HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0118.004 2008-2010For Public Release February 2, 2009
MILITARY RADIATION
STONEWALLING
Army Col Howard Killian will do an update on the Pohakuloa radiation fbr a County Council committee
10:30 AM Tue Feb 3 at the Ben Franklin bldr. in Hilo.
Malu'Aina charges the military is stonewalling and misinforming the community over the issue
of radiation contamination at the 133,000-acre Pohakuloa training Area (PTA). The military
continues to make unsupported claims that radiation contamination at PTA poses "NO
DANGER" to troops or resisdents (WHT U3U09).
Malu 'Aina says to the military: SHOW US YOUR DATA. Danger or No Danger is a
medical determination that is debatable. First get an accurate determination ofthe extent of
radiation contamination. Where is the data, and how was it obtained? What testing has been
done to detect levels of contamination? How widespread is the contamination? Have DU
penetrating rounds been fired at PTA? It appears that the military only wants to focus on 1960s
era DU DavyCrockett spotting rounds fired and ignore the possibility that a wide range of
modern day weapons that contain radiation have also been fired at PTA and other sites in Hawaii.
The military-has a serious credibility.problem. The military has consistently stonewalled
coxnmuaityinvolvement inthe investigation process which the commtuuty demanded to assure
transparency and the confidence of the community. The military's credibility problem is
longstanding. -The military lied to the community when it secretly tested deadly nerve gas
weapons in the Hilo Waiakea Forest watershed around the same time it was firing DU Davy
Crockett spotting rounds at PTA. For years the military tried to downplay or deny health
problems associated with Agent orange used in Vietnam. The military tried to deny Gulf War
Syndrome (GWS) but now it's been found to be real and effecting 300,000 troops. Here in
Hawaii, Federal Court Judge.Sawn Mollwayhasordered the militarty to stop stonewalling on
cultural access at Makua Valley on Oahu.
Ifthe military is so convinced there is "NO Danger" from radiation at PTA, then why the
stonewalling? Why no community involvement, no data, no transparency.- Could it be they know
they have something to hide?
Ma1u'Aina calls for the County Council to provide Dr. Lorrin Pang equal time for a
presentation to the Council regarding this issue. Mahalo.
Jim Albertini
Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O.Box AB Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
phone: 808-966-7622 email: JA@interpac.net // 8
Visit us on the web at: www.malu-aina.org Comm. No.
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