Tinian Resident Emphatically Oppose Military Buildup

Tinian Residents Emphatically Oppose Military Exercises
Public hearings so support for ‘No Action Alternative’

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor

TINIAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, May 4, 2015) – Citing broken promises relating to the Covenant negotiations, and significant impact on the environment and the local economy, the people of Tinian came out in droves and expressed their emphatic "No" to the military’s proposal to build live-fire ranges and training areas on Tinian.

At Thursday night’s public hearing on the draft CNMI Joint Military Training environmental impact statement at the Tinian Junior Senior High School, the island’s leaders and residents unanimously conveyed their opposition to the military plan and indicated they favored the "No Action Alternative."

Explaining that they are not anti-military, but are against the proposal, the residents led by Tinian Mayor Joey P. San Nicolas underscored the military action’s significant impact on their island’s environment and economy.

Prefacing his statement that he is not averse to the military, that he has a son who serves in the U.S. Air Force, that the island has many veteran residents, he said the meeting was not about their support for the military but rather about the proposed military action.

"For the record, I and the members of the Tinian leadership are against the manner in which the military proposes to use Tinian as described in the draft EIS," said San Nicolas which was applauded by the residents.

San Nicolas said Tinian is a pristine island — virtually untouched — and home to unique bird species, coral reefs and plants used by their "suruhånu" — healers.

"The construction of live-fire ranges and a training complex that uses artillery, mortar and rocket launchers, will have significant, devastating and permanent impacts on our reefs, our jungle and our soil," he said.

The planned construction of a landing area for amphibious assault vehicles will require the dredging of 800,000 cubic feet of marine habitat.

Citing the DEIS, San Nicolas said this will "permanently change the habitat of the near shore areas of the beach of Unai Chulu."

The plan will also destroy approximately 2,000 acres of jungle which serves as a habitat for many native birds.

Under the military’s preferred alternative, San Nicolas said 7,200 of Tinian Monarchs, or approximately 8 percent of the total population will suffer loss of nesting and foraging areas.

It will also have a significant impact on other bird species, he said, such as Bridled White Eye, Micronesian Starling and Rufous fantail.

He also said construction of live-fire ranges will permanently destroy 230 acres of prime farm land soil.

"That means 16 percent of the total prime farm soil available on Tinian will be lost forever," he said adding that the DEIS has no mitigation for this loss.

He said they will never get these back.

He said the millions of bullets, grenades, and rockets used every year will make their lands "essentially unusable."

He also said that cleaning up waste has never been a priority for the military, citing waste left on Tinian decades ago.

"We have a duty to protect our environment for future generations," he said.

He said that based on these significant impacts, the military should select the no action alternative.

Sen. Francisco M. Borja also cited these impacts, particularly on the cattle ranchers.

The plans will have a devastating impact on the cattle industry and Tinian’s economic growth, he said.

The DEIS, he said, is not clear about how much access to military leased lands will be available throughout the year.

He said the proposed action will impact tourism as it will limit access to to 10 out of 12 historical sites.

"Two of these sites, the Shinto Shrine and Hinode will be destroyed," he said.

He also cited the loss of access to major dive sites.

Municipal Council Chairman Reynaldo Cing said, "The plan as proposed will change every aspect of our life as we know it."

He also decried the loss of access to historical and cultural sites.

He said there will be 22 weeks of pre- and post-training preparation on top of the 20 weeks a year in training.

"The military must be honest and transparent with us," he said.

He said he supports the military, but he doesn’t support the plan.

Serafina Rosario King Nabors, said she did not vote for a live-fire range when they approved the Covenant decades ago.

"Forty years ago we were marching for the Covenant," she said, adding that it was promised that a base would be built on Tinian that would provide jobs for Tinian residents.

She said they did not vote for a training range.

"You were already given Farallon de Medinilla," she said addressing the military.

As she spoke in Chamorro and English, she mentioned the incidence of cancer on island.

She said she is herself a cancer survivor.

She asked for the training ranges to be constructed in California.

"Biba Marianas! Biba Chamorro," said Nabors to the crowd’s deafening applause.

For his part, Lino Lizama opposes the bombing of Tinian and Pagan.

Joseph Connelly, who has been living on Tinian since 1984, said, "This public access needs to be further explained to the Taotao Tinian."

He also asked questions relating to construction of the ranges for 8-10 years.

He raised concerns related to the proximity of munitions areas to the airport.

Vietnam War veteran Gil Borja opposes the action, saying he opposes any training exercise on Tinian and Pagan.

He said Hawaii is different: the firing range is far from the town.

14-year-old Chelsea Rosario said it will impact the peace and tranquility on island.

She said the proposed action will reduce the culture and heritage to a "memory."

Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission Chairman Matthew C. Masga said he is unequivocally opposed as it will have a significant impact on the casino industry and will heap burdens on a lot of people.

Masga said one week of training alone is too much of a burden.

He cited the noise that will make Tinian unattractive to tourists.

He said tourism will see a downward spiral due to limited activities on island.

"Our people and tourists will no longer be free to visit historical sites," he said.

For Eric San Nicolas, the U.S. military does not own two-thirds of Tinian, "they lease it."

He said, "We are the patrons of the land. Land is connected to us. Our land is connected to our soul."

John Barcinas said it is their right to say, "No."

For Kimberly Hinds, the DEIS is nothing more than a plan to destroy Tinian "and to kill our culture."

She said what the military calls restricted access to beaches, to coastal zones, alterations of the seafloor, and taking away corals, "is what we call our customary right and way of feeding our families. What you call your cattle grazing mitigation plan is a threat to our food supply and our ability to be self-sustaining. What you call restricted access to our cultural sites is really a denial of our ability to practice our traditional and customary rights…picking ‘donni,’ paying respect to our dead, going hunting." For Hinds, the 20-week training will be an economic shackle on Tinian that is struggling to be self-sustaining.

"No respect to the land and to the people of this community," she said.

Jose P. Kiyoshi, a former Marine, said the promise back then was for a military base; not a firing range.

"No to the firing range; yes to the base," he said.

He said this will change the lives of the people in the community.

Debra Fleming also said there were so many broken promises: the promise of a U.S. military base, a commissary, a theatre, and a school.

She said the dock was never fixed.

"Now they want to dredge Unai Chulu," she said pointing out that it is an ancient burial ground, where there are latte stones.

"All this EIS—is a waste of our time. What’s the point in all of this," she said.

She asked if the CNMI could renegotiate to take the land back "at the price they purchased it?"

The use of bombs was never in the picture when they negotiated the Covenant.

Juanita Mendiola told the military to build their own island.

