Guam and CNMI Military Relocation
Draft EIS/OEIS (November 2009)
16.2.3.4 Sociocultural Impacts
Sociocultural impacts by their nature are complex and have no single outcome measure.
Although available evidence does not suggest that Marines would have an impact on Guam‘s overall crime rates or assaults on women, there is cause for concern about impacts on crime and social order due to other factors. Construction booms are often accompanied by a sense of loosened norms and social disorder. In-migrants from the FAS – whose numbers may increase in both the construction and operational stages due to more job opportunities – have high crime rates associated with adapting to less traditional social structures. There is a potential for more prostitution, alcohol/substance abuse, and family violence associated with young military populations in general, not Marines in particular. However, the reputation of Marines as fighters could trigger a transitional period of adjustment that local young men test themselves against Marines in fights.
Long term, though, established patterns of military outreach to Guam‘s civilian community are likely to minimize the sort of day-to-day irritants that affect the average citizen, including the perceived insufficient respect that underlies one set of Chamorro concerns. Chamorro concerns involves political autonomy are impacted by the potential increase in non-Chamorro populations due to the buildup, increasing the likelihood of more non-Chamorro local political office-holders. More non-Chamorro voters would decrease the possibility of Chamorro political self determination. They would also decrease the possibility of successful plebiscites to achieve greater independence from U.S. control, although at present there is little evidence that a majority would support such moves at any rate.
VOLUME TWO Marine Corps Relocation – Guam [page 1100]
16. Socioeconomics and General Services (1.6 MB)
http://guambuildupeis.us/documents_store/volume_2/Volume%202%20Chapter%2016.pdf
Showing posts with label Autonomy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autonomy. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Self-rule opportunities missed
Self-rule opportunities missed
Monday, 16 November 2009 04:21
by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff
EVOLVING in an ever changing post-9/11 political arena will be the best course of action for United States territories seeking political self determination, United Nations advisor, Dr. Carlyle Corbin told attendees during a recently held University of Guam public forum.
Corbin stated that the issue of commonwealth brought about by the government of Guam during the 1990s was complimented with great promise.
“The analysis that was done at that time was very critical. The CNMI covenant was in place for a few years prior to that and served as a very good basis for the attainment of certain autonomous powers,” he said, adding that “Had the Guam commonwealth been allowed to go forth, then at this point, 20 years later, if there is a definition of what is achievable, the territory would have evolved constitutionally and politically far more.”
The UN advisor also stated that most requests made by U.S. territories for further autonomy are often blocked by bureaucrats.
“In fact, we have not moved forward and there has been some degree of stagnation in terms of the political development,” he said.
Corbin added that all of the U.S. territories have done many things internally to try and address the issue of self determination, and break through the parameters of self determination status to determine what is possible and what is not. However, Corbin also cited that fact that prior efforts were also undertaken in a “pre-9/11” scenario. Additionally, the U.N. advisor stated that there is now a different view on “how much autonomy is given within the current arrangement.”
“All of these things are now continually evolving and the territories have to continue to follow, determine, and make their case, both in the U.S. Congressional arena and in the international arena as well.”
With to regards to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Corbin said that the resolution was adopted by consensus.
“It is not something that countries sign on to, necessarily,” he explained. “As a consensus, all countries around the world have agreed and supported with the exception of some who have made reservations on specific parts or specific paragraphs of the text.”
Corbin noted that there were “decades worth of favorable decisions in the United Nations” that were not implemented.
“If many of those were implemented, there would probably be fewer territories on the United Nations’ list,” he said. “Certainly, if those recommendations that were made by the United Nations with respect to Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands have been implemented, then none of us would be having this discussion today. We would be having another discussion.”
Monday, 16 November 2009 04:21
by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff
EVOLVING in an ever changing post-9/11 political arena will be the best course of action for United States territories seeking political self determination, United Nations advisor, Dr. Carlyle Corbin told attendees during a recently held University of Guam public forum.
Corbin stated that the issue of commonwealth brought about by the government of Guam during the 1990s was complimented with great promise.
“The analysis that was done at that time was very critical. The CNMI covenant was in place for a few years prior to that and served as a very good basis for the attainment of certain autonomous powers,” he said, adding that “Had the Guam commonwealth been allowed to go forth, then at this point, 20 years later, if there is a definition of what is achievable, the territory would have evolved constitutionally and politically far more.”
The UN advisor also stated that most requests made by U.S. territories for further autonomy are often blocked by bureaucrats.
“In fact, we have not moved forward and there has been some degree of stagnation in terms of the political development,” he said.
