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
Showing posts with label Petition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Petition. Show all posts
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Blas Jr. Presents Compact Impact Petition to Congress
Blas, Jr. to Congress - Reimburse Guam
Top Stories
Written by Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 11:32
GUAM - Senator Frank Blas, Jr. yesterday presented an historic petition signed by 7, 415 Guam residents to U.S. Congressman Nick J. Rahall, II, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.
The petition was presented at a working luncheon hosted by Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo for the visiting congressional delegation and island leaders.
The petition to Congress asks for the unreimbursed costs of services provided relative to the Compacts of Free Association. Senator Blas, along with Senator Tina Muna-Barnes organized the petition drive.
"The people of Guam are speaking loud and clear. ‘Reimburse our island for your mandates,'" Senator BIas said. "The amount of money the U.S. government owes Guam can almost fund the full operations of the local government for an entire year! It is a gross injustice Senator Barnes and I are fighting hard to correct."
Citizens from the Freely Associated States also are concerned about the federal government's failure to fulfill its obligations under the compacts. The lack of funding has created shortfalls in resources to provide the services all the people of Guam deserve and expect.
Many former FAS residents signed the petition, acknowledging the need for the U.S. government to abide by its fiduciary responsibilities.
The petition included signatures from former Governor Joseph Ada, former Lt. Governor Frank Blas, former Congressman Robert Underwood, Lt. Governor Michael W. Cruz, members of the Legislature and the Consul Generals of the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
The original petition was submitted to Congress via Congressman Rahall, who is leading a Congressional delegation on Guam. Electronic copies were provided to the other members of the delegation.
Top Stories
Written by Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 11:32
GUAM - Senator Frank Blas, Jr. yesterday presented an historic petition signed by 7, 415 Guam residents to U.S. Congressman Nick J. Rahall, II, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.
The petition was presented at a working luncheon hosted by Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo for the visiting congressional delegation and island leaders.
The petition to Congress asks for the unreimbursed costs of services provided relative to the Compacts of Free Association. Senator Blas, along with Senator Tina Muna-Barnes organized the petition drive.
"The people of Guam are speaking loud and clear. ‘Reimburse our island for your mandates,'" Senator BIas said. "The amount of money the U.S. government owes Guam can almost fund the full operations of the local government for an entire year! It is a gross injustice Senator Barnes and I are fighting hard to correct."
Citizens from the Freely Associated States also are concerned about the federal government's failure to fulfill its obligations under the compacts. The lack of funding has created shortfalls in resources to provide the services all the people of Guam deserve and expect.
Many former FAS residents signed the petition, acknowledging the need for the U.S. government to abide by its fiduciary responsibilities.
The petition included signatures from former Governor Joseph Ada, former Lt. Governor Frank Blas, former Congressman Robert Underwood, Lt. Governor Michael W. Cruz, members of the Legislature and the Consul Generals of the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
The original petition was submitted to Congress via Congressman Rahall, who is leading a Congressional delegation on Guam. Electronic copies were provided to the other members of the delegation.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sewage Concerns Persist
Sewage concerns persist: Emerald development worries residents
By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno
Pacific Daily News
May 27, 2008
For more than a year now, Jonestown, Tamuning, residents have seen their neighborhood change.
New, single-family homes with price tags of $500,000 or higher have sprung up on once-empty pieces of land, adding value to the generally upper-middle-class neighborhood.
But while the new, standalone houses have been welcome additions, some Jonestown residents aren't too keen on two 15-story condominium buildings and two 18-story condo high-rises that are planned for the area.
The four high-rises are part of the proposed Emerald Ocean View Park, a $100-million project of Younex International.
Jonestown resident Nelda Flynn, through her son Michael Flynn Jr., has written to the Guam Land Use Commission that the project, "is too massive in scale."
"Water, sewer, roads and traffic would be substantially impacted by the proposed development," according to the Flynns, who submitted the letter days before the commission approved the project in November.
Nelda Flynn provided a copy of her letter to the Pacific Daily News recently in light of the growing debate about the numerous proposed high-rises on Guam amid the water, wastewater and infrastructure constraints the island faces.
Jonestown already goes through periods of low water pressure.
Court petition
Another Jonestown resident, Mary Ann C. Sablan, has taken her concerns to the Superior Court of Guam.
Sablan is petitioning the court to order the Guam Land Use Commission and the Department of Land Management to reverse approval of the Emerald Ocean View Project.