She said the destruction of Tinian and Pagan is not exclusively local — it is global.

"This island is sacred to all of us. This entire island is sacred. Please do not desecrate it," she said.

Archaeologist Craig Weaver said the DEIS did not mention anything on preservation.

Lou Dela Cruz said Tinian is too beautiful to be destroyed.

Keith Nabors asked the people to say "no" to the proposed military action.

He said in past military exercises, with boots on the ground, "they landed on the wrong beach."

Even with modern technology, they landed on the wrong beach, he said.

He expressed his concern that with the firing-ranges, mistakes like this may happen.

Joseph Mendiola said they support the military yet the training on Tinian will impact their livelihood.

He cited the noise impact as evidenced from the Fury exercises.

Whelden clarifies: No live explosives on Tinian

Marine Forces Pacific Executive Director Craig B. Whelden dispelled the notion that they will be bombing Tinian.

"We are not planning to drop live explosive bombs on Tinian. We are not," he said.

He said the requirement is for them to train on how to provide air support and drop what they call ordnance — which is a generic term for bombs onto a target.

Having this skill can save thousands of lives.

"What we have planned is dropping inert bombs — essentially they have a puff of smoke when they hit the ground so we can see where they landed so we can practice that critical skill."

Inert bombs, according to online sources, "are aerial munitions filled with wet sand or cement."

According to http://www.thomaswictor.com/inert-bombs/, inert bombs are also called "dumb bombs."

The same website said that an inert bomb won’t explode, which means it can’t produce blast effects, and it can’t spray the area with lethal metal fragments.

The dropping of the inert bombs will only be done 10 percent of the time or for about two weeks.

Whelden also clarified that they are not sneaking behind the people’s backs as claimed by one person who spoke.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. I signed at least a dozen letters to the governors, to the mayors, to the directors of CPA, DPL, to other groups, governmental groups, identifying what we have in mind, why we have it in mind, when we would do it, who was coming, who we will coordinate with when we got here," he said.

He said in some cases they ask permission on property they don’t have control over outside the military lease area.

"We did it openly, with full notification of the government," he said.

Marianas Variety
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Don't Let Guam Sink into Oblivion

“Do Not Allow Guam to Sink into Oblivion”
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Conference 2010 NYC
by: Melvin Won Pat-Borja,
Guahan Coalition for Peace and Justice/We Are Guahan

During a congressional hearing on the Guam military buildup in early April, US Representative Hank Johnson said that he feared the Military Relocation on Guam would cause our tiny island to capsize and sink. The comment, though not meant to be taken literally, caused an uproar among Chamorus everywhere. People were so outraged at his perceived ignorance that they continually bashed him in the media and all over the internet. The sad truth however is that Guam WILL sink. It will sink under the weight of tons of toxic waste dumped by the military each year, sink under the pressure of contaminated drinking water, sink under the weight of overpopulated schools, massive amounts of traffic, inadequate health care, and extreme over population. If this military expansion goes as planned, the people of Guam will surely sink to the bottom of the Marianas Trench and become nothing more than a footnote in America's colonial history.

Our story began centuries ago when we first sailed from the coast of south east asia and made this beautiful chain of islands our home, but for the sake of time, THIS story will begin when the DEIS (draft environmental impact statement) for Guam and the military buildup was released in November of last year. The document laid the blueprint for the transfer of 8,000 marines and their 9,000 dependents from Okinawa to Guam. It was an 11,000 page document that held our future in the margins of the paper it was printed on and the public was only given 90 days to comment on it. The plans suggested that Guam was the best alternative to right the wrongs that America's armed forces had imposed on the people of Okinawa. The Department of Defense had chosen Guam because South Korea, the Philipines, California, and Hawaii all said "no." But the sad reality is that Guam was never offered that same courtesy. We are an unincorporated territory of the United States, leaving us victim to whatever decision America makes, whether it is beneficial for us or not. Guam is America's dirty little secret, the step child that no one ever talks about. We are affectionately referred to as the place "where America's day begins," but no one likes to admit that America starts each day with injustice. We have traditionally been loyal servants, patriots, and second class citizens, enlisting more soldiers per capita than anywhere else in the world. It makes me wonder if America could even have a military without people like us. We are as American as apple pie and baseball when there is war on the horizon or when strategic positioning in the Pacific is needed, but we are not American when it is time to vote in congress or the senate or when it is time to elect a new president.

When you read about the military buildup on Guam, many media sources portray the move as positive on all sides, hailing economic benefits as its saving grace. The people of Guam have been sold the idea of 33,000 new jobs that will stimulate our suffering economy, providing work for families in desperate need of some kind of income.

Our government has been sold the idea that millions of federal dollars will go to fund desperately needed infrastructural upgrades. And the rest of the nation has been sold ideas of potential business ventures that promise them desperately needed money and success.

Indeed, the global economy has created desperate times for all of us and it seems that selling Guam to the highest bidder is the answer.

Thousands of jobs and millions of dollars have a way of sounding too good to be true and upon reading the massive 11,000 page document it has become clear that it is indeed a wolf in sheep's clothing. Nothing is what it seems and all of their promises are empty. Like their promise of 33,000 new jobs predicting an economic upturn for Guam in reality, a mere 17 percent of those jobs will go to the local community while the vast majority of jobs will go to the foreign work force from around the region. As we speak, people from all over the world and the US are making preparations to move to Guam in search of business opportunities. They promise financial prosperity to the people, but even the measly 17 percent of total jobs they will offer are mostly temporary construction work, which will cause unemployment to sky-rocket once the construction is completed. The DEIS even states that they predict a "recession-like atmosphere" after the construction phase is over. They say that there are incredible gains for our local government, which will absorb millions of dollars from the federal government, but nowhere in the DEIS does the federal government make any kind of commitment to support infrastructure outside the fence. In fact, of the billions of dollars coming from the federal government and the Japanese Diet, a vast majority is earmarked for infrastructural upgrades on base only. The DEIS suggests that the government of Guam will reap its financial benefits from an increase in tax dollars as a result of the population boom, but it doesn't take into account the amount of money we will also have to spend in order to service all these people. They predict that Guam's population will increase by almost 80,000 people. On an island that is only 31 miles long and 7 miles wide with a current population of 170,000 people it's not hard to imagine Guam sinking to the bottom of the ocean floor. When you translate these numbers into social services, it becomes clear that the Government of Guam will find itself in dire straits trying to maintain an acceptable level of community care. The DEIS predicts that our hospital, which sees a shortage of beds on a daily basis, will see an increase of over 41,000 patients. Yet the DEIS only has plans to upgrade Naval Hospital, a facility that not only denies health services to our general public, but consistently fails to care for our local veterans as well. They predict that the Department of Public Health and Social Services along with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse will see an increase of nearly 23,000 more patients. Our Public School system will see 8,000 new students and the DEIS recommends that we build 5 new public schools. We will also require 532 new teachers in our public school system, which already has to fill 300 vacancies each year. There are a number of infrastructural upgrades that Guam will require in order to cope with the demands that 80,000 more people bring to our community, but there is no commitment by the Military or the Federal Government to support us financially. We are being forced to bear the burden of this buildup on our own. Once again, America has found a way to make a mess and the people of Guam will be forced to clean up after them.

