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
P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
Phone 808-966-7622
email ja@interpac.net www.malu-aina.org
April 2, 2010 Press Release:
Military refuses to participate in moderated balanced public forum on
Depleted Uranium radiation contamination on Hawaii Island.
further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622
Mike Egami Public Affairs Liaison
U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii
P: 808 656-3152
C: 808 387-8511
"The U.S. Army has refused to participate in a balanced public forum on
the issue of 'Military Depleted Uranium radiation contamination on
Hawaii Island,'" said Jim Albertini of Malu Aina.
Albertini invited the Army to give a 1/2 hour presentation followed by
a community 1/2 hour presentation led by Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD, then a 1
hour Question & Answer session. The proposed evening forum was to
take place at the University of Hawaii at Hilo April 23rd or 24th and
moderated by a UH professor.
The Army's refusal came in an April 1, 2010 email to Albertini by Mike
Egami, Public Affairs Liaison, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii. Egami
referred Albertini to the Army's website
http://www.imcom.pac.army.mil/du/index.htm and said the Army would be
doing a DU briefing in May at the Pohakuloa Training Area.
Albertini said, "A balanced public forum in the community is more
accessible and much preferred over a military briefing by invitation
only at PTA . It's clear the Army doesn't want a level playing field.
It wants to own the ball, play only on its field, with its rules and
referees. It's an attitude of -- the Army's way or no way. That's the
nature of military occupation. The public be damned."
Dr, Lorrin Pang, MD said: "Good scientists don’t claim to know
everything. In fact they become most important when they are willing
to admit this. The toxic effects of DU weaponry involve novel
chemistries (DU oxides and nano-toxity), routes of exposure and environmental effects. Based on this uncertainty the precautionary
principle mandates a moratorium to military activities involving DU.
The safety assurances by the military and government agencies are at
best based on ignorance or, worse, intentionally misleading. As an
example they denied the existence of a Gulf War Syndrome and ignored
health effects which might link it to DU. Ignoring the health effects
allowed them to use the data as proof of safety. It now has been shown
in the scientific and health community that on these two counts (at
least) they were wrong, very wrong. We have moved to a different level
of disagreement. While I am still willing to discuss facts – I am
forced to now question their integrity and scientific credibility. I,
and I hope the public, will demand a satisfactory explanation from them
and their supporters before we move forward."
Lorrin Pang, MD, MPH
As Private Citizen
Retired Army Medical Corp
America’s Best Doctors Listing 2007-present
Consultant to the World Health Organization since 1985
Albertini said a few points should be noted for background:
1. On July 2, 2008 the Hawaii County Council passed resolution 639-08
by a vote of 8-1. The resolution called for 8 actions including "order
a complete halt to B-2 bombing missions and to all live-fire exercises
and other activities at PTA that create dust until there is an
assessment and clean up of the DU already present;" the resolution also
called for permanent monitoring to insure air quality control, citizens
monitoring system to work closely with the military to assure
transparency and community confidence.
Albertini said, "this isn't happening. It's business as usual at PTA."
2. Albertini also noted that numerous written citizen questions to the
Army go unanswered, including questions sent to the Army on Feb. 21,
2010 and hand delivered to Army officials on Feb. 24th at PTA by State
Representative Faye Hanohano of Puna requesting written answers to the
citizen questions. (see below) To date: NO RESPONSE
3. On Nov. 11, 2008 Commander, US Army Garrison-Hawaii, Matthew
Margotta said:
"stopping live-fire at PTA is NOT going to happen," despite incomplete
assessment and testing for DU contamination at PTA. Margotta referred
to the County Council's action call by saying "it's only a resolution."
Margotta's comments show callous disregard for the health and safety of
troops, residents and visitors alike. It appears that obsession with
"mission" has blurred all common sense.
4. The Army is stonewalling on the Pohakuloa Community Advisory Group
(CoAG), according to CoAG member, Cory Harden. The Army touted CoAG to
the County Council and the public as a way for the community to have
input on DU. The Pohakuloa CoAG hasn't met for 8 months.
-pau-
Malu 'Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box AB Ola'a (Kurtistown), Hawai`i 96760
Phone 808-966-7622 email ja@interpac.net
Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
Malu 'Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box AB Ola'a (Kurtistown), Hawai`i 96760
Phone 808-966-7622 email ja@interpac.net
Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
February 21, 2010
An open letter to all County, State, Federal officials, and special
interests participating in the closed door meeting at the military's
Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Feb. 24, 2010. (To people invited to
Pohakuloa from those who aren’t)
Please be aware that the meeting will be picketed. We do not believe
in "democracy by invitation only." The doors are closed to the public
who pays the bill.
