Senate asks U.S. to consider Angaur as Futenma relocation site
Wednesday, April 28 2010 15:19
By Bernadette H. Carreon
Palau Horizon
KOROR (Palau Horizon) – The Senate has adopted a resolution asking President Johnson Toribiong to offer the State of Angaur as an alternative location for the United States’ Airbase following plans to relocate the Futenma Airbase from Okinawa, Japan.
Resolution 8-53 stated that Angaur State can be utilized for the “United States military, strategic planning for the relocation of the Futenma Airbase from Okinawa, Japan.”
Resolution 8-53 requests President Johnson Toribiong to discuss with the government of the United States, through diplomatic channels the plan.
The resolution said that under the Compact of Free Association, U.S. has the right options to use lands in Palau for military defense.
The resolution cited that on the April 13-15, 2010 issue of the Palau Horizon, two members of the Japanese Diet; namely, the Honorable Takamine Zenshin and Tinian-born Representative Teruya Kantoku, expressed strong desire for the Island of Tinian in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as a likely site to relocate Futenma Airbase from Okinawa, Japan.
The senators said historically Angaur has been used as a military support by the U.S. during World War II.
The resolution stated that a nearly 10,000 feet runway was constructed on Angaur Island from September 17-30, 1944 following a six-day, non-stop bombardment by USS Tennessee and landing on Angaur of the US 81st Infantry Division under the Command of Major General Paul J. Muller and from this newly constructed airfield US military aircrafts flew over to and bombed the Island of Peleliu and that said Angaur airfield provided much needed support for the invasion and the eventual US victory of the Battle of Peleliu.
It added, several years later said Angaur Airfield was put to civilian use as interim airport for commercial airplanes to land throughout the time Airai International Airport was under construction for resurfacing and extension of the runways.
Under Title III, Article II – Defense Sites and Operating Rights – in Section 321 of the Compact of Free Association “allows the United States to establish and use defense sites in Palau, and may designate land and water areas and improvements in accordance with terms and conditions set forth in a separate subsidiary agreement known as the Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement.”
Japan wanted the airbase out of Okinawa.
Showing posts with label Palau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palau. Show all posts
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Joint Region Marianas announces new commander
Joint Region Marianas announces new commander
Monday, 01 February 2010 03:27
Variety News Staff
(JRM) – Rear Adm. Douglass T. Biesel will be relieved by Rear Adm. Paul J. Bushong during a change of command ceremony which has yet to be scheduled.
Biesel will serve as commander, Navy Region Northwest, Silverdale, Wash. He is returning to a familiar duty station, since he was the commanding officer of Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Wash.
Bushong will serve as commander, Joint Region Marianas, U.S. Defense Representative Guam, CNMI, FSM, Palau/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas based in Guam, an area with which he is familiar.
Bushong is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Two, Groton, Conn. He has served as commanding officer of USS Frank Cable (AS 40), homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam and in other assignments on submarines based in the pacific.
Bushong is a native of Lucas, Texas, and was commissioned upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1981.
Biesel is a native of Coudersport, Pa., and was raised in Newtown, Conn. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1975 and attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R. I.
Monday, 01 February 2010 03:27
Variety News Staff
(JRM) – Rear Adm. Douglass T. Biesel will be relieved by Rear Adm. Paul J. Bushong during a change of command ceremony which has yet to be scheduled.
Biesel will serve as commander, Navy Region Northwest, Silverdale, Wash. He is returning to a familiar duty station, since he was the commanding officer of Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Wash.
Bushong will serve as commander, Joint Region Marianas, U.S. Defense Representative Guam, CNMI, FSM, Palau/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas based in Guam, an area with which he is familiar.
Bushong is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Two, Groton, Conn. He has served as commanding officer of USS Frank Cable (AS 40), homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam and in other assignments on submarines based in the pacific.
Bushong is a native of Lucas, Texas, and was commissioned upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1981.
Biesel is a native of Coudersport, Pa., and was raised in Newtown, Conn. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1975 and attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R. I.
Monday, December 21, 2009
US to slash aid payments to Palau
US to slash aid payments to Palau
The Pacific island nation of Palau is the largest recipient of aid per capita from the United States.
It has received more than $852m dollars in US financial assistance over the last 15 years.
But Washington is planning to cut back direct assistance by $5m a year and residents fear the impact of any reduction.
As Al Jazeera's Divya Gopalan reports, the cutback threatens to lower per capita income on the island by nearly one-quarter, and leave Palau's government struggling to build a viable economy
The Pacific island nation of Palau is the largest recipient of aid per capita from the United States.
It has received more than $852m dollars in US financial assistance over the last 15 years.
But Washington is planning to cut back direct assistance by $5m a year and residents fear the impact of any reduction.
As Al Jazeera's Divya Gopalan reports, the cutback threatens to lower per capita income on the island by nearly one-quarter, and leave Palau's government struggling to build a viable economy
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Regional leaders seek to stop spread of invasive species
Regional leaders seek to stop spread of invasive species
Thursday, 10 December 2009 04:38 by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff
THE governors of Guam and the CNMI, as well as the presidents of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Marshall Islands have signed a joint communiqué agreeing to initiate programs to ensure that islands in the region will be able to handle the possible influx of invasive species resulting from increased entry of military cargo.
The communiqué was signed during the 12th Micronesia Chief Executives Summit concluded last week. It includes an update by the nine members of the Micronesia Regional Invasive Species Council.
During the summit, the council addressed everything from funding issues, ongoing efforts that would prevent the expansion of the brown tree snake, as well as the development of the Micronesia Biosecurity Plan.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, island leaders expressed their concern regarding invasive species especially with the military buildup and strongly requested that DOD along with its fellow U.S. department and agencies begin proactive measures that would prevent any new invasive species from entering the shores of the islands here in the region.
They also expressed their appreciation for the $2.7 million federal funding for the development of the plan.
The chief executives made some recommendations regarding the plan such as identifying who will head the council and designating two representatives to the council from each state and national jurisdiction by the end of this year.
The council must also reaffirm their commitment and hold two workshop style meetings each year between the summits. During those meetings, the council will discuss invasive issues and what actions can be taken or will be prioritized. A minimum of $2,500 from each jurisdiction would be committed to the council to fund its priority projects.
The council must also reaffirm their commitment and provide a full-time invasive species coordinator for each jurisdiction.
Guam has already taken a step in combating invasive species. Last month, the Inter-agency Bio-Security Task Force was formed at the governor’s office in Adelup.
The task force is comprised of the Guam Department of Agriculture, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Its primary goal is provide information and updates on what and how invasive species can be eradicated from Guam.
The task force also has currently in training three canines who will be able to detect any type of invasive species in construction materials or items coming into the island before those items head out to the rest of Micronesia.
Thursday, 10 December 2009 04:38 by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff
THE governors of Guam and the CNMI, as well as the presidents of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Marshall Islands have signed a joint communiqué agreeing to initiate programs to ensure that islands in the region will be able to handle the possible influx of invasive species resulting from increased entry of military cargo.
The communiqué was signed during the 12th Micronesia Chief Executives Summit concluded last week. It includes an update by the nine members of the Micronesia Regional Invasive Species Council.