Of course with any massive change in population we must also take into account the impact that such changes will have on our environment. Two major proposals in the DEIS are the dredging of 71 acres of coral reef in Apra Harbor to make room for a nuclear aircraft carrier and the acquisition of ancestral land for a live firing range.

The military plans to dock their nuclear aircraft carrier in our local harbor instead of using their own Kilo Wharf, the harbor that they already occupy. The US Environmental Protection Agency claims that this dredging project is unprecedented and that the impact on the biologically diverse ecosystem cannot be mitigated. DoD experts claim that most of the reef in the area they want to dredge is already dead and that there isn't much wildlife that will be adversely impacted, but our local marine biologists have found species of coral that have not yet been identified and could be endemic to this region. Furthermore, the way in which they propose to dredge the reef may have lasting impact on surrounding reefs and ecosystems as a result of sediment which could suffocate and destroy the species of coral down current. The plans for Apra Harbor in the DEIS demonstrate the military's lack of concern and insensitivity to the issues facing Guam; in fact, it was just recently discovered by a local marine biologist that certain sections in the DEIS (particularly the sections on Apra Harbor) were plagiarized!

The land that the military wishes to acquire for their firing range is rich in cultural history and significance, containing ancient artifacts and ancestral remains that cannot be mitigated or replaced by any sum of money.

Some parcels of land are owned by local residents who refuse to sell or lease, but the military insists on applying pressure to these private land owners as the threat of eminent domain hangs in the balance like it did after world war II, when residents were given a "take it or lose it" option when it came to private property. Most of the land that the military currently occupies was "purchased" for little to nothing in most cases and not selling was not an option.

Upon review of the DEIS, the US Environmental Protection Agency rated it "insufficient" and "environmentally unsatisfactory," giving it the lowest possible rating for a DEIS. Among other things, the US EPA's findings suggest that Guam's water infrastructure cannot handle the population boom and that our fresh water resources will be at high risk for contamination. Our waste water system is in desperate need of upgrades and the population increase threatens to cause overflow and run off which could permanently pollute our fresh water lens. The increase in demand for fresh water will require that we dig up 22 new water wells especially to serve the military population up north, but several experts believe that digging so many new wells in close proximity to each other puts us at high risk of salt water contamination. Once a fresh water well is contaminated by salt water, the effects are irreversible. Officials at the Guam Waterworks Authority claim that we have more than enough water to handle the burden of 80,000 additional people, but the DEIS has plans for a desalinization plant, which is normally only used if fresh water resources are limited or jeopardized. In addition, the US EPA predicts that without infrastructural upgrades to our water system, the population outside the bases will experience a 13.1 million gallon water shortage per day in 2014. And this is where the battle gets interesting.

Though it seems that the odds are already stacked against us and that we can rely on no one but ourselves, we have found that special interest groups like the Guam Chamber of Commerce and the Guam Visitors Bureau have been avid proponents of the military buildup. They target our marginalized population enticing them with dreams of economic prosperity. Over 25 percent of Guam's population lives below the poverty line and poverty is possibly the most powerful weapon in conquering a people.

These special interest groups and even some government officials including our Governor and our representative in congress prey on our people, dangling money over their heads while unemployment looms in the background like the Gestapo. These house slaves promise that life will be so much better with the buildup and threaten that foreign countries will invade if the buildup does not happen. We are being subjugated by US imperialism and dependency and our own people have become our own worst enemy. Right now, our representative in congress claims that the people of Guam welcome this buildup with open arms and that we will gladly "take one for the team." But we have never really been a part of America's Team. We are like the black athletes of the 30's and 40's whose accolades on the field were heralded, but couldn't even get a cab off the field.

We, the people, have found ourselves backed into a corner, deserted on the battlefield, left to fight the world's largest superpower. It is truly a case of David vs. Goliath. Though the military buildup on Guam seems like a losing battle, this terroristic threat to our homeland has caused an uprising among the youth and many have stepped up to fight and defend our island and its people. But we cannot win this alone, so we are calling on our brothers and sisters from across the globe; those of you who know the bitter taste of oppression, we urge you fight alongside us in solidarity. We want this buildup no more than Okinawa wants the Marines to stay put. The military has already stolen almost 30 percent of the total land mass in Guam. We cannot allow them to take even more from us. We have sacrificed time and again for a country that has led us astray with empty promises and half-truths; who have held us hostage with US citizenship, fear, and economic dependency. We need your help. We need environmental law experts to help us take this issue to court. We need media support to get our message out to the rest of the world. We need more representation and influence to help us fight in congress and the senate. We need the international community to help us stay afloat and not allow us to sink into a sea of indifference, ignorance, and apathy. I pray that these words do not fall on deaf ears and that the world will come to the aid of a people and an island who have been mistreated for over 500 years of uninterrupted colonization. Please do not allow Guam to sink into oblivion.

Cut and Paste Report

Portions of DEIS plagiarized, says UOG prof
Wednesday, 28 April 2010 05:58
by Jennifer Naylor Gesick
Marianas Variety News Staff

SOME portions of the draft environmental impact statement for the Guam military buildup revealed a case of “blatant plagiarism,” according to an assistant professor at the University of Guam.

Dr. Jason Biggs, assistant professor of biology, said the discovery was “serendipitous.”

“I did not agree with that paragraph, so I wanted to look up who wrote it,” Biggs said, pointing to volume IV of the draft report that refers to the aircraft carrier berthing and the proposed dredging of Apra Harbor.

The draft study, which according to the Joint Guam Program Office cost $87 million, was written by TEC Inc., a contractor for the U.S. military.

Biggs said the Navy Coral Assessment Methodology section of the military draft report was a cut-and-paste material from the conclusion of a 2009 scientific report titled, “Coral Reef Metrics and Habitat Equivalency Analysis” by Shay Veihman, Steven M. Thur, and Gregory A. Piniak.

