) the highest dropout rate in the entire US Educational system (two high schools). I see no relief in sight for Waianae teens and their will be spill overs of drop outs from Kapolei to Pearl City too. People in general do not understand the dynamics of teens and high school to fend off the high risk of Na Kanaka drop outs. These youngsters knows that they can be homeless more than have an opportunity to complete college or even land a job. The community as a whole supports teen failure rather teen success. This is a cheap shot at all persons. But, eh I'm close to the center of drop teens and can stretch to both ends the poverty and the college bound children.
I use much of what I can to work with our houseless on the shorelines, but it is so little compared to the vastness of the problem.
I just got off the phone with my friend that lives in Pearl City and he too is unable to do anything because he had too many operations. And expecting another tomorrow, ugh!
The issue is makua and hopefully those that can remember the devastation of burning whole valleys for military training exercise reasons can make a dent or difference against the live fire and DU and most of all Waste Streaming.