During the summit, the council addressed everything from funding issues, ongoing efforts that would prevent the expansion of the brown tree snake, as well as the development of the Micronesia Biosecurity Plan.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, island leaders expressed their concern regarding invasive species especially with the military buildup and strongly requested that DOD along with its fellow U.S. department and agencies begin proactive measures that would prevent any new invasive species from entering the shores of the islands here in the region.
They also expressed their appreciation for the $2.7 million federal funding for the development of the plan.
The chief executives made some recommendations regarding the plan such as identifying who will head the council and designating two representatives to the council from each state and national jurisdiction by the end of this year.
The council must also reaffirm their commitment and hold two workshop style meetings each year between the summits. During those meetings, the council will discuss invasive issues and what actions can be taken or will be prioritized. A minimum of $2,500 from each jurisdiction would be committed to the council to fund its priority projects.
The council must also reaffirm their commitment and provide a full-time invasive species coordinator for each jurisdiction.
Guam has already taken a step in combating invasive species. Last month, the Inter-agency Bio-Security Task Force was formed at the governor’s office in Adelup.
The task force is comprised of the Guam Department of Agriculture, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Its primary goal is provide information and updates on what and how invasive species can be eradicated from Guam.
The task force also has currently in training three canines who will be able to detect any type of invasive species in construction materials or items coming into the island before those items head out to the rest of Micronesia.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Palau’s Toribiong vetoes casino bill
Palau’s Toribiong vetoes casino bill
Thursday, 03 December 2009 00:00 By Bernadette H. Carreon - Palau Reporter
KOROR (Palau Horizon) — President Johnson Toribiong has vetoed the casino bill, describing it as a get-rich-quick scheme that will not benefit Palau.
In his transmittal letter to the Olbiil Era Kelulau, the national legislature, the president said the controversial bill was a rushed, confusing and not well-thought piece of legislation.
The measure stated that controlled gaming in Palau will diversify its tourism base and attract new investments.
Toribiong disagreed.
“It is my belief that gambling will not augment our tourist industry, but rather will detract from the very reason that people choose to vacation here,” he said.
Its proponents said the bill contains provisions to protect the people of Palau from the dangers of compulsive and addictive gambling, but Toribiong noted that it does not prohibit Palauans from gambling.
He said the bill does not even require a state to consult the people through a referendum if they are in favor of a casino.
“A state government could permit a casino to be located in its state simply by passing a law. In any event, given the size of our country, the negative effects of gambling in one state cannot be limited solely to the state,” Toribiong said.
The bill, he added, appears to favor casino operators rather than the people of Palau.
He said it does not permit sufficient time to do a background check on casino license applicants and will pay members of the gaming commission “exorbitant money.”
The president said Palau should look into the experiences of Tinian’s struggling casino which opened in 1998.
He said the casino proponents’ expectations are not realistic as Palau cannot compete with the established casino industries in Macau, Malaysia or the Philippines.
According to Toribiong, the people of Palau should decide whether they want to legalize casino gaming in their country.
Thursday, 03 December 2009 00:00 By Bernadette H. Carreon - Palau Reporter
KOROR (Palau Horizon) — President Johnson Toribiong has vetoed the casino bill, describing it as a get-rich-quick scheme that will not benefit Palau.
In his transmittal letter to the Olbiil Era Kelulau, the national legislature, the president said the controversial bill was a rushed, confusing and not well-thought piece of legislation.
The measure stated that controlled gaming in Palau will diversify its tourism base and attract new investments.
Toribiong disagreed.
“It is my belief that gambling will not augment our tourist industry, but rather will detract from the very reason that people choose to vacation here,” he said.
Its proponents said the bill contains provisions to protect the people of Palau from the dangers of compulsive and addictive gambling, but Toribiong noted that it does not prohibit Palauans from gambling.
He said the bill does not even require a state to consult the people through a referendum if they are in favor of a casino.
“A state government could permit a casino to be located in its state simply by passing a law. In any event, given the size of our country, the negative effects of gambling in one state cannot be limited solely to the state,” Toribiong said.
The bill, he added, appears to favor casino operators rather than the people of Palau.
He said it does not permit sufficient time to do a background check on casino license applicants and will pay members of the gaming commission “exorbitant money.”
The president said Palau should look into the experiences of Tinian’s struggling casino which opened in 1998.
He said the casino proponents’ expectations are not realistic as Palau cannot compete with the established casino industries in Macau, Malaysia or the Philippines.
According to Toribiong, the people of Palau should decide whether they want to legalize casino gaming in their country.
Micronesia summit today
Micronesia summit today
Dionesis Tamondong • Pacific Daily News • December 3, 2009
Promoting regional tourism, conserving marine resources and discussing the impact of the upcoming military buildup to the entire Micronesia region are some of the topics on the agenda for 12th Micronesian Chief Executives' Summit.
The gathering of Micronesia's leaders takes place today and tomorrow at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort.
Since the Summit was established in 2004 by Guam Gov. Felix Camacho and Juan Babauta, who was governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands at the time, biannual meetings have been held to establish closer ties among the islands and promote initiatives beneficial to the entire western Micronesian region.
"As chief executives of the islands in our region, we recognize that maintenance of healthy ecosystems and sustainable resource management are critical to the livelihoods of Pacific people," Camacho said in a news release.
Renewable energy, invasive species and work-force development are among the topics on Summit's agenda today. Tomorrow, participants will get an update on the military buildup and its impact to the region from retired Marine Maj. Gen. David Bice, executive director of the Joint Guam Program Office, and Gary Kuwabara, Western Regional director for the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment.
Camacho will be joined at the summit by:
# Kenneth Kedi, minister of Transportation and Communication for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, representing RMI President Jurelang Zedkaia;
# CNMI Gov. Benigno Fitial;
# Republic of Palau President Johnson Toribiong;
# Federated States of Micronesia President Emanuel Mori;
# Chuuk Gov. Wesley Simina;
# Yap Gov. Sebastian Anefal;
# Kosrae Gov. Robert Weilbacher; and
# Pohnpei Gov. John Ehsa.
Dionesis Tamondong • Pacific Daily News • December 3, 2009
Promoting regional tourism, conserving marine resources and discussing the impact of the upcoming military buildup to the entire Micronesia region are some of the topics on the agenda for 12th Micronesian Chief Executives' Summit.
The gathering of Micronesia's leaders takes place today and tomorrow at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort.
Since the Summit was established in 2004 by Guam Gov. Felix Camacho and Juan Babauta, who was governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands at the time, biannual meetings have been held to establish closer ties among the islands and promote initiatives beneficial to the entire western Micronesian region.
"As chief executives of the islands in our region, we recognize that maintenance of healthy ecosystems and sustainable resource management are critical to the livelihoods of Pacific people," Camacho said in a news release.
Renewable energy, invasive species and work-force development are among the topics on Summit's agenda today. Tomorrow, participants will get an update on the military buildup and its impact to the region from retired Marine Maj. Gen. David Bice, executive director of the Joint Guam Program Office, and Gary Kuwabara, Western Regional director for the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment.