A representative from TEC, who requested that he be identified only as “director of administration,” admitted that the portion in question was lifted from the scientific document.

“We did not adequately give that guy attribution,” the TEC representative told Variety. “Long story short, we put the section in quotes and footnoted it further and the final version will reflect that.”

Several paragraphs pasted by TEC into the draft study were taken verbatim from the study without proper attribution. “We have made sure to make it clear that we properly give him attribution for his academic work,” the TEC representative added.

Lies and more lies

Biggs said the plagiarism makes the credibility of the draft report suspect. “When you review any scientific document, just like in a court of law, if you find one lie in it, you can not believe any of it,” he said.

“Plagiarism is sort of a lie,” Biggs said. “If they openly plagiarize right there in the first couple of paragraphs of their calculations for the global ecological impact of what they are doing, then you can not believe any of the rest of it. So, all credibility was lost as soon as they plagiarized.”

Biggs added that just as bad as the plagiarism was that the purpose of using that material in the draft report was intended to support the creation of a new habitat equivalency quantification method.

“They used it to justify creating their own method of analysis,” Biggs said, “but the basis for all economic impacts is discounted service acreage years.”

He said TEC’s analysis “has errors in that it does not calculate the age of coral correctly and does not take into account the three dimensional nature of the coral reef.”

“So, they are basically dropping the ecological value right from the get go just because their technique is not robust enough,” Biggs said. “This would work to the military’s advantage because it would save them money.”

Quantification

In his comments on the draft study, Biggs stated that the new quantification method “grossly underestimates the rugosity of the inner Apra Harbor shoal system and the age classes of corals within them, and does not account for rare and endangered animals that are not directly observed at the time of the assessment.”

According to Biggs’ estimate, using a simplified ecological equivalency calculation to just what is known of the history of Apra Harbor, the expected result is a loss of approximately 2,460 DSAYs of coral habitat due to direct impacts alone, “which is over double that estimated within this [draft study].”

Biggs recommended that the Navy either proceed with the “no action alternative” or consider a re-evaluation of Kilo Wharf as the aircraft carrier berthing location and a subsequent relocation of smaller vessel munitions operations within inner Apra Harbor.

Final EIS This Summer

Final EIS out by summer
Thursday, 25 March 2010 04:55
by Zita Y. Taitano
Marianas Variety News Staff

THE final version of the environmental impact statement for the military buildup could be ready by late June or early July, Joint Guam Program Office director John Jackson said yesterday.

Jackson made the announcement before the Mayors Council during yesterday’s special meeting.

He said JGPO has received a total of 8,600 comments on the draft report.

He said the comments came from different places including Guam, Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii, among others.

“Those comments range from ‘We’re glad to see the Marines coming’ to ‘Yankee go home,’” Jackson said.

The documents received will be reviewed by a team in Hawaii and then put in 45 categories for the final version.

And while he didn’t go into what those categories were, Jackson said that they would be included in the final version and be referred to as actionable comments. Other comments that do not have any direct impact on the final study will be omitted.

“Once the final study is put out on the street, there will be a 30-day period from the time it is published to the time that the record of decision can be made in August,” Jackson said.

Jackson explained that the record of decision will be comprised of multiple alternatives and preferred alternatives by the Secretary of the Navy.

“The Secretary of the Navy may say he concurs with the preferred alternative at Finegayan for the Marine Corps Base or he may say I like that part, but I also want you to modify it to do the following things so the record of decision basically takes the recommendations from the final EIS and the decision signs off on it with yes or no,” said Jackson.

As for the failing grade that the draft report has received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Jackson said when the study was drafted last September, it was based on the input from the scoping meetings, and that several issues brought up had already been addressed.

He said Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the Environmental Quality Council, told him the issues and concerns were already taken care of.

Jackson, however, didn’t specify the issues that he said have been addressed.

Thousand Sign We Are Guahan Petition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM WE ARE GUÅHAN

Thousands Call on Obama to Speak with All of Guam’s People, Hear Concerns About Buildup

March 11, 2010, GUAM – With the largest military realignment in modern history slated to hit the US Territory of Guam, over 11,000 people from the Pacific Island and across the globe signed a petition asking President Barack Obama to speak directly with the people of Guam during his short visit next week. Obama's visit is an opportunity for the island's residents, who do not have the right to vote for President, to voice the many concerns they have with the buildup.

We Are Guåhan, a grassroots collective of individuals, families and organizations working to inform the community about the impacts of the buildup, began circulating the petition when it was announced last month that Obama would visit the island, but only speak to military personnel at Andresen Air Force Base.

After review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), released on November 30, 2009, We Are Guåhan worked with other concerned organizations and individuals to educate the community on the impacts of the buildup. We Are Guåhan, along with Government of Guam agencies, other organizations and concerned individuals submitted thousands of comments on the DEIS-- many of them pointing to the negative impacts outlined there for the people, economy and environment.

After the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's indictment of the DEIS late February, it has become increasingly clear that the military realignment to Guam will threaten the health and safety of the island's residents.

"We have not been able to say yes or no to this," says Jon Blas, resident of the village of Tamuning and member of We Are Guåhan. "Hawaii said no. California said no. But we were never given the opportunity. It's not fair, especially because it is looking like this is going to hurt us more than help us."

We Are Guåhan's growing membership felt that a strong message must be sent to Washington DC. The petition states: “The military buildup will permanently change our island and our lives. The needs of all Guam’s people must come first, for this island is our home. It is critical that President Obama hear our concerns.”

We Are Guåhan will deliver the petition to the White House today both by electronic and paper copy.

There will be a community response on March 19, during Obama’s visit, to break the silence and demonstrate that the island’s people demand to have a voice in their future. Obama is not currently planning to speak with the people of Guam. We Are Guåhan hopes the 11,000 requests for a forum will change Obama’s plans.

For more information visit We Are Guåhan’s website at www.weareguahan.com

Leaders respond to Bordallo's address

Leaders respond to Bordallo's address

Posted: Feb 17, 2010 3:17 PM
Updated: Feb 17, 2010 7:06 PM

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - The reviews are out for Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo's annual congressional address delivered last night in Hagatna, and from even her toughest critics her address seems to have been a big hit. Escorted into session hall by local attorney Mike Phillips, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo's address Tuesday night covered an array of issues, including a pledge to help the Department of Education Superintendent Dr Nerissa Underwood, who said, "When she found out we were really in a tight spot, she actually made a lot of effort in ensuring that USDOE knows that she is on top of it, so I appreciate it."

