Aloha kakou...
Sharing a message from Jim Albertini on the Big Island. He isprotesting Stryker vehicles or any combat weapons being part of theHilo Veterans Day Parade on November 7th. Please read hiscommunications below.

Aloha Kale and all,
Please ask Col. Richardson (warline.richardson
@ us.army.mil) and Hilo Veteran parade officials (c/o Wendel Kaehuaeawkaehuaea@yahoo. com) to avoid fueling a protest by not bringingStryker vehicles or other combat weapons to theNov. 7th Hilo veteransparade. (See letter below.)
Mahalo.
Jim Albertini
Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O.Box AB
Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760
phone: 808-966-7622
email: JA@interpac. net
Visit us on the web at: www.malu-aina. org

CENTER FOR NON-VIOLENT EDUCATION AND ACTION
Malu 'Aina Farm
P.O. Box AB
Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
Phone 808-966-7622 email ja@interpac. net http://www.malu- aina.org

Lt. Col. Warline S. Richardson October 30, 2009
Commanding Officer
Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA)
P.O. Box 4607
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Dear Col. Richardson:

I have received a report that Stryker urban assault vehicles from PTA,recently returned from Iraq, will be in the Nov. 7th Hilo Veteransparade. Including Stryker vehicles in the parade is a provocativeaction that glorifies war disguised as honoring veterans. I urge thatStrykers and other combat weapons be kept out of the parade. To paradethese killing machines through our peaceful streets desensitizes youngand old to the horrors of war.

As you know, basing Strykers in Hawaii has been a major controversy.Their use of Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons in Iraq contaminating thatcountry forever is equally controversial, and likely related to theGulf War Syndrome that has effected the health of hundreds of thousandsof disabled U.S. veterans and millions of Iraqi citizens The fact thatthese Strykers are currently doing live-fire training at Pohakuloa,known to be contaminated with DU, risks spreading that contamination,endangering the health and safety of troops and the citizens of thisisland. Bringing these Strykers, that may be contaminated with DU, downthe streets of Hilo adds insult to injury.

Our organization supports veterans being given the best possiblemedical care but we are opposed to U.S. illegal wars of aggression thatkeep producing more and more disabled veterans. It's time to end theseU.S. illegal wars and the illegal U.S. occupations of Iraq,Afghanistan, and Hawaii. If your goal is to truly honor vets, take themoney you would spend to transport the Strykers to and from downtownHilo and use it for their medical care.

With gratitude and aloha,

Jim Albertini
President

cc: government officials and the media
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Comments

  • Thanks Pono,

    "Bringing these Strykers, that may be contaminated with DU, down
    the streets of Hilo adds insult to injury."

    Tell this to NRC, see if they can understand their own actions and written policies about transporting Nuclear Waste from military bases to civilian communites for children to breath into their lungs for future health problems. Kaohi
This reply was deleted.