Camacho will be joined at the summit by:
# Kenneth Kedi, minister of Transportation and Communication for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, representing RMI President Jurelang Zedkaia;
# CNMI Gov. Benigno Fitial;
# Republic of Palau President Johnson Toribiong;
# Federated States of Micronesia President Emanuel Mori;
# Chuuk Gov. Wesley Simina;
# Yap Gov. Sebastian Anefal;
# Kosrae Gov. Robert Weilbacher; and
# Pohnpei Gov. John Ehsa.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Guam's 'Buildup & Beyond' Forum: A Fit Foray Into Impacts, Benefits & Challenges
Guam's 'Buildup & Beyond' Forum: A Fit Foray Into Impacts, Benefits & Challenges
Written by Jeff Marchesseault, Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Friday, 20 November 2009 20:12
GUAM - On Friday a two-day conference called The Military Buildup And Beyond: The Guam Perspective wrappred up at the Legislature. Hosted by Buildup Committee Chair Senator Judi Guthertz and the University of Guam, the free-admission conference was designed to empower local voices and perspectives on how the civilian community will be impacted, benefited, and challenged by the armed forces expansion.
Reality Check
The conference sounds the alarm that Guam needs to wake up and be alert as the buildup planning process winds down and massive construction begins. If Guam's local leaders and everyday citizens hope to be heard and helped, they must identify whatever they might find amiss with military planning, organize with one voice, and state their case for quality-of-life benefits. Those benefits include equal access to quality utilities and economic opportunity, an outdoor environment worth enjoying, and enough funding to sustain the social safety net as the population increases.
That process starts this weekend. On Friday, the Department of Defense posted online a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) spelling out how the land and coastal resources will be utilized for expanded regional defense purposes. Hard copies of the multi-volume DEIS will be available in local mayors' offices, libraries and even a shopping mall this weekend.
Hopes are high for quality outcomes. But a history of mutual mistrust and mismanagement has many local residents on the lookout for shortcomings to the DEIS.
The Compact-Impact Conundrum
An emotionally charged example of federal-territorial relations gone amok is the sticky issue of Compact-Impact reimbursement. Senator Frank Blas, Jr. has fought long and hard with the Federal Government to pay what he calls 'the the bare-minimum $400 million' in outstanding, un-reimbursed costs borne by GovGuam in hosting migrants from small, rural Pacific island nations.
The nations of these FAS citizens (citizens of Freely Associated States) bear benefit-laden Compacts of Free Association with the United States, including uninhibited resettlement rights to U.S. jurisdictions for their citizens. Perhaps ironically, the arrangement includes certain defense rights for the United States in the FAS region, according to Wikipedia.
Guam has traditionally been a favorite destination of FAS migrants. This is owing to its proximity to FAS states such as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; it is also due to Guam's cultural similarities to the FAS region; and to Guam's relatively robust economic and educational opportunities compared to those available in the less-populous, less-developed Freely Associated States.
The large-scale migration of FAS citizens has become a costly burden for Guam's infrastructure, public healthcare, and social institutions -- especially in light of slack reimbursements from a U.S. government that allows the migration to continue unfettered. And yet even the small federal funding Guam does receive for FAS absorption isn't entirely safe from reprogramming.
An Unwelcome Surprise
In a strange twist of fate, on Friday morning it was learned that the Department of the Interior had authorized Governor Felix Camacho to loan $5 million of Guam's paltry $16.8 million in annual Compact reimbursements to the Guam Department of Education at a time when that money has already been spoken for. The deal had been hammered out by Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta and Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, reportedly without Governor Camacho's input.
Knowing that the limited reimbursement funding was programmed to underwrite capital improvements and social services -- and that he could expect no guarantee of timely repayment from Guam DOE, Governor Camacho rightly turned the arrangement down.
Through a pattern of financial mismanagement, the local school system has lost its control over the funding it receives from U.S. DOE. That authority won't be restored until a third-party administrator is appointed to manage the school system's federal funds.
A Bigger Perspective
Blas is fighting a worthy war for reimbursement. And despite financial mismanagement by school system administrators, Guam's public school students, including those from the FAS, deserve consistent financing for the federal programs that educate them. But it will take better overall financial management by the likes of Guam DOE and consistently unwasteful budgetary responsibility on the part of the Legislature to repair Guam's credibility with the U.S. government.
This is important because the federal system has the means and the know-how, if not the attention span, to get things done for players with mutual interests -- not only in democratic freedom -- but in the price of accountability that must be paid for this ideal.
Although the U.S. Government may not be entirely accountable with regard to Compact-Impact reimbursements to the Territory, the United States is arguably the world's most benificent nation. It is also inarguably the world's most powerful. Benificence and power go hand in hand and enable the U.S. to pick and choose what it wants to prioritize.
Insofar as a generous hegemon prefers to deal with players that have something valuable to offer in return, it behoves Guam to get its priorities straight and its house in order as the Department of Defense prepares to break ground on its $15 billion buildup this summer.
Michael Rudolph contributed to this analysis.
Written by Jeff Marchesseault, Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Friday, 20 November 2009 20:12
GUAM - On Friday a two-day conference called The Military Buildup And Beyond: The Guam Perspective wrappred up at the Legislature. Hosted by Buildup Committee Chair Senator Judi Guthertz and the University of Guam, the free-admission conference was designed to empower local voices and perspectives on how the civilian community will be impacted, benefited, and challenged by the armed forces expansion.
Reality Check
The conference sounds the alarm that Guam needs to wake up and be alert as the buildup planning process winds down and massive construction begins. If Guam's local leaders and everyday citizens hope to be heard and helped, they must identify whatever they might find amiss with military planning, organize with one voice, and state their case for quality-of-life benefits. Those benefits include equal access to quality utilities and economic opportunity, an outdoor environment worth enjoying, and enough funding to sustain the social safety net as the population increases.
That process starts this weekend. On Friday, the Department of Defense posted online a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) spelling out how the land and coastal resources will be utilized for expanded regional defense purposes. Hard copies of the multi-volume DEIS will be available in local mayors' offices, libraries and even a shopping mall this weekend.
Hopes are high for quality outcomes. But a history of mutual mistrust and mismanagement has many local residents on the lookout for shortcomings to the DEIS.
The Compact-Impact Conundrum
An emotionally charged example of federal-territorial relations gone amok is the sticky issue of Compact-Impact reimbursement. Senator Frank Blas, Jr. has fought long and hard with the Federal Government to pay what he calls 'the the bare-minimum $400 million' in outstanding, un-reimbursed costs borne by GovGuam in hosting migrants from small, rural Pacific island nations.
The nations of these FAS citizens (citizens of Freely Associated States) bear benefit-laden Compacts of Free Association with the United States, including uninhibited resettlement rights to U.S. jurisdictions for their citizens. Perhaps ironically, the arrangement includes certain defense rights for the United States in the FAS region, according to Wikipedia.
Guam has traditionally been a favorite destination of FAS migrants. This is owing to its proximity to FAS states such as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; it is also due to Guam's cultural similarities to the FAS region; and to Guam's relatively robust economic and educational opportunities compared to those available in the less-populous, less-developed Freely Associated States.
