Project Hawai’i – 2007-05-08 23:07:04
http://www.protecthawaii.ws/
This web site is dedicated to the promotion and protection of the land and residents of the Hawaiian Islands.
For decades the United States military has used these islands for live-fire artillery training exposing the environment and residents to toxins, including the use of radioactive depleted uranium (DU) munitions.
The Hawaiian Islands are the most militarized islands in the world. Every branch of the United States Armed Forces are stationed in Hawai’i. Military activity since before WWII has taken a toll on the island environment and on the public health of Hawai’i residents.
In August 2005 depleted-uranium spotting rounds were discovered on Schofield Barracks, Oahu despite the militay’s claims that they NEVER used depleted uranium in Hawai’i. In April 2007 HB 1452 (which was to test Hawai’i for DU) had passed in both State of Hawai’i Houses yet, failed to pass into law. This action convinces many that Hawai’i is grossly contaminated with depleted uranium. Two other military toxins of concern are lead and RDX (the Royal Demolition Explosive) both had recorded high levels in the U.S. Army’s environmental Impact Statement (EIS) published in May 2004.
Hawai’i is a sacred place on the planet which is loved, enjoyed and visited by millions of people every year from all over the world. Residents and visitors alike are “kept in the dark” about military contamination in Hawai’i.
The Hawaiian Islands are beautiful and magestic with a very fragile ecosystem. There are more endangered plants and animals in Hawai’i than in any other U.S. military base.
Hawai’i has over one million residents who live, work and play in our paradise. Yet, government and public health officials refuse to look at military toxins as a cause of high incidence of health problems among local residents.
Military Pollution
For over sixty years, the land and residents of Hawai’i have endured tremendous toxic pollution exposure from military use and munitions’ training in the islands. The military does not have a good track record of cleaning up its pollution. On Hawai’i Island there are 57 past and present military sites. On Oahu there are over 80 contaminated sites. Pearl Harbor used to have hundreds of oyster beds, now it is a Superfund clean-up site and a current toxic waterland.
The U.S. Military has practiced making war in Hawai’i since before WWII with live-fire artillery training. Everything having to do with modern warfare is toxic to the environment and communities downwind.
The U.S Army is building up on Oahu and Hawai’i Island with the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) and over 300 Stryker Vehicles. A Stryker is a 37 ton (fully loaded) urban assault vehicle. It is equipped to fire anti-armor rounds.
Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) is located in the center of Hawai’i Island. PTA is an anti-armor live-fire training range. Live-fire is using real and lethal ammunition. Anti-armor penatrators are made with radioactive depleted uranium.
The Harsh Reality of the United States
Military Presence in Hawai’i
The six decades of US States military artillery practice has taken a toll on the health of the residents of Hawai’i. The present military build up will increase live-fire training from 16 million rounds to 20 million rounds a year according to the U.S. Army’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
In the militay’s Transformation of the 25th Infantry to the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, over 300 Stykers vehicles will be introduced to Hawai’i for anti-armor live-fire training. Toxic pollution from this activity drifts on the trade winds over our communities.
It can also contaminate our water and soil. In the many of the most hazardous conditions created by live-fire training are considered in the EIS as “mitigable to less than significant.” Hawai’i residents have a right to live in an environment without toxic pollution and contamination of our air, water and soil.
The quality of air that we breathe will NEVER be less than significant to us! Since the discovery of depleted uranium spotting rounds on Schofield Barracks in August of 2005, many residents are seriously concerned about DU contamination.
Depleted uranium has a half life of 4.5 billion years! Presently the best that we can hope for is to stop disrupting the artillery ranges with more live-fire training.
Health Problems in Hawai’i
and Official Stonewalling
One in seventeen births in Hawai’i has a “recognizable abnormality,” according to the Hawaii Birth Defects Program website.
Cases of diabetes and asthma are on the rise, especially in communities downwind from live-fire training ranges, like Waianae, Oahu. Heart Disease and Cancer are the first and third leading cause of death in Hawai’i and according to the National Center of Health Statistics the national rates for cancer and heart disease are dropping while Hawai’i’s rates are climbing.
The Star-Bulletin reported on March 11, 2004 that 23,000 children in Hawai’i are in Special Education and 720 children were identified as having autism. The State of Hawai’i government has never seriously examined military toxins as a cause of the high incidence of life threatening illness among Hawai’i’s residents. Stonewalling is common with government officials . Activists are denied access to pertinent public health information.
CALL TO ACTION:
For Hawai’i Residents and Visitors
PLEASE HELP US PROTECT HAWAI’I
Ask the Hawai’i State Representatives:
To Test Hawai’i for DU
• Write to each of the State of Hawai’i Representatives listed below:
Copy email address tenfingers10toes@protecthawaii.ws
Then Ctrl + click on each link below, paste above email in cc (for tracking purposes) Subject: DU
Key State of Hawai’i Representative House Committees
Energy and Environmental Protection (EEP)
• Representative Hermina M. Morita, Chair repmorita@capitol.hawaii.gov
Finance (FIN)
• Representative Marcus Oshiro, Chair repmoshiro@capitol.hawaii.gov
Health (HLT)
• Representative Josh Green M.D., Chair repgreen@capitol.hawaii.gov
Tourism and Culture (TAC)
• Ryan I. Yamane, Chair repyamane@capitol.hawaii.gov
• Then pass this web site www.protecthawaii.ws and CALL TO ACTION information forward to others who love Hawai’i
CALL TO ACTION:
For Hawai’i Residents and Visitors
Ask the Hawai’i State Senators:
To Test Hawai’i for DU
• Write to each of the State of Hawai’i Senators listed below:
Copy this email address tenfingers10toes@protecthawaii.ws
Then Ctrl + click on each link below, paste above email in cc (for tracking purposes) Subject: DU
Key State of Hawai’i Senate Committees
Health (HTH)
• Senator David Ige, Chair senige@capitol.hawaii.gov
Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (IGM)
• Senator Lorraine R. Inouye, Chair seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov
Tourism and Government Operations (TSG)
• Senator Clarence K. Nishihara, Chair sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
Ways and Means (WAM)
• Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov
Then pass this web site www.protecthawaii.ws and CALL TO ACTION information forward to others who love Hawai’i
tenfingers10toes@protecthawaii.ws