Part of Sablan's court petition states the Jonestown area is zoned "R-2" residential, which, according to Guam law, generally limits multi-family structures to 30 feet, or three stories.
Developers, however, can ask the Guam Land Use Commission for an exemption from limits on buildings, size, height, distance from lot boundaries or property use.
Several members of the public have expressed concerns about "the systemic problems Jonestown ... experiences, such as frequent periods of extreme low water pressure and traffic congestion, and that these problems would be increased," Sablan's petition states.
Jonestown currently has about 125 homes connected to the island's sewer system, and the Emerald project would add 280 condo and villa-style units, according to a study submitted to the Guam Land Use Commission as part of the developer's proposal.
An executive for Emerald Ocean View's developer, Younex International, was unavailable for comment by phone and e-mail as of press time yesterday.
But the developer is addressing some of the residents' concerns.
For example, the developer has submitted a plan to the Guam Land Use Commission to pay for $935,000 in upgrades to water and sewer lines in the area. The developer's upgrades include installing underground, 12-inch-diameter sewer pipes from Jonestown to the main sewer line on Gov. Carlos Camacho Road.
The Emerald Ocean View's additional housing units will result in more than 591,000 peak gallons per day of wastewater flow to the main sewer line in Tamuning, according to the study. That's an increase from Jonestown's current wastewater peak of 351,495 gallons per day, the study states.
Moratorium
But after the Emerald Ocean View received approval from the GLUC and Guam Waterworks Authority, things have changed at GWA.
The agency last week put in place a moratorium on water and wastewater hookups for new projects in Tamuning, parts of Tumon and parts of Hagåtña because the main water and sewer lines in those areas have reached maximum capacity.
The Emerald developer's sewer line upgrades from Jonestown to the main sewer line in Tamuning won't ease the capacity problem with Tamuning's main sewer line, which sometimes overflows with its current load.
But the Emerald Ocean View project received GWA approval before the agency knew that the main sewer line had reached its maximum capacity, said Simon Sanchez, chairman of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities. The CCU functions as GWA's board.
GWA needs about $30 million to install new main sewer lines from Tamuning to the Hagåtña wastewater treatment plant. The governor's office on Friday stated it's working with GWA and the CCU to identify funding to address the wastewater constraints, but it's unclear if GWA would be able to expand the Tamuning main sewer line before the Emerald Ocean View's 280 condo units and villas get built.
In December, the developer estimated the Emerald's units will be available starting around the second quarter of 2010, with a starting price tag of about $500,000 per condo unit.
If the developer's time frame holds, GWA has about two years to add capacity to the main sewer line from Tamuning to the Hagåtña sewer treatment plant.
By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno
Pacific Daily News
May 27, 2008
For more than a year now, Jonestown, Tamuning, residents have seen their neighborhood change.
New, single-family homes with price tags of $500,000 or higher have sprung up on once-empty pieces of land, adding value to the generally upper-middle-class neighborhood.
But while the new, standalone houses have been welcome additions, some Jonestown residents aren't too keen on two 15-story condominium buildings and two 18-story condo high-rises that are planned for the area.
The four high-rises are part of the proposed Emerald Ocean View Park, a $100-million project of Younex International.
Jonestown resident Nelda Flynn, through her son Michael Flynn Jr., has written to the Guam Land Use Commission that the project, "is too massive in scale."
"Water, sewer, roads and traffic would be substantially impacted by the proposed development," according to the Flynns, who submitted the letter days before the commission approved the project in November.
Nelda Flynn provided a copy of her letter to the Pacific Daily News recently in light of the growing debate about the numerous proposed high-rises on Guam amid the water, wastewater and infrastructure constraints the island faces.
Jonestown already goes through periods of low water pressure.
Court petition
Another Jonestown resident, Mary Ann C. Sablan, has taken her concerns to the Superior Court of Guam.
Sablan is petitioning the court to order the Guam Land Use Commission and the Department of Land Management to reverse approval of the Emerald Ocean View Project.
Part of Sablan's court petition states the Jonestown area is zoned "R-2" residential, which, according to Guam law, generally limits multi-family structures to 30 feet, or three stories.
Developers, however, can ask the Guam Land Use Commission for an exemption from limits on buildings, size, height, distance from lot boundaries or property use.
Several members of the public have expressed concerns about "the systemic problems Jonestown ... experiences, such as frequent periods of extreme low water pressure and traffic congestion, and that these problems would be increased," Sablan's petition states.