The large-scale migration of FAS citizens has become a costly burden for Guam's infrastructure, public healthcare, and social institutions -- especially in light of slack reimbursements from a U.S. government that allows the migration to continue unfettered. And yet even the small federal funding Guam does receive for FAS absorption isn't entirely safe from reprogramming.
An Unwelcome Surprise
In a strange twist of fate, on Friday morning it was learned that the Department of the Interior had authorized Governor Felix Camacho to loan $5 million of Guam's paltry $16.8 million in annual Compact reimbursements to the Guam Department of Education at a time when that money has already been spoken for. The deal had been hammered out by Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta and Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, reportedly without Governor Camacho's input.
Knowing that the limited reimbursement funding was programmed to underwrite capital improvements and social services -- and that he could expect no guarantee of timely repayment from Guam DOE, Governor Camacho rightly turned the arrangement down.
Through a pattern of financial mismanagement, the local school system has lost its control over the funding it receives from U.S. DOE. That authority won't be restored until a third-party administrator is appointed to manage the school system's federal funds.
A Bigger Perspective
Blas is fighting a worthy war for reimbursement. And despite financial mismanagement by school system administrators, Guam's public school students, including those from the FAS, deserve consistent financing for the federal programs that educate them. But it will take better overall financial management by the likes of Guam DOE and consistently unwasteful budgetary responsibility on the part of the Legislature to repair Guam's credibility with the U.S. government.
This is important because the federal system has the means and the know-how, if not the attention span, to get things done for players with mutual interests -- not only in democratic freedom -- but in the price of accountability that must be paid for this ideal.
Although the U.S. Government may not be entirely accountable with regard to Compact-Impact reimbursements to the Territory, the United States is arguably the world's most benificent nation. It is also inarguably the world's most powerful. Benificence and power go hand in hand and enable the U.S. to pick and choose what it wants to prioritize.
Insofar as a generous hegemon prefers to deal with players that have something valuable to offer in return, it behoves Guam to get its priorities straight and its house in order as the Department of Defense prepares to break ground on its $15 billion buildup this summer.
Michael Rudolph contributed to this analysis.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Symposium for 'doing business with the military'
Symposium for 'doing business with the military'
Saturday, November 14, 2009
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Businesses and other entities that want to avail of contracting and business opportunities with the military are encouraged to attend Wednesday's symposium sponsored by the Office of U.S. Defense Representative for the CNMI, Guam, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Similar events have also been held in Guam in light of the $15-billion, multi-year military buildup resulting from the relocation of some 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam, plus some 17,000 family members, and up to 20,000 federal construction workers.
The “Guam/CNMI Military Contracting Opportunities Symposium” will be held from 8am to 5pm at the Saipan World Resort in Susupe.
It is being co-hosted by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas, and the CNMI government.
Deputy Commerce Secretary Sixto Igisomar said yesterday the symposium is “important” for anyone wanting to do business with the military.
Topics will include U.S. military contracting, business opportunities available through military construction projects, and the military buildup.
Capt. Peter S. Lynch, commanding officer of NAVFAC Marianas and a captain at the U.S. Navy's Civil Engineer Corps, will be presenting an update and opportunities on the Guam military buildup.
Roy Tsutsui, executive director of the Joint Region Marianas, will be presenting on the Office of U.S. Defense Representative for the CNMI, Guam, Palau and the FSM.
Another resource person will be Vera Topasna, program manager of the Guam Procurement Technical Assistance Center, who will give a program overview.
Other speakers include Carl Peterson, who will present the Guam Chamber of Commerce's perspective on the military buildup; Rosalinda Watson, contracting officer at Fleet Industrial Supply Center Detachment Marianas; James Martinez, executive director of the Guam Contractors Association; Lt. Cdr. Darren Hale, Pacific Command plans officer; and Cdr. Keith Barton, assistant operations officer with NAVFAC Marianas.
Incoming Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Douglas Brennan and incoming vice president Jim Arenovski will be making a presentation on “What the CNMI can offer the military and prime contractors.” Jesse Sablan of the CNMI Contractors Association will also be introducing the organization at the symposium.
A complete copy of the program and the registration form can be accessed at the CNMI Department of Commerce website, www.commerce.gov.mp.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Businesses and other entities that want to avail of contracting and business opportunities with the military are encouraged to attend Wednesday's symposium sponsored by the Office of U.S. Defense Representative for the CNMI, Guam, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Similar events have also been held in Guam in light of the $15-billion, multi-year military buildup resulting from the relocation of some 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam, plus some 17,000 family members, and up to 20,000 federal construction workers.
The “Guam/CNMI Military Contracting Opportunities Symposium” will be held from 8am to 5pm at the Saipan World Resort in Susupe.
It is being co-hosted by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas, and the CNMI government.
Deputy Commerce Secretary Sixto Igisomar said yesterday the symposium is “important” for anyone wanting to do business with the military.
Topics will include U.S. military contracting, business opportunities available through military construction projects, and the military buildup.
Capt. Peter S. Lynch, commanding officer of NAVFAC Marianas and a captain at the U.S. Navy's Civil Engineer Corps, will be presenting an update and opportunities on the Guam military buildup.
Roy Tsutsui, executive director of the Joint Region Marianas, will be presenting on the Office of U.S. Defense Representative for the CNMI, Guam, Palau and the FSM.
Another resource person will be Vera Topasna, program manager of the Guam Procurement Technical Assistance Center, who will give a program overview.
Other speakers include Carl Peterson, who will present the Guam Chamber of Commerce's perspective on the military buildup; Rosalinda Watson, contracting officer at Fleet Industrial Supply Center Detachment Marianas; James Martinez, executive director of the Guam Contractors Association; Lt. Cdr. Darren Hale, Pacific Command plans officer; and Cdr. Keith Barton, assistant operations officer with NAVFAC Marianas.
Incoming Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Douglas Brennan and incoming vice president Jim Arenovski will be making a presentation on “What the CNMI can offer the military and prime contractors.” Jesse Sablan of the CNMI Contractors Association will also be introducing the organization at the symposium.
A complete copy of the program and the registration form can be accessed at the CNMI Department of Commerce website, www.commerce.gov.mp.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Symposium on military contracts
Symposium on military contracts
Friday, 13 November 2009 00:00
By Richelle Ann P. Agpoon -
Variety News Intern
THE Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the U.S Defense representative to Guam, the CNMI, FSM and Palau are inviting residents interested in business opportunities with the military to join the symposium at the Saipan World Resort from Nov. 17 to 18.
The symposium will feature military and business experts who will provide participants information regarding business opportunities available through military construction projects and the military buildup on Guam.
The Department of Commerce, one of the facilitators, said participants are required to register and pay $15 since seating is limited.
The fee will include breakout sessions and lunch buffet.
Speakers include Joint Region Marianas executive director Roy Tsutsui, NAVFAC commanding officer Capt. Peter S. Lynch, Guam Chamber of Commerce member Carl Peterson, Capt. Michael Uva, NAVFAC small business advisor Albert Sampson and CNMI Secretary of Commerce Michael B. Ada.
The CNMI’s possible contributions to the Guam military buildup will also be discussed.