Bordallo also pledged to work to get an increase in Compact impact funding and to continue her relentless efforts to get war reparations, but the bulk of her speech last night dealt with the military buildup and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Bordallo listed off six areas of concern regarding the buildup, ranging from land issues which she opposed the use of condemnation, even so far as challenging the military use land within their existing footprint.

She also said the Department of Defense must seriously consider and find ways to fund the infrastructure improvements needed outside the fence to support the buildup. Governor Felix Camacho, who delivered his address just the day before, said it was a "excellent speech" and that he will continue to work with the congresswoman, especially as he heads to the nation's capital in the coming weeks.

"There are series of meetings with federal officials that will be had regarding the buildup in other matters related to Guam, and I look forward to working on many of these issues," he noted.

Committee Chair on the Guam Military Buildup Senator Judi Guthertz, who has not shied away in expressing her disdain with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, was pleased with Bordallo's speech, calling it "terrific". She said, "It's clear to me now that the Legislature, our congresswoman and our governor are all thinking the same way on the Draft EIS, so we have a commonality speaking with one voice now on the Draft EIS.

"I'm hopeful now that our military friends and Washington leadership will pay attention to the concerns that have been brought forth by our congresswoman, legislature and by our governor and to redo the Draft EIS and address the issues that need to be addressed."

Speaking of military, 36th Wing Commander at Andersen Air Force Base Brigadier General Phil Rhulman attended Monday's night's address. He said, "It was an excellent speech a good speech by Congresswoman Bordallo and the best thing about it was emphasizing the fact that we're all work together with this military buildup."

It's this coming together, so to speak, that District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood liked most about Bordallo's address, saying, "I just think the most important thing I felt being here as a federal public official as well as a judge is just the positive outlook she has and the call she has for everyone to come together, I think that was really the important thing for me."

What was important for Ted Nelson was to hear Bordallo's position on land and her clearly stating that she was not in support of eminent domain. He was also happy to hear that she plans to propose to the navy to either use property in Naval Magazine or Tinian as an alternative for the Marines training ranges, instead of his property in the eastern part of Guam. He said, "We are very pleased that she has recognized our rights and that she will go beyond work with the Navy, military and everybody else to ensure that no land will be taken or be condemned, so we thank her, God bless Guam and Madeleine Bordallo."

Meanwhile, surprisingly Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz, who as of late has been critical of the congresswoman on the military buildup, was satisfied for the most part with her address. He said, "My only disappointment is that she didn't expand on the medical and mental health needs, but otherwise the rest of the speech addressed most everything that I was concerned about. The condemnation issue, the dredging, it wasn't as strong as I wanted but at least now she recognizes this just cannot happen.

"I was very proud of the speech that she gave last night, I was very happy.

Bordallo addresses people of Guam

Bordallo addresses people of Guam

Posted: Feb 16, 2010 7:27 PM
Updated: Feb 17, 2010 9:05 AM

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

*Madeleine Bordallo's Congressional Address
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/gu00_bordallo/congressional_address.html

Guam - Serving her fourth term in office, Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo delivered her annual Congressional Report on issues she has been working on over the last year as well as projects she is currently working on or will work on in the future. Here is a summary of the issues she touched on in her address before the Guam Legislature Tuesday evening:

* Bordallo discussed the issue of War Reparations and how she is pushing for its inclusion in this year's National Defense Bill.
* She plans to request increase funding for Compact Impact
* She will assist DOE in getting help from USDOE to resolve its funding crisis

The biggest chunk of her address was dedicated to the military buildup and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Bordallo listed off six areas of concern:

1. The Navy's Plans to acquire more land for the buildup: Bordallo said she will challenge the Navy to conduct the buildup within its existing footprint

2. Proposed Firing Ranges in Pagat and Sasayan: Bordallo said she is opposed to eminent domain and will ask the navy to re-evaluate the use of Naval Magazine as well as training ranges in Tinian as an alternative.

3. Air Craft Carrier Berthing: Bordallo plans to challenge the Navy to identify other alternatives that will minimize coral damage and take advantage are Kilo or Delta Wharves.

4. Lack of Financial Commitment from the Federal Government to fund civilian infrastructure projects: Bordallo is calling on the Navy to address this issue in a serious manner.

5. Lack of comprehensive housing for guest workers and providing healthcare needs in a manner that does not further overwhelm the island's infrastructure and healthcare system.

6. Socio-Economic Impact: Bordallo said the DEIS portion must be completely re-written in order to truly address the socio-economic impacts of the buildup.

The Congresswoman, meanwhile, said she supports the Governor's efforts to extend the construction timeline for the buildup. She said that in her comments she will submit on the Draft EIS she will request the Navy to provide a more realistic timeline and adjust the EIS analysis to reflect a realistic construction phase of eight to ten years.

In closing Bordallo mentioned President Barack Obama's upcoming visit next month which will give him an opportunity to hear the island's concerns. She ended by thanking the people of Guam and also recognized the men and women from Guam who are currently serving in harm's way in the Middle East.

Guam calls for transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to be delayed

Guam calls for transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to be delayed

Feb 17 02:28 AM US/Eastern

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The congresswoman who represents Guam in the U.S. House of Representatives said Tuesday that the 2014 deadline for completing the planned transfer of about 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to the Pacific island should be delayed so that the island can better prepare for the upcoming surge in population.

"One of the most troubling aspects of the draft environmental impact statement (for the military buildup on Guam) is that all assumptions are based on projects being completed by 2014," Democrat Madeleine Bordallo said in an address to Guam's legislature. The text of her speech was made available on her website.

"This flawed assumption has drawn consequences and conclusions that are not sustainable and not supported by anyone," Bordallo said.

In addition to relocating about 8,600 Marines and 9,000 family members from the southernmost Japanese prefecture, the buildup plan for the island includes the establishment of an Army Missile Defense Task Force and the construction of a wharf for use by the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

According to a recent report by Stars and Stripes, a Pentagon- authorized newspaper for U.S. military personnel overseas, the buildup calls for "adding nearly 80,000 people to Guam's 178,000 population during the height of construction in 2014." The 80,000 is believed to include a large number of temporary workers who will come to the island to engage in construction work necessary for the buildup.

Bordallo said among concerns associated with the buildup is "the lack of a comprehensive plan for the housing of guest workers and providing for their health care needs in a manner that does not further overwhelm our local infrastructure and health care system."

"We cannot allow guest worker housing off-base to cause the faucets to run dry or power outages in our homes," she said, adding she will not support "appropriations and authorizations that will result in a construction pace that brings 80,000 people to Guam in 2014."

Bordallo's call for the buildup plan to be delayed follows a similar request by Guam Gov. Felix Camacho to the U.S. military last month.

