ACTIVISTS' RESOURCES
Important Information You will Need!
ACTION ALERTS - LETTERS - CALENDAR - DOCUMENTS - CHANTS - IMAGES
VIEQUES LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
Fellowship of Reconciliation Task Force on Latin America
and the Caribbean
2017 Mission St. #305, San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel: 415-495-6334 Fax: 415-495-5628
Web: http://www.forusa.org
September 22, 2001
Dear Friends:
We wish hope and strength to you in these very difficult days. We are writing to ask for your collaboration in the continuing struggle for peace and justice for Vieques, Puerto Rico. Even before the attacks of September 11, decision-making in Congress and the White House regarding the Navy¹s continued bombardment of Vieques was at a critical point. It still is.
It is important to note that such practice is ineffective in defending the United States from terrorist attacks. The day after the attacks, Admiral Kevin Green, Puerto Rico-based commander of U.S. Navy South acknowledged that continuation of training by Navy forces in Vieques has little to do with preventing such attacks. The reasons why Vieques is not needed, as previously detailed by experienced naval analysts, officers, even Defense Department officials, are still valid. (We have assembled a packet of materials on this; contact us if you would like a copy.)
Nonetheless, the U.S. Navy will be sending the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy and its battle group for up to three weeks of bombing and beach invasion practices in Vieques, beginning on Monday, September 24. Marines patrolling the fence and gate separating the base and bombing range from the civilian sector have been aiming weapons at civilians who pass by, raising fears that they may attack peaceful protests once bombing begins.
In addition, as early as Monday, September 24, the full U.S. Senate may debate an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that would practically prohibit the U, S. Navy from ending its bombing of Vieques, clean the land, or allow it to be returned to civilian use. The bill probably will be voted on by the full Senate during the week of September 24-28.
The amendment duplicates the language passed by the House Armed Forces
Committee just after the people of Vieques voted overwhelmingly on July
29 for an immediate end to Navy practices, cleanup and return of the land.
The House version eliminates a planned federally-mandated referendum in
November, but requires that the Navy remain in Vieques until a single
"equal or better" site is found. This version also demands that
the Navy would in any case retain control of the land, close it (without
cleanup) to civilian access, and have the option to resume bombing in
the future. In
other words, the Navy could stay and bomb forever. It is critical that
our senators know that their constituents oppose this opportunistic measure.
They need to hear that support for the demilitarization of Vieques has
not evaporated.
Recommended Action
We urge you to fax a letter, with follow-up phone calls, to your Senators and to the White House, urging them to honor the democratically expressed wishes of the people of Vieques and of Puerto Rico for the definitive departure of the Navy from Vieques. The talking points below can be supplemented with information about how bombing Vieques does not help defend against the kind of attacks to which the United States is most vulnerable.
Communication should be directed to your Senators and to the probable members of the conference committee and their staff. Capitol Switchboard for phone calls: 1-800-648-3516 / 202-224-3121.
These key leaders may be sympathetic, but need to hear from us:
- Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) (staff: Mike McCord) Senate Armed
Services Committee (SASC) chair Fax: 202-228-0036
- Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) (staff: Noelani Kalipi) SASC Readiness
panel chair Fax: 202-224-2126
- Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) House Armed Services Committee (HASC)
ranking member Fax: 202-225-2695
The following may also be members of the conference committee:
- Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) (staff-Vickie Plunkett) HASC Readiness
panel ranking member Fax: 202-226-1134
- Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS) HASC Installations panel ranking member
Fax: 202-225-7074White House Comment Line: 202-456-1414
U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 1-800-648-3516
Some points to consider in your letter or call:VIEQUES IS NOT NEEDED FOR TRAINING OR U.S. SECURITY
- Admiral Kevin Green, commander of U.S. Navy South acknowledged that
the continuation of training by Navy forces in Vieques has little to
do with defending the U.S. against terrorist attacks.