Corbin added that all of the U.S. territories have done many things internally to try and address the issue of self determination, and break through the parameters of self determination status to determine what is possible and what is not. However, Corbin also cited that fact that prior efforts were also undertaken in a “pre-9/11” scenario. Additionally, the U.N. advisor stated that there is now a different view on “how much autonomy is given within the current arrangement.”
“All of these things are now continually evolving and the territories have to continue to follow, determine, and make their case, both in the U.S. Congressional arena and in the international arena as well.”
With to regards to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Corbin said that the resolution was adopted by consensus.
“It is not something that countries sign on to, necessarily,” he explained. “As a consensus, all countries around the world have agreed and supported with the exception of some who have made reservations on specific parts or specific paragraphs of the text.”
Corbin noted that there were “decades worth of favorable decisions in the United Nations” that were not implemented.
“If many of those were implemented, there would probably be fewer territories on the United Nations’ list,” he said. “Certainly, if those recommendations that were made by the United Nations with respect to Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands have been implemented, then none of us would be having this discussion today. We would be having another discussion.”
Saturday, November 14, 2009
‘Self-rule results in progress’
‘Self-rule results in progress’
Friday, 13 November 2009 04:25
by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff
UNITED Nations advisor Dr. Carlyle Corbin advised the people of Guam to seize the moment and accelerate the process of self determination, adding that “we may not get another chance.”
During a forum at the University of Guam, Corbin said there has been “dormant evolution” in the self determination processes of many territories around the globe, citing the example of Greenland and its failed attempts for a dialogue on self determination with Denmark and the denial of Greenland’s referendum on self determination by the Danish government.
Additionally, Corbin said the current situations of territories have been further complicated by factors such as militarization and the evolution of the global economy. According to the UN advisor, the absence of self governance decreases the frequency to secure economic agreements, which ultimately hurts the ability for territories to compete in the international economy. As such, the inability of many territories to react to the fast paced world has further increased local challenges.
Nevertheless, Corbin did not focus on the negative effects of colonization, citing the example of free association with U.S. citizenship as a model of autonomy.
He said an expanded autonomy would decrease economic vulnerability, citing a contrasting example of increased vulnerability bolstering dependency governance.
With regard to U.S. territories, Corbin stated that high debt ratio has stabilized the dependence for federal grants.
Corbin also said that strategic value remains for many territories in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, which has been exploited in a continuing trend, solidifying a “priority of suppression.”
In addition, the post 9/11 period and the tightening environment of global and national security hinder territories’ ability to achieve political self determination.
From a militaristic point of view, Corbin said many territories have essentially been “spoils of war,” citing the Spanish-American War of 1898 and the United States’ acquisition of the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico and Cuba from Spain as an example.
Another example provided by Corbin proving war strategy’s influence on territorial affiliation with larger nations was the United States’ concern that German forces would overtake and utilize the Danish-West Indian islands as a submarine base during the First World War. As a result, the U.S. purchased the islands in 1917 from Denmark at a price of $25 million, changing its name to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Friday, 13 November 2009 04:25
by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff
UNITED Nations advisor Dr. Carlyle Corbin advised the people of Guam to seize the moment and accelerate the process of self determination, adding that “we may not get another chance.”
During a forum at the University of Guam, Corbin said there has been “dormant evolution” in the self determination processes of many territories around the globe, citing the example of Greenland and its failed attempts for a dialogue on self determination with Denmark and the denial of Greenland’s referendum on self determination by the Danish government.
Additionally, Corbin said the current situations of territories have been further complicated by factors such as militarization and the evolution of the global economy. According to the UN advisor, the absence of self governance decreases the frequency to secure economic agreements, which ultimately hurts the ability for territories to compete in the international economy. As such, the inability of many territories to react to the fast paced world has further increased local challenges.
Nevertheless, Corbin did not focus on the negative effects of colonization, citing the example of free association with U.S. citizenship as a model of autonomy.
He said an expanded autonomy would decrease economic vulnerability, citing a contrasting example of increased vulnerability bolstering dependency governance.
With regard to U.S. territories, Corbin stated that high debt ratio has stabilized the dependence for federal grants.
Corbin also said that strategic value remains for many territories in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, which has been exploited in a continuing trend, solidifying a “priority of suppression.”
In addition, the post 9/11 period and the tightening environment of global and national security hinder territories’ ability to achieve political self determination.
From a militaristic point of view, Corbin said many territories have essentially been “spoils of war,” citing the Spanish-American War of 1898 and the United States’ acquisition of the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico and Cuba from Spain as an example.
Another example provided by Corbin proving war strategy’s influence on territorial affiliation with larger nations was the United States’ concern that German forces would overtake and utilize the Danish-West Indian islands as a submarine base during the First World War. As a result, the U.S. purchased the islands in 1917 from Denmark at a price of $25 million, changing its name to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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