Jonestown currently has about 125 homes connected to the island's sewer system, and the Emerald project would add 280 condo and villa-style units, according to a study submitted to the Guam Land Use Commission as part of the developer's proposal.
An executive for Emerald Ocean View's developer, Younex International, was unavailable for comment by phone and e-mail as of press time yesterday.
But the developer is addressing some of the residents' concerns.
For example, the developer has submitted a plan to the Guam Land Use Commission to pay for $935,000 in upgrades to water and sewer lines in the area. The developer's upgrades include installing underground, 12-inch-diameter sewer pipes from Jonestown to the main sewer line on Gov. Carlos Camacho Road.
The Emerald Ocean View's additional housing units will result in more than 591,000 peak gallons per day of wastewater flow to the main sewer line in Tamuning, according to the study. That's an increase from Jonestown's current wastewater peak of 351,495 gallons per day, the study states.
Moratorium
But after the Emerald Ocean View received approval from the GLUC and Guam Waterworks Authority, things have changed at GWA.
The agency last week put in place a moratorium on water and wastewater hookups for new projects in Tamuning, parts of Tumon and parts of Hagåtña because the main water and sewer lines in those areas have reached maximum capacity.
The Emerald developer's sewer line upgrades from Jonestown to the main sewer line in Tamuning won't ease the capacity problem with Tamuning's main sewer line, which sometimes overflows with its current load.
But the Emerald Ocean View project received GWA approval before the agency knew that the main sewer line had reached its maximum capacity, said Simon Sanchez, chairman of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities. The CCU functions as GWA's board.
GWA needs about $30 million to install new main sewer lines from Tamuning to the Hagåtña wastewater treatment plant. The governor's office on Friday stated it's working with GWA and the CCU to identify funding to address the wastewater constraints, but it's unclear if GWA would be able to expand the Tamuning main sewer line before the Emerald Ocean View's 280 condo units and villas get built.
In December, the developer estimated the Emerald's units will be available starting around the second quarter of 2010, with a starting price tag of about $500,000 per condo unit.
If the developer's time frame holds, GWA has about two years to add capacity to the main sewer line from Tamuning to the Hagåtña sewer treatment plant.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Justice for the Marshall Islands
Please sign the Marshallese survivors' petition and circulate widely --it
only takes 3 minutes at the most. Just double click on the link below and be
patient and wait for about a minute or so, the petition will come up. You
have to preview your signature first and then officially sign on.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/527291025
The US-Japan Committee on Racial Justice is one of active groups actively
supporting the Marshallese survivors of ERUB (acronym for the 4 atolls of the
Marshall Islands). For the whole month of June, they will be in Washington,
D.C. to lobby for the Marshallese survivors of the 67 nuclear tests and the
Petition for Changed Circumstances. We are half way to our goal of 5,000
signatures; we now have a total of 2,579 signatures. So, your timely support
would be greatly appreciated.
As many of you may be aware, fallout from these nuclear detonations landed on
Guam, as was attested to by Lt. Schreiber who, after the military gag rule
was lifted, apologized to the Chamorro people in 2005 for not warning them of
the imminent danger under orders from his superiors. Moreover, many of the
ships and planes that were used in monitoring the nuclear detonations were
either washed down in Anderson Air Force Base or off Coco's island. Some of
the ships then proceeded to San Francisco Bayview Hunter's Point Shipyard
that remains highly toxic and a Superfund site till this day.
only takes 3 minutes at the most. Just double click on the link below and be
patient and wait for about a minute or so, the petition will come up. You
have to preview your signature first and then officially sign on.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/527291025
The US-Japan Committee on Racial Justice is one of active groups actively
supporting the Marshallese survivors of ERUB (acronym for the 4 atolls of the
Marshall Islands). For the whole month of June, they will be in Washington,
D.C. to lobby for the Marshallese survivors of the 67 nuclear tests and the
Petition for Changed Circumstances. We are half way to our goal of 5,000
signatures; we now have a total of 2,579 signatures. So, your timely support
would be greatly appreciated.
As many of you may be aware, fallout from these nuclear detonations landed on
Guam, as was attested to by Lt. Schreiber who, after the military gag rule
was lifted, apologized to the Chamorro people in 2005 for not warning them of
the imminent danger under orders from his superiors. Moreover, many of the
ships and planes that were used in monitoring the nuclear detonations were
either washed down in Anderson Air Force Base or off Coco's island. Some of
the ships then proceeded to San Francisco Bayview Hunter's Point Shipyard
that remains highly toxic and a Superfund site till this day.
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