The relocation of the Marines from Okinawa to Guam is linked to the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station within Okinawa, which is also eyed in the same time frame.

Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement EIS/OE

Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement EIS/OE

Joint Guam Program Office (JGPO)
C/O NAVFAC Pacific
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 96860-3134
Attention: GPMO

Reference: Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS), Guam and CNMI Military Relocation:

Relocating Marines from Okinawa, Visiting Aircraft Carrier Berthing, and Army Air and Missile Defense Task Force

Hafa Adai! Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the referenced Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The military buildup proposed for the island of Guahan unprecedented in sheer size and magnitude that it will undoubtedly significantly impact and change the culture, environment, quality of life, and future of the island. Guahan's ability to effectively integrate the military expansion will determine the success of the island's growth and development for decades to come.

This cover letter summarizes our technical and policy concerns about the DEIS, and are detailed in the attached comment spreadsheets prepared by the staff and technical experts of the Government of Guahan instrumentalities. We are submitting these comments as the "affected official local government" in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A). Please enter this letter and all the attachments submitted with it into the comment record.

Our purpose in submitting detailed comments is to ensure that the Department of Defense (DOD) has a full understanding of Guahan's concerns about the proposed military buildup and the DEIS. We believe that the DEIS is lacking in a number of areas.

Click here to view this posting in it's entirety. (pdf format - file size 44mb)
http://guamgovernor.net/GOV%20FINAL%20COMPILATION.pdf

Bordallo challenges DEIS

Bordallo challenges DEIS

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 03:37
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff

Congressional report lists flaws of the draft study

THE military buildup must be delayed, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo said last night, acknowledging that the draft environmental impact statement has serious deficiencies that need to be addressed.

In her congressional report to the people, Bordallo identified six areas of concern regarding the draft study, including and the Navy’s desire to acquire additional private and public lands.

“We will challenge the Navy to conduct the military buildup on their existing land. The Navy should better utilize its land and consider moving housing and some support facilities for the Marine aviation unit to Andersen Air Force Base,” Bordallo said.

Secondly, an area of concern is the proposed firing range at Pagat and Sasayan. “If private property owners choose not to lease or sell their land I will support them and oppose any effort by the Department of Defense to use eminent domain to acquire that land. I recognize the input of private landowners and the organization ‘We Are Guahan’ on this issue.

A third area of concern is the proposed alternative for an aircraft carrier transient berth in Apra Harbor. “The plans for the carrier berth in Apra Harbor will result in a significant loss of coral. I will challenge the Navy to identify other alternatives that will minimize coral damage and that will take advantage of currently dredged areas such as Kilo or Delta wharves among others. I thank Senator Guthertz for her input,” said the congresswoman.

Fourth, she noted the need for federal assistance for improving civilian infrastructure on Guam to support the military buildup.

“While the DEIS draft report recognizes the need to improve civilian infrastructure it does not provide a clear strategy that details how the federal government will assist Guam,” Bordallo said as she opposed the Navy’s plan to drill 22 new wells in the north “until an independent assessment is made about the capacity of the northern aquifer.”

The fifth area of concern is the lack of a comprehensive plan for the housing of guest workers and providing for their health care needs in a manner that does not further overwhelm Guam’s local infrastructure and health care system.

“Let me be clear about this issue – we must do all that we can to train our local workforce and hire them before we utilize guest workers. Any proposal to house guest workers outside the gates must address their impact on civilian infrastructure such as water, wastewater and power. We cannot allow guest worker housing off-base to cause the faucets to run dry or power outages in our homes.”

Socioeconomic

Finally, Bordallo said, the socioeconomic portion of the draft study must be completely rewritten “in order to truly address the socioeconomic impacts of the military buildup.”

She said she will encourage the Navy to work closely with the University of Guam, the Guam Community College and the Department of Chamorro Affairs to develop a better understanding of the cultural issues and to formulate a comprehensive plan to support programs which preserve and promote Chamorro culture and language and I thank Fuetsan Famaloan for this input.”

On the issue of war claims, Bordallo said that she has made significant progress and that “we are closer than ever to passing this bill and we will continue to build on our progress.”

Bordallo spoke strongly on Guam’s quest for self-determination saying that Guam must refocus on the process to achieve decolonization and improve its political status with the U.S.

Projects

Bordallo also said she was concerned about the one of the assumption in the draft impact report that all projects will be completed by 2014.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that this draft EIS has done more harm than good. The DEIS has not accurately identified the impacts on Guam and it has exaggerated some impacts based on a false assumption that all projects will be completed by 2014,” said the congresswoman.

“This flawed assumption has drawn consequences and conclusions that are not sustainable and not supported by anyone. Nobody wants 80,000 additional people on Guam in 2014,” Bordallo said. “We will do everything that we can, federally and locally, to stop that from happening. As I said before, we have our foot on the brakes. I will not support appropriations and authorizations that will result in a construction pace that brings 80,000 people to Guam in 2014.”

DEIS comment period expires tomorrow

DEIS comment period expires tomorrow

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 03:33
by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff

GUAM residents have until 3 p.m. tomorrow to submit their comments on the draft environmental impact statement, upon expiration of the 90-day public review and comment that officially started on Nov. 21 last year.

The Record of Decision is expected to be issued in August.

Senator Ben Pangelinan wants to see the final draft of the document to see if changes are made to include public input. “Then we would submit comments on the final draft for the final copy,” he said.

There were two ways for residents to submit their comments, whether it was to submit on line on the impact study’s website www.guambuildupeis.us or to do download the comment form the site and mail it to the Joint Guam Program Office courtesy of the Naval Facilities headquarters in Hawaii.

The latter of which must be postmarked on Feb. 17 in order for the comment document to be included with the thousands of other comments on the study.

The original time frame for the comment period was 45 days, but was extended to 90 days after concerns were raised that the allotted time was not enough for residents to fully digest the 11,000-page document and express their thoughts.

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo has requested the Department of Navy to extend the comment period further, but the congresswoman received no response.

Senator Judi Guthertz, chairman of the military buildup committee at the legislature, yesterday sent another installment of comment paper, in which she emphasized the billions of dollars that Guam needs in order to adequately prepare itself for the military buildup.

“Only minimal assistance has been forthcoming from the federal government, which has placed this unfunded mandate upon 178,000 American citizens living on a tiny island of only 212 square miles,” said Guthertz.

Once all the comments have been received at the NAVFAC Pacific, they will be reviewed and put together for the final draft copy.

Residents who would like to send their comments via regular mail can send them to the following address JGPO c/o NAVFAC Pacific, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134 ATTENTION: GMPO. Again, all comments mailed out by Wednesday should have it postmarked Feb. 17.