Friday, 13 November 2009 00:00
By Richelle Ann P. Agpoon -
Variety News Intern
THE Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the U.S Defense representative to Guam, the CNMI, FSM and Palau are inviting residents interested in business opportunities with the military to join the symposium at the Saipan World Resort from Nov. 17 to 18.
The symposium will feature military and business experts who will provide participants information regarding business opportunities available through military construction projects and the military buildup on Guam.
The Department of Commerce, one of the facilitators, said participants are required to register and pay $15 since seating is limited.
The fee will include breakout sessions and lunch buffet.
Speakers include Joint Region Marianas executive director Roy Tsutsui, NAVFAC commanding officer Capt. Peter S. Lynch, Guam Chamber of Commerce member Carl Peterson, Capt. Michael Uva, NAVFAC small business advisor Albert Sampson and CNMI Secretary of Commerce Michael B. Ada.
The CNMI’s possible contributions to the Guam military buildup will also be discussed.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Palau Uighurs Face Culture Shock
Palau Uighurs Face Culture Shock
by TOMOKO A. HOSAKA and WILLIAM FOREMAN
The Huffington Post
June 12, 2009
KOROR, Palau — They came from a land of scorching deserts, snowcapped mountains, camels and mosques. Now after several miserable years imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay, 13 Muslims from China will try to resettle on the tiny Pacific nation of Palau _ a land of lush beach resorts.
Some residents said Friday they are afraid of the former prisoners, while others worried they won't adjust to life here.
"It's good to be humanitarian and all, but still these people to me are scary," said Natalia Baulis, 30, a mother of two, in Palau's laid-back capital, Koror.
The detainees were captured in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2001, but the Pentagon determined last year that they were not "enemy combatants."
They have been treated like global untouchables since the U.S. decided to free them, saying they weren't a danger to the country. No nation agreed to take the 13 men until Palau _ a former U.S. trust territory _ welcomed them to the tropical tourist getaway, about 500 miles east of the Philippines.
Sending them back to China wasn't an option for Washington because of concerns that Chinese authorities would immediately arrest the men who belong to the minority ethnic Uighur group. The restive Turkic people live in China's far western region of Xinjiang _ a territory three times the size of Texas that shares borders with Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations.
Most Uighurs are Muslim and many want Xinjiang to become independent. In recent years, they've staged bombings and other attacks, mostly against Chinese police, government and military targets. The Uighurs (pronounced WEE-gurs) detained in Guantanamo were accused of being militants seeking training in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Dru Gladney, an expert on Uighurs, applauded Washington's decision not to send the detainees back to China, where he said they would be treated worse than at Guantanamo. Resettling them in the U.S. _ especially in the Washington area where there's a substantial Uighur population _ would have been ideal, but Congress opposed that idea, he said.
Palau will be tough for them because there aren't many Muslims in the predominantly Christian nation of 20,000 people, he said.
"They are going to have a very difficult time of it for sure," said Gladney, a professor at the Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College in California.
When the Uighurs arrive, this balmy island nation will likely seem like an alien planet, with bikini-clad women on white sand beaches, meals of fresh saltwater fish and people snorkeling with dolphins in clear blue water.
Back in the Uighurs' desert home, camels haul cargo across dusty deserts, cold winds blow off snowy mountains, and women usually cover up with head scarves. Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most remote city from any sea in the world.
Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Germany-based World Uighur Congress, a pro-independence group, was also worried about the detainees' ability to adapt.
"I'm concerned about their mental health," Raxit said by phone from Sweden. "They have been detained for a long time and they will need the help of psychologists. I hope the Palau government can provide the counseling and other help they need."
Raxit added that China probably won't allow the Uighurs' families to visit or join them, so the men will experience intense isolation and loneliness. But he added that Palau would be better than Xinjiang, where about 9 million Uighurs live.
"I'm extremely thankful that the U.S. government decided not to hand them over to China," he said.
China still insists the Uighurs are terrorism suspects who should be repatriated. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang declined to say Thursday whether China would pressure Palau to return the men.
Sending them back to China sounded like a great idea to some in Palau. Some worried they would scare away tourists, leading to problems with the multimillion-dollar hotel industry.
Fermin Nariang, editor of the Palau newspaper Island Times, said people were stopping him in the streets in the capital of Koror and venting their anger.
"This is a very small country," Nariang said, "and some are saying if the whole world doesn't want these folks, why are we taking them?"
Palau President Johnson Toribiong said the country has a strong tradition of hospitality and the Uighurs were "international vagabonds" who deserved a new home. He denied the move was influenced by any massive aid package from Washington, but he said, "Palau's people are always on the side of the U.S. government."
It was unclear when the detainees would arrive in Palau. Toribiong said a delegation would be sent to Guantanamo to assess the Uighurs.
Four other Uighurs left Guantanamo Bay on Thursday for a new home in Bermuda _ a move that displeased some residents of the North Atlantic island. Even Britain, which handles Bermuda's defense, security and foreign affairs, expressed unhappiness at the deal, saying Bermuda's leaders failed to properly consult with them.
A British Foreign Office spokesman, who declined to be named in keeping with department policy, said British authorities will be working with Bermudan officials to determine how much of a security threat the Uighurs are and that any next steps would be based on that.
Bermuda Premier Ewart Brown said the men will be allowed to live in Bermuda initially as refugees but they would be permitted to pursue citizenship and would have the right to work, travel and "potentially settle elsewhere."
Three years ago, the U.S. freed five Uighurs who were detained at Guantanamo and resettled them in Albania. Less than two weeks after they arrived in their new home country, lawyers for two of them filed a motion demanding they be moved to a more suitable place, like Washington.
The lawyers said the men were afraid to venture out of the U.N. refugee compound in Albania where they lived because the local media had branded them "terrorists." They also couldn't find jobs in one of Europe's poorest countries, the attorneys said.
But one of the former detainees, Abu Bakker Qassim, 40, told The Associated Press on Friday that he has learned the local language and likes living in Albania. The government pays his rent, and he even gets $330 a month for food and clothes.
However, he's jobless and hasn't been able to reunite with his wife and three children in Xinjiang.
"It is hard to find a job at this difficult time. I took a training course for making pizza and Albanian cooking. The two other (Uighurs) are also learning how to make pizza," said Qassim, who hopes to open a restaurant.
Another Uighur is studying computer science, while one was granted political asylum in Sweden, where he had family.
Qassim said he spent two hours Thursday chatting on the Internet with the four Uighurs in Bermuda. "They told me they were very pleased with the living conditions there," he said.
___
Associated Press writers Nancy Zuckerbrod in London and Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania, contributed to this report.
by TOMOKO A. HOSAKA and WILLIAM FOREMAN
The Huffington Post
June 12, 2009
KOROR, Palau — They came from a land of scorching deserts, snowcapped mountains, camels and mosques. Now after several miserable years imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay, 13 Muslims from China will try to resettle on the tiny Pacific nation of Palau _ a land of lush beach resorts.
Some residents said Friday they are afraid of the former prisoners, while others worried they won't adjust to life here.
"It's good to be humanitarian and all, but still these people to me are scary," said Natalia Baulis, 30, a mother of two, in Palau's laid-back capital, Koror.