We are angry that the military continues to conduct bombing missions
and live-fire without a complete independent assessment of the Depleted
Uranium (DU) radiation present at PTA and without cleaning up as
called for in Hawaii County Council resolution 639-08. The military
has been stonewalling the community's concerns about health and safety
for years. The Davy Crockett DU weapons may just be the tip of far more
widespread DU contamination.
We invite you to stop and dialog with us before you enter the base.
Inside, we ask that you be our voice. Ask the following questions and
...
PLEASE GET ANSWERS!
1. Why hasn't the Army stopped all live-fire and bombing missions
until there is a complete independent assessment and clean-up of the DU
already present as called for in County of Hawaii resolution 639-08?
The Army denied even having DU in Hawai’i--until citizen groups found
out DU had been discovered at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, in 2005.
Estimates of the number of DU spotting rounds vary widely--from about
700 statewide to over 2000 at Pohakuloa alone just from one weapon
system --Davy Crockett. (There may have been many more DU weapon
systems used at PTA and other Hawaii ranges.) Concerns about Army
searches, reports, and air monitoring have been raised by Dr. Mike
Reimer, a geologist, and Dr. Marshall Blann, a consultant to Los Alamos
National Laboratory, both from Kona; and Dr. Lorrin Pang from Maui, a
former Army doctor who is a consultant to the World Health
Organization. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not yet granted the
Army a license to possess DU. Yet the Army has ignored a County
resolution calling for a halt to bombing and live-fire that may spread
airborne DU from undetected DU munitions.
2. Are there more forgotten hazards?
The Army claims it was unaware of the Davy Crockett DU spotting rounds
because they were classified. This should be a wake-up call to
investigate for more DU rounds and other forgotten hazards. Remember
that the Army tested nerve gas and defoliants on State lands in the
Waiakea Forest Reserve (Hilo's watershed) in 1966 and 1967 while
publicly denying such testing. The Army lied. It said it was doing
"weather" testing. The State canceled the military lease over the lies
and attempted cover-up. Isn't it time to cancel the State lease to the
military of stolen Hawaiian Kingdom lands now contaminated with
radiation from weapons testing? Military use of Hawai'i Kingdom lands
violates the Kingdom's position of neutrality stated in numerous
treaties.
3. Why is there plenty of money for new military projects, but little
to clean up the 50-plus former military sites on Hawai’i Island
littered with unexploded ordnance, toxins, and other hazards? When
will all of the 50-plus present and former military sites, totaling
more than 250,000-acres on Hawaii Island, be cleared of unexploded
ordnance, toxins, and other hazards? A few examples...
Students dug up a grenade in a school garden in the Waimea/ Waikoloa
area.
Old ordnance was found twice in 15 months at Hapuna, some in water as
shallow as 30 feet, some only about 100 yards from shore.
A recreational diver found unexploded ordnance in Hilo Bay--searchers
then found 300 pieces
Another diver found a 60-millimeter shell at a popular Hilo dive site,
about 50 yards offshore in 12 feet of water.
4. Why won't the military participate in public forums on community
concerns about health and safety over depleted uranium and other
military toxins? What's the Army afraid of?
5. The cumulative impacts from numerous military projects in Hawai’i
need to be fully addressed. About 1 acre out of 25 statewide is
already military-controlled. Thousands of acres of past and present military sites, Stryker land grab, Hilo National Guard rebuild,
University military research, armed "Superferry"/Joint High Speed Vessel---what's next? There are rumors the military wants more of Hawai‘i Island. How much Hawai’i Island land is the military planning
to take? Where and when?
6. When will the Pohakuloa Community Advisory Group (CoAG) meet?
It hasn’t met for seven months. The Army never answered a CoAG member
request to restart meetings. Note that the Army only started CoAG a
year and a half ago--five years after Sierra Club first asked for such
a group.
7. Why are no public scoping hearings planned for the Army's Joint
High Speed Vessel EIS?
Citizens should be able to publicly raise concerns for the JHSV
Environmental Impact Statement--like
Risks to marine animals from vessel strikes, fuel spills, and live-fire
Risks of spreading coquis, fire ants, and other invasive species
Effects of security zones on native Hawaiian cultural practices and
subsistence activities, and on fishing, commerce, and recreation
Vagueness about which ports will be used
8. We want Military Clean-Up NOT Military Build-Up! If the U.S.
stopped spending several $billion/per day on imperial wars there would
be more money for county and state budget needs, jobs, and funding
human needs. We urgently request that you--as public officials--speak
up on these critical issues of War, Militarism and the Health of our
island citizens.
With gratitude and aloha,
Jim Albertini
for Malu 'Aina ohana
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