Senators to meet with Webb

Senators to meet with Webb

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 03:29
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff

SENATOR Jim Webb from Virginia, who is on a weeklong tour of Japan and Guam, will meet with Guam lawmakers on Thursday.

In Japan, Webb said he was open to hearing options on how to resolve the dispute over the relocation of the Futenma Marine air base in Okinawa.

The situation has become a contentious issue with the U.S. government and the new Japanese government, which has put a hold on plans to move Futenma air base on Nago, the southern island of Okinawa.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said he will make a decision on Futenma by May.

Speaker Judi Won Pat said lawmakers will share with Webb their concerns regarding the draft environmental impact statement, as well as the U.S. not providing any funding to assist Guam in preparing for the military buildup which includes strengthening its infrastructure, the building of new schools to mitigate the already overcrowded facilities, the U.S. proposed firing range, the dredging of Apra Harbor, eminent domain, and the true overall sentiments of the people regarding the buildup.

Won Pat said with the recent fact-finding mission by a Japanese delegation to Guam, Japanese officials now have a clear picture of the reality of the buildup and the financial burden the government of Guam must carry. Won Pat said she was assured by Diet members that the information gathered will be carried back to Japan and told.

Won Pat said she hopes Webb will be open to lawmakers’ concerns and that he too will bring back these issues to his colleagues in Washington.

Webb has traveled to Okinawa in the last 40 years, first as a Marine during the Vietnam War and later as a U.S. defense planner and government official. He is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

Sen B J Cruz with Ray Gibson

Sen B J Cruz with Ray Gibson

Interview between Ray Gibson and Senator B J Cruz about escorting Congress Woman Bordallo at the Legislature for the State of the Congress address. They then talked about the Governor's State of the Island address and what what the senator would like to hear in the Congresswoman's address. They then talked about the Speak Out Telethon for comments about the Draft EIS. They also talked about the Governor changing Guam to Guahan and about the suggestion of reunification between Guam and the CNMI

Click here to download the entire podcast.
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/images/stories/k57podcasts/feb10/100216_074131.mp3

‘We will finish strong’

‘We will finish strong’

Tuesday, 16 February 2010 01:00
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff

Camacho seeks one Marianas

GUAM should once again seek the reunification of the Marianas Islands, as the combined strength of the islands and her people on matters of mutual interests and benefit, Gov. Felix Camacho said yesterday during his last state of the island address, in which he promised to “finish strong.”

“Over the last seven years, our ties to our brothers and sisters in the neighboring islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands have become closer than ever,” Camacho said.

“Keep an open mind about the possibility of reunification,” he said. “I have faith in the Northern Marianas…and this is the right time to realize our expectations—expect the very best vision of reunification.”

The CNMI is a part of the military buildup plan as outlined in the draft environmental impact statement.

Camacho recently met with CNMI Gov. Benigno Fitial during a Japanese Diet delegation on a fact finding mission and both were in agreement that Guam cannot support more troops than the anticipated 8,000 Marines and their 9,000 dependents.

Fitial welcomes the additional 4,000 troops from Futenma Airbase in Okinawa and has proposed that Tinian be used for the overflow.

Military buildup

During his speech, Camacho said the years ahead “will be challenging but prosperous for all of us.”

“I have seen in our people the desire to turn willingness into action, vision into reality and passion into responsible and positive change.”

Camacho made a strong bid for the federal government to fund the cost of the military buildup on Guam, and expressed his strong stand about the Marines’ relocation plan.

A successful buildup cannot happen without the proper funding, said Camacho.

“The people of Guam do not have the financial capacity to fund what is required for our nation’s defense. Without the financial commitment from the federal government to put plans into action, this buildup will not benefit the people of Guam,” he said.

Camacho said that the buildup must benefit “the American patriot inside the fence and the American patriot outside the fence- the people of Guam.”

Building upon the many comments regarding the draft environmental impact statement, Camacho had three recommendations.

What feds must do

First, the federal government must commit to fund the government of Guam’s buildup needs.

Secondly, the buildup timeline must be extended beyond 2014, said Camacho.

And finally, Camacho recommended that the Department of Defense must reevaluate their plans and placement of the firing range and proposed dredging of Apra Harbor.

Camacho also stated that he will not support the condemnation of the Ancestral or Chamorro Land Trust properties; that the trust was established to bring justice to families of Chamorro descent who were displaced or left landless by the federal government.

Reunification

As for his desire to see Guam and the CNMI reunited, Camacho said, “We can only succeed if we begin to forgive and let’s not look behind but let’s look forward.”

“As one Marianas, with greater representation and inclusion as American citizens, we will only strengthen our people and our communities,” Camacho said, adding that the reunification can only be realized once the people of Guam begin the healing process.

Camacho shared this same sentiment at the 2009 Economic Restoration Summit in Saipan, and even proposed that regional economic task forces be created so that islands can work together and benefit from the military buildup.

History of bitterness

Guam rejected the proposed Marianas unification was Nov. 4, 1969.

Some believed the rejection was some sort of “payback” to the Northern Marianas Chamorros for their perceived assistance to the Japanese forces during the occupation of Guam. During World War II, the NMI was a Japanese possession. Others argued that the reunification issue lost its significance on Guam which was preparing to hold its first gubernatorial election in the following year.

Camacho has been a strong proponent for the reunification of Guam and the CNMI.

In May, 2008, during the Attorney General’s Cup speech in Saipan, Camacho asked forgiveness from the CNMI for Guam’s rejection of the proposed reunification.

Camacho believes that 40 long years “is enough to end all bitterness and isolation among” the Chamorros of Guam and the NMI.

“You must tear down the walls. Learn to forgive because it’s a choice, not an option,” he said in 2008.

Camacho’s father was the last appointed governor of Guam and became its first elected chief executive in 1970.

“He told me… ‘son, this was what happened, ” Camacho said, adding that Guam and the NMI inherited what their former leaders have left behind.

In his 2008 speech, Camacho said “it is time to focus on a vision and plan for unity —we cannot allow others to break that hope.”

Emotional

Camacho’s 30-minute speech turned emotional at some point. He broke down in tears as he acknowledged how difficult it was for his family to share the burden he was given when he became governor and what they’ve had to endure in their lives.

Turning to acknowledge his mother and First Lady Joann and his family who were seated behind him, Camacho thanked them for their love, encouragement and inspiration which have kept him going.