The detainees were captured in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2001, but the Pentagon determined last year that they were not "enemy combatants."
They have been treated like global untouchables since the U.S. decided to free them, saying they weren't a danger to the country. No nation agreed to take the 13 men until Palau _ a former U.S. trust territory _ welcomed them to the tropical tourist getaway, about 500 miles east of the Philippines.
Sending them back to China wasn't an option for Washington because of concerns that Chinese authorities would immediately arrest the men who belong to the minority ethnic Uighur group. The restive Turkic people live in China's far western region of Xinjiang _ a territory three times the size of Texas that shares borders with Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations.
Most Uighurs are Muslim and many want Xinjiang to become independent. In recent years, they've staged bombings and other attacks, mostly against Chinese police, government and military targets. The Uighurs (pronounced WEE-gurs) detained in Guantanamo were accused of being militants seeking training in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Dru Gladney, an expert on Uighurs, applauded Washington's decision not to send the detainees back to China, where he said they would be treated worse than at Guantanamo. Resettling them in the U.S. _ especially in the Washington area where there's a substantial Uighur population _ would have been ideal, but Congress opposed that idea, he said.
Palau will be tough for them because there aren't many Muslims in the predominantly Christian nation of 20,000 people, he said.
"They are going to have a very difficult time of it for sure," said Gladney, a professor at the Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College in California.
When the Uighurs arrive, this balmy island nation will likely seem like an alien planet, with bikini-clad women on white sand beaches, meals of fresh saltwater fish and people snorkeling with dolphins in clear blue water.
Back in the Uighurs' desert home, camels haul cargo across dusty deserts, cold winds blow off snowy mountains, and women usually cover up with head scarves. Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most remote city from any sea in the world.
Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Germany-based World Uighur Congress, a pro-independence group, was also worried about the detainees' ability to adapt.
"I'm concerned about their mental health," Raxit said by phone from Sweden. "They have been detained for a long time and they will need the help of psychologists. I hope the Palau government can provide the counseling and other help they need."
Raxit added that China probably won't allow the Uighurs' families to visit or join them, so the men will experience intense isolation and loneliness. But he added that Palau would be better than Xinjiang, where about 9 million Uighurs live.
"I'm extremely thankful that the U.S. government decided not to hand them over to China," he said.
China still insists the Uighurs are terrorism suspects who should be repatriated. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang declined to say Thursday whether China would pressure Palau to return the men.
Sending them back to China sounded like a great idea to some in Palau. Some worried they would scare away tourists, leading to problems with the multimillion-dollar hotel industry.
Fermin Nariang, editor of the Palau newspaper Island Times, said people were stopping him in the streets in the capital of Koror and venting their anger.
"This is a very small country," Nariang said, "and some are saying if the whole world doesn't want these folks, why are we taking them?"
Palau President Johnson Toribiong said the country has a strong tradition of hospitality and the Uighurs were "international vagabonds" who deserved a new home. He denied the move was influenced by any massive aid package from Washington, but he said, "Palau's people are always on the side of the U.S. government."
It was unclear when the detainees would arrive in Palau. Toribiong said a delegation would be sent to Guantanamo to assess the Uighurs.
Four other Uighurs left Guantanamo Bay on Thursday for a new home in Bermuda _ a move that displeased some residents of the North Atlantic island. Even Britain, which handles Bermuda's defense, security and foreign affairs, expressed unhappiness at the deal, saying Bermuda's leaders failed to properly consult with them.
A British Foreign Office spokesman, who declined to be named in keeping with department policy, said British authorities will be working with Bermudan officials to determine how much of a security threat the Uighurs are and that any next steps would be based on that.
Bermuda Premier Ewart Brown said the men will be allowed to live in Bermuda initially as refugees but they would be permitted to pursue citizenship and would have the right to work, travel and "potentially settle elsewhere."
Three years ago, the U.S. freed five Uighurs who were detained at Guantanamo and resettled them in Albania. Less than two weeks after they arrived in their new home country, lawyers for two of them filed a motion demanding they be moved to a more suitable place, like Washington.
The lawyers said the men were afraid to venture out of the U.N. refugee compound in Albania where they lived because the local media had branded them "terrorists." They also couldn't find jobs in one of Europe's poorest countries, the attorneys said.
But one of the former detainees, Abu Bakker Qassim, 40, told The Associated Press on Friday that he has learned the local language and likes living in Albania. The government pays his rent, and he even gets $330 a month for food and clothes.
However, he's jobless and hasn't been able to reunite with his wife and three children in Xinjiang.
"It is hard to find a job at this difficult time. I took a training course for making pizza and Albanian cooking. The two other (Uighurs) are also learning how to make pizza," said Qassim, who hopes to open a restaurant.
Another Uighur is studying computer science, while one was granted political asylum in Sweden, where he had family.
Qassim said he spent two hours Thursday chatting on the Internet with the four Uighurs in Bermuda. "They told me they were very pleased with the living conditions there," he said.
___
Associated Press writers Nancy Zuckerbrod in London and Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania, contributed to this report.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
US elevates Pacific-born administrator to senior roles
US elevates Pacific-born administrator to senior roles
Updated 5 hours 45 minutes ago
Pacific Islander and Chamorro, Tony Babauta, has been elevated over the past month as the White House's senior administrator for Asian Americans and American Pacific islanders, as well as Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Interior in Washington. This make Mr Babauta most senior Pacific islander ever to work this closely with a US President.
In his capacity, Mr Babauta coordinates US federal policy for Guam, the Northern Marianas, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa, and administers federal assistance provided to the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau.
Geraldine Coutts begins by asking this senior Washington figure about last week's re-establishment of the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and American Pacific Islanders.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Tony Babauta, Guam-born Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Interior in Washington
Updated 5 hours 45 minutes ago
Pacific Islander and Chamorro, Tony Babauta, has been elevated over the past month as the White House's senior administrator for Asian Americans and American Pacific islanders, as well as Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Interior in Washington. This make Mr Babauta most senior Pacific islander ever to work this closely with a US President.
In his capacity, Mr Babauta coordinates US federal policy for Guam, the Northern Marianas, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa, and administers federal assistance provided to the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau.
Geraldine Coutts begins by asking this senior Washington figure about last week's re-establishment of the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and American Pacific Islanders.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Tony Babauta, Guam-born Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Interior in Washington
Monday, September 07, 2009
Conference will focus on human rights and family
Family, human rights issues top forum agenda
Monday, 07 September 2009 03:09
by Jude Lizama
Marianas Variety News Staff
HUMAN rights and family issues as they relate to the presence of military bases are among the main issues that will be discussed at the 7th meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism from Sept. 14 to 19.
Hosted by the University of Guam in Mangilao and Carmel on the Hill Center, this year’s conference theme is “Resistance, Resilience and Respect for Human Rights.” Attending the conference are women from Japan, Okinawa, Hawaii, South Korea, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Belau, Marshall Islands, Guam, Saipan, United States, and Puerto Rico.
The International Network of Women Against Militarism has been meeting since 1997 to share information and strategize about the negative effects of U.S. military operations.