- The Center for Naval Analysis demonstrated in August 2000 that the
Navy can and does use other facilities on the Eastern Seaboard for the
training conducted in Vieques. Bombing in Vieques wastes resources on
activities that harm people and the environment and hurt the local economy,
while doing nothing to increase national security.
- Under Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz called Vieques training
"obsolete," an opinion shared by Admirals Shanahan, Carroll,
and others.
DEMOCRACY WOULD BE STRENGTHENED BY DEMILITARIZING VIEQUES - Vieques residents voted overwhelmingly over 68% - on July 29
to stop the bombing immediately, clean up the land, and return to civilian
control and use.
- Unlike communities affected by bombing ranges in the United States,
who can vote for Congressional representation, Puerto Rico is a colony.
This referendum was a way for Vieques to express its democratic will.
BOMBING VIEQUES IS ILLEGAL - The Navy¹s violations of environmental and civil rights laws
in Vieques have led to half a dozen lawsuits and nearly 2,000 administrative
tort claims, in addition to more than a thousand cases of civil disobedience.
BOMBING VIEQUES HARMS CIVILIANS - Vieques residents had a higher incidence of cancer and other diseases
than other Puerto Ricans
- Vieques residents have higher levels of mercury and other heavy metals
- Excessive levels (above FDA safety standards) of lead, cadmium, and
other heavy metals have been found in vegetables and other plants grown
in the civilian area of Vieques. The same metals are found in the ordnance
fired or dropped in Vieques. In addition, traces of military explosives
have been found in public water wells No other potential source exists
for these environmental carcinogens
THE LAND MUST BE CLEANED AND RETURN TO CIVILIAN USE - A cleanup will be necessary for the protection of public health.
Only transfer of title from Federal control will guarantee cleanup under
current laws. The people of Vieques have for years demanded return of
the island, and detailed proposals are in place for balanced use and
conservation of the lands, which could serve as models for other demilitarized
locations.
We will continue to monitor Vieques developments in Washington and Puerto Rico. Please feel free to call or write me to talk about responding to this request.
Wishing and working for peace and justice with all our hearts and strength,
John Lindsay-Poland
Fellowship of ReconciliationDéborah Berman Santana, Ph.D
Professor, Mills College, Oakland, CA
e-mail: santana@mills.edu Tel; (510)430-3162 Fax; (510)430-2067
| Letter-Writting
Campaign / Campaña de Cartas Model Letter - Carta modelo (Word Document) (HTML Document) (PDF Document)
|
Andrew Card
U.S. Capitol Switchboard |
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS:
Take Note on Any Event Near your Area. Send the announcement for any event
in your area to: calendar@viequeslibre.org
Latest Information (send out by the ViequesLibre listserv)
Declaration
of ULTIMATUM of the People of Vieques (Español)
Metales Pesados Encontrados en Vieques:
Tabla - Mapa
(Imágenes Grande - Para Imprimir)
Press Releases from Vieques - to read, copy, and distribute.
Fact Sheet: On Vieques - (Flyer.htm - Flyer.doc)
THE
PRESIDENT'S DECISION IS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE PEOPLE
(English & Español)
Bombs
and Toxic Waste Discovered (picture)
Sobre Barriles Hundidos con Desperdicios Tóxicos
Doug Rokke on Depleted Uranium / Sobre Uranio Reducido
At least eighteen (18) elements of deceit found in the Navy's proposal
Print
these Chants & Consignas to hand out.
Chants.htm (WebDocument)
Chants.doc (WORD Document)
Need Visual Images for your propaganda?
Please help yourself:
What about political-satirical comics?
Clinton 's Directive of Jan 31, 2000
US NAVY VIEQUES' DOCUMENTS:
in .pdf (you will need Acrobat Reader)
Report - "Fact"
Sheet - Executive Summary
| You can report-back from you event
to: viequeslibre@viequeslibre.org
|
Please, send pictures of your events. |