Bid for DEIS comment extension snubbed

Bid for DEIS comment extension snubbed

Tuesday, 16 February 2010 00:57
by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff

CONGRESSWOMAN Madeleine Bordallo’s request for extension of the comment period for the draft environmental impact statement appears to have been ignored.

“We did write the letter, but we just haven’t had any answer,” Bordallo said.
“The deadline is approaching you know and we don’t have any answer on the extension.”

The deadline for the comments to be turned in is this Wednesday at midnight eastern standard time or Thursday 3 p.m. Guam standard time.

Bordallo sent the request letter to Department of the Navy Secretary Ray Nabus late last year.

Joint Guam Program Office’s spokesman, Major Neil Ruggiero, said that any response regarding the request would have to come directly from the Department of the Navy.

Former Navy Secretary B.J. Penn, who is on island to attend Bordallo’s congressional address today and Gov. Felix Camacho’s state of the island address yesterday, in the past when questions regarding the impact study came up, the Navy always replied.

“We want to make sure it’s done correctly and if we happen to cut it off prematurely it doesn’t serve anyone to do that and this is a huge draft environmental impact study. We had 86 separate studies,” Penn said. “So we’re at least trying to make it done right and I’m sure that if a request has been made, they’re trying to everything in their power.”

Penn noted that the funding for the impending military buildup is on its way to Guam and the Department of Defense is trying to complete the study as quickly as possible.

Bordallo to deliver congressional report

Bordallo to deliver congressional report

Tuesday, 16 February 2010 00:57 by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff

CONGRESSWOMAN Madeleine Z. Bordallo will deliver her biennial Congressional Report to the people of Guam at 6 p.m. tonight.

She will be escorted by vice speaker BJ Cruz and Sen. Frank Blas Jr.

Both lawmakers have been critical of Bordallo’s perceived lack of support for the people of Guam and the plight Guam faces regarding the military buildup.

Specifically, the zero funding from the United States federal government on the proposed buildup, her stance on the draft environmental impact statement and the hundreds of millions of dollars owed to the people of Guam because of the Compact Impact covenant.

While word circulated that the congresswoman wanted attorney Mike Phillips, her nephew, to escort her down the aisle tonight, the legislature informed the congresswoman’s office that they have purview as to who will walk her down the aisle.

Speaker Judi Won Pat, in a show of bipartisanship, chose Sens. Tina Muña-Barnes and Telo Taitague to walk Gov. Felix Camacho to the podium when he delivered his state of the island address yesterday.

Won Pat said that Cruz and Blas both volunteered to escort Bordallo to the podium.

Governor's Final State of the Island Address Filled With Surprises

Governor's Final State of the Island Address Filled With Surprises

Monday, 15 February 2010

Guam - After nearly completing eight years in office Governor Felix Camacho gave his last state of the island address Monday morning..

While he looked back on his past accomplishments Camacho also looked to the future as he spoke about the military buildup and how it would affect the lives of everyone on Guam. Governor Felix Camacho began his last state of the island address with a reflection on the past recalling how he first took the oath of office by candelight.

Camacho took the reigns of GovGuam almost immediately after typhoon Pongsona ripped through the island. He dealt with the economic recession in Asia and the aftermath of 9/11. It was not a time of prosperity. This is why the governor spoke proudly of how his administration and his family helped him turn tragedy into triumph.

He listed off the many accomplishments of his administration saying "Through municipal leasing we build Okkodo High, Astumbo Middle, Liguan and Adacao Elementary schools when people said we couldn'." He also spoke of the millions of dollars worth of construction his administration has undertaken to improve roads expand airport runways and improve water and wastewater. He said "Today our water is the cleanest and safest it's been in decades."

The Govenor also dropped a few bombshells talking about issues that would've seemed unlikely to come out of his mouth during his first term as governor. For example he spoke about the reunification of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. He also spoke candidly about the military buildup saying it was imperative that it be done properly. He said "First the federal government must commit to fund the government of Guam's buildup needs" He also said that the buildup timeline must be extended beyond 2014 and called upon the Department of Defense to re-evaluate their plans and placement of the firing range and proposed dredging of Apra Harbor. He said "I will not support the condemnation of our Ancestral or Chamorro Land Trust Properties."

Finally, he spoke about something that if done could grant him a solid spot in the anals of Guam history. Before dropping this final bom he said "Okay here we go, this is Legacy time". The governor was referring to his propossal to change the name of Guam to Guahan. Guahan is a name many believe to be the original name of Guam.

Written by : Clynt Ridgell

PNC :: Japanese Group Studying Guam Buildup

PNC :: Japanese Group Studying Guam Buildup

Monday, 15 February 2010

Guam - With the comment period of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement drawing to a close this Wednesday an independent citizens group from Japan sent representatives to Guam to find out how the average citizen feels about the military buildup.

Hibiki yamaguchi is with the People's Plan Study Group of Japan. He's here on Guam on a fact finding mission to find out how the U.S. military has been affecting the lives of people on Guam. Yamaguchi says that Japanese officials are making their decisions after visiting the island for only a few days. He said "what we try to do here is go deeper into people's lives."

Yamaguchi will be on Guam for ten days with the goal of letting Japanese citizens know what people on Guam are thinking and feeling about the military buildup. He says his group is doing this because Japanese officials are trying to reach a conclusion on the military buildup without knowing what the people of Guam really think.

Written by : Clynt Ridgell

PNC :: Draft EIS Comments Due This Week

PNC :: Draft EIS Comments Due This Week

Monday, 15 February 2010

Guam - These are the final days to submit your written comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the military buildup. The defense department has given Guam until February 17th to make comments.

There were several requests made for an extension to the review period but neither Governor Camacho, nor Congresswoman Madeline Bordallo have heard back from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and it appears unlikely it will be granted.

You can send your comments through the internet. You can find links to the Civilian Military Task Force through the Governor’s Office website.

Written by : Patti Arroyo

We Are Guahan and Dave Lotz with Ray Gibson

We Are Guahan and Dave Lotz with Ray Gibson

Interview between Ray Gibson, Dave Lotz and members of We Are Guahan about the Guam Boonie Stompers cleanup and hike to Pagat and Marbo Caves. They also talked about the military buildup Draft EIS.

Click here to download the entire podcast.
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/images/stories/k57podcasts/feb10/100215_083736.mp3

Part 2 - Interview between Ray Gibson, Dave Lotz and members of We Are Guahan about how there is still time to present testimony concerning the Draft EIS. They also discussed upcoming activities of the Guam Boonie Stompers including a hike on Naval Station at Orote Point.

Click here to download the entire podcast.
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/images/stories/k57podcasts/feb10/100215_090556.mp3