These effects include military violence against women and girls, the plight of mixed-race Amerasian children abandoned by U.S. military fathers, environmental contamination, cultural degradation and the distortion of local economies. They focus on how military institutions, values, policies and operations impact communities, especially women.
Women across the globe have endured tremendous struggles to protect their families and survive during times of war and unrest. It is from these struggles that women have gained the strength to fight for peace.
Workshops and public forums on human trafficking and prostitution, political arrangements with the U.S., rethinking peace and security, exploring alternatives for economic sustainability, environmental contamination and toxicity will be featured throughout.
A central focus of the gathering is the issue of the U.S. military presence on Guam. Referred to as the “tip of the spear,” Guam is immersed in an unprecedented military build-up as the U.S. plans to relocate thousands of Marines and their dependents from Okinawa. The conference comes at a critical time in island’s history, and aims to bring international attention to the concerns being raised about the proposed build-up.
Additionally, there will also be a historical tour of the island; a community vigil to honor the past and heal for the future; a public art event featuring local and international artists; and other networking opportunities.
Those interested in the conference may register until Thursday. For additional information, visit www.genuinesecurity.blogspot.com.
Monday, 07 September 2009 03:09
by Jude Lizama
Marianas Variety News Staff
HUMAN rights and family issues as they relate to the presence of military bases are among the main issues that will be discussed at the 7th meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism from Sept. 14 to 19.
Hosted by the University of Guam in Mangilao and Carmel on the Hill Center, this year’s conference theme is “Resistance, Resilience and Respect for Human Rights.” Attending the conference are women from Japan, Okinawa, Hawaii, South Korea, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Belau, Marshall Islands, Guam, Saipan, United States, and Puerto Rico.
The International Network of Women Against Militarism has been meeting since 1997 to share information and strategize about the negative effects of U.S. military operations.
These effects include military violence against women and girls, the plight of mixed-race Amerasian children abandoned by U.S. military fathers, environmental contamination, cultural degradation and the distortion of local economies. They focus on how military institutions, values, policies and operations impact communities, especially women.
Women across the globe have endured tremendous struggles to protect their families and survive during times of war and unrest. It is from these struggles that women have gained the strength to fight for peace.
Workshops and public forums on human trafficking and prostitution, political arrangements with the U.S., rethinking peace and security, exploring alternatives for economic sustainability, environmental contamination and toxicity will be featured throughout.
A central focus of the gathering is the issue of the U.S. military presence on Guam. Referred to as the “tip of the spear,” Guam is immersed in an unprecedented military build-up as the U.S. plans to relocate thousands of Marines and their dependents from Okinawa. The conference comes at a critical time in island’s history, and aims to bring international attention to the concerns being raised about the proposed build-up.
Additionally, there will also be a historical tour of the island; a community vigil to honor the past and heal for the future; a public art event featuring local and international artists; and other networking opportunities.
Those interested in the conference may register until Thursday. For additional information, visit www.genuinesecurity.blogspot.com.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Family, human rights issues top forum agenda
Monday, 07 September 2009 03:09 by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff
HUMAN rights and family issues as they relate to the presence of military bases are among the main issues that will be discussed at the 7th meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism from Sept. 14 to 19.
Hosted by the University of Guam in Mangilao and Carmel on the Hill Center, this year’s conference theme is “Resistance, Resilience and Respect for Human Rights.” Attending the conference are women from Japan, Okinawa, Hawaii, South Korea, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Belau, Marshall Islands, Guam, Saipan, United States, and Puerto Rico.
The International Network of Women Against Militarism has been meeting since 1997 to share information and strategize about the negative effects of U.S. military operations.
These effects include military violence against women and girls, the plight of mixed-race Amerasian children abandoned by U.S. military fathers, environmental contamination, cultural degradation and the distortion of local economies. They focus on how military institutions, values, policies and operations impact communities, especially women.
Women across the globe have endured tremendous struggles to protect their families and survive during times of war and unrest. It is from these struggles that women have gained the strength to fight for peace.
Workshops and public forums on human trafficking and prostitution, political arrangements with the U.S., rethinking peace and security, exploring alternatives for economic sustainability, environmental contamination and toxicity will be featured throughout.
A central focus of the gathering is the issue of the U.S. military presence on Guam. Referred to as the “tip of the spear,” Guam is immersed in an unprecedented military build-up as the U.S. plans to relocate thousands of Marines and their dependents from Okinawa. The conference comes at a critical time in island’s history, and aims to bring international attention to the concerns being raised about the proposed build-up.
Additionally, there will also be a historical tour of the island; a community vigil to honor the past and heal for the future; a public art event featuring local and international artists; and other networking opportunities.
Those interested in the conference may register until Thursday. For additional information, visit www.genuinesecurity.blogspot.com.
HUMAN rights and family issues as they relate to the presence of military bases are among the main issues that will be discussed at the 7th meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism from Sept. 14 to 19.
Hosted by the University of Guam in Mangilao and Carmel on the Hill Center, this year’s conference theme is “Resistance, Resilience and Respect for Human Rights.” Attending the conference are women from Japan, Okinawa, Hawaii, South Korea, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Belau, Marshall Islands, Guam, Saipan, United States, and Puerto Rico.
The International Network of Women Against Militarism has been meeting since 1997 to share information and strategize about the negative effects of U.S. military operations.
These effects include military violence against women and girls, the plight of mixed-race Amerasian children abandoned by U.S. military fathers, environmental contamination, cultural degradation and the distortion of local economies. They focus on how military institutions, values, policies and operations impact communities, especially women.
Women across the globe have endured tremendous struggles to protect their families and survive during times of war and unrest. It is from these struggles that women have gained the strength to fight for peace.
Workshops and public forums on human trafficking and prostitution, political arrangements with the U.S., rethinking peace and security, exploring alternatives for economic sustainability, environmental contamination and toxicity will be featured throughout.
A central focus of the gathering is the issue of the U.S. military presence on Guam. Referred to as the “tip of the spear,” Guam is immersed in an unprecedented military build-up as the U.S. plans to relocate thousands of Marines and their dependents from Okinawa. The conference comes at a critical time in island’s history, and aims to bring international attention to the concerns being raised about the proposed build-up.
Additionally, there will also be a historical tour of the island; a community vigil to honor the past and heal for the future; a public art event featuring local and international artists; and other networking opportunities.
Those interested in the conference may register until Thursday. For additional information, visit www.genuinesecurity.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
International Network of Women Against Militarism Meeting in Guam
7TH MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF WOMEN AGAINST MILITARISM
Resistance, Resilience, and Respect for Human Rights
CHinemma’, Nina’maolek, yan Inarespetu para Direchon Taotao
Location: University of Guam, Mangilao, Guåhan
Dates: September 14-19, 2009
Women across the globe have endured tremendous struggles to protect their families and survive during times of war and unrest. It is from these struggles that women have gained the strength to fight for peace. This September, they will gather on the island of Guam for the 7th Meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism themed, “Resistance, Resilience and Respect for Human Rights”.
The five-day conference will bring together women from Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, Hawaii, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Belau, Marshall Islands, Guam, United States, Puerto Rico and Saipan – all of whom have felt the tremendous impacts of US military bases in their homelands.
The International Network of Women Against Militarism has been meeting since 1997 to share information and strategize about the negative effects of US military operations. These effects include military violence against women and girls, the plight of mixed-race Amerasian children abandoned by US military fathers, environmental contamination, cultural degradation and the distortion of local economies. They focus on how military institutions, values, policies and operations impact communities, especially women.
The United States has had a strong military presence on Guam for more than a century, and occupies nearly one-third of the island. Guam, which has been dubbed “the tip of the spear” by the US Department of Defense, is in the midst of an unprecedented military build-up as the US plans to move 17,000 Marines and their dependents from Okinawa to the island. The conference comes at a critical time in Guam’s history, and aims to bring international attention to the concerns being raised about the proposed build-up.
The conference will feature workshops and public forums on human trafficking and prostitution; political arrangements with the United States; rethinking peace and security; exploring alternatives for economic sustainability; environmental contamination and toxicity; and much more.
There will also be a historical tour of the island; a community vigil to honor the past and heal for the future; a public art event featuring local and international artists; and many opportunities to network and establish goals for the future.
For more information please contact: Dr. LisaLinda Natividad at lisanati@yahoo.com or (671) 735-2962.
Sponsoring Organizations: Conscious Living; Famoksaiyan; Fuetsan Famalao’an; Guåhan Coalition for Peace and Justice; Guåhan Indigenous Collective; GUAHAN Project; Global Fund for Women; Office of Minority Health Resource Center; Sage Project, Incorporated; Women and Gender Studies Program, University of Guam.
Resistance, Resilience, and Respect for Human Rights
CHinemma’, Nina’maolek, yan Inarespetu para Direchon Taotao
Location: University of Guam, Mangilao, Guåhan
Dates: September 14-19, 2009
Women across the globe have endured tremendous struggles to protect their families and survive during times of war and unrest. It is from these struggles that women have gained the strength to fight for peace. This September, they will gather on the island of Guam for the 7th Meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism themed, “Resistance, Resilience and Respect for Human Rights”.
The five-day conference will bring together women from Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, Hawaii, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Belau, Marshall Islands, Guam, United States, Puerto Rico and Saipan – all of whom have felt the tremendous impacts of US military bases in their homelands.
The International Network of Women Against Militarism has been meeting since 1997 to share information and strategize about the negative effects of US military operations. These effects include military violence against women and girls, the plight of mixed-race Amerasian children abandoned by US military fathers, environmental contamination, cultural degradation and the distortion of local economies. They focus on how military institutions, values, policies and operations impact communities, especially women.
The United States has had a strong military presence on Guam for more than a century, and occupies nearly one-third of the island. Guam, which has been dubbed “the tip of the spear” by the US Department of Defense, is in the midst of an unprecedented military build-up as the US plans to move 17,000 Marines and their dependents from Okinawa to the island. The conference comes at a critical time in Guam’s history, and aims to bring international attention to the concerns being raised about the proposed build-up.
The conference will feature workshops and public forums on human trafficking and prostitution; political arrangements with the United States; rethinking peace and security; exploring alternatives for economic sustainability; environmental contamination and toxicity; and much more.
There will also be a historical tour of the island; a community vigil to honor the past and heal for the future; a public art event featuring local and international artists; and many opportunities to network and establish goals for the future.
For more information please contact: Dr. LisaLinda Natividad at lisanati@yahoo.com or (671) 735-2962.
Sponsoring Organizations: Conscious Living; Famoksaiyan; Fuetsan Famalao’an; Guåhan Coalition for Peace and Justice; Guåhan Indigenous Collective; GUAHAN Project; Global Fund for Women; Office of Minority Health Resource Center; Sage Project, Incorporated; Women and Gender Studies Program, University of Guam.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Legal Status of Uighurs still an issue in Palau
Legal status of Uighurs in Palau an issue
Palau Horizon
Monday, 13 July 2009 13:15 By Bernadette H. Carreon - Horizon News Staff
KOROR(Palau Horizon) - President Johnson Toribiong said Palau and United States are still “ironing out” the travel documents of Uighurs detainees who may want to resettle in this island nation.
The Guantanamo Bay detainees cannot be issued Palauan passports, Toribiong pointed out.
“The Constitution requires that you must have Palauan blood to be a citizen,” he said.
Palauan passports are tied to bloodlines, he added.
Palau is working with the U.S. to address this issue.
The Uighurs are concerned about the legal status they would have in Palau, and whether they could obtain documentations such as a passport.
Palau has agreed to provide temporary resettlement to the Uighur detainees as a humanitarian gesture.
Four of the 17 detainees have already moved to Bermuda and eight of the remaining 13 have expressed interest in resettling in Palau.
Toribiong said the resettlement proposal is still being drafted.
Palau Horizon
Monday, 13 July 2009 13:15 By Bernadette H. Carreon - Horizon News Staff
KOROR(Palau Horizon) - President Johnson Toribiong said Palau and United States are still “ironing out” the travel documents of Uighurs detainees who may want to resettle in this island nation.
The Guantanamo Bay detainees cannot be issued Palauan passports, Toribiong pointed out.
“The Constitution requires that you must have Palauan blood to be a citizen,” he said.
Palauan passports are tied to bloodlines, he added.
Palau is working with the U.S. to address this issue.
The Uighurs are concerned about the legal status they would have in Palau, and whether they could obtain documentations such as a passport.
Palau has agreed to provide temporary resettlement to the Uighur detainees as a humanitarian gesture.
Four of the 17 detainees have already moved to Bermuda and eight of the remaining 13 have expressed interest in resettling in Palau.
Toribiong said the resettlement proposal is still being drafted.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Palau President Does Not Want Permanent Military Presence
Remengesau not advocating permanent US presence
Thursday, November 1, 2007
By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff
President Remengesau said that it is not advocating a permanent United States military presence in Palau.
He said however that although that there has not been a formal agreement, he said Palau can be used for military training.
Remengesau said that the United States is still involved with the logistics on the planned relocation of the bases in Guam from Okinawa.
The president said the US considering training in Palau will be good for the region.
“We welcome them, but I am not advocating for the permanent presence of the military in Palau,” the president said.
Under the Compact of Free Association, Palau is obligated to cooperate with the US on military issues.
He said a small scale exercise will help boost tourism of Palau and at the same time improve security matters.
He said inviting the US to hold field training will not mean he is supporting a US base in the country.
Earlier Remengesau said that he hopes that Palau reap economic benefits from the US military buildup.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff
President Remengesau said that it is not advocating a permanent United States military presence in Palau.
He said however that although that there has not been a formal agreement, he said Palau can be used for military training.
Remengesau said that the United States is still involved with the logistics on the planned relocation of the bases in Guam from Okinawa.
The president said the US considering training in Palau will be good for the region.
“We welcome them, but I am not advocating for the permanent presence of the military in Palau,” the president said.
Under the Compact of Free Association, Palau is obligated to cooperate with the US on military issues.
He said a small scale exercise will help boost tourism of Palau and at the same time improve security matters.
He said inviting the US to hold field training will not mean he is supporting a US base in the country.
Earlier Remengesau said that he hopes that Palau reap economic benefits from the US military buildup.
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