Military to Guam residents: We will take your ancestral land and resources. So you won’t be able to fish, hunt, conduct traditional cultural practices, but you can go bowling or roller skating instead.  Wow, score!

>><<

http://mvguam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10053:military-to-hikers-take-up-indoor-hobbies&catid=1:guam-local-news&Itemid=2

HIKING, FISHING FORFEIT IN GUAM MILITARY LAND GRAB

Marine Corps suggests residents turn to indoor activities

By Jude Lizama

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety, Dec. 18, 2009) – SINCE bonnie stompers are likely to lose access to jungles and cultural sites on the island of Guam, the military is suggesting that hikers switch to indoor hobbies.

The Marine Corps Community Service has proposed various quality of life facilities such as hobby shop, indoor physical fitness centers, and indoor recreational resources such as bowling, skating rink, youth center, theater and recreational pavilion.

These are among the alternative recreations cited by the military in the draft environmental impact statement.

“By presenting alternate recreational options to the potential users, impacts to the recreational resources on non-DoD (Department of Defense) lands in north Guam could be lessened,” the study cited.

A significant portion of nonmilitary acreage on the east coast of the island, in addition to the loss of some of the island’s recreational and cultural sites, may be confiscated as a result of the training range complex construction alternatives proposed within the draft environmental impact statement.

According to the impact study, “There are several recreational resources that the public would lose the access to, and the use of the features if the proposed action were implemented: Guam International Raceway, Marbo Cave, Pagat Trail and associated trails near it, cultural gathering activities (suruhana), and off-shore fishing near Marbo Cave.”

Through the possible implementation of Training Complex Alternative A, the U.S. military would look to acquire 921 acres of nonmilitary land located east of both Andersen South and Route 15. This alternative would also require 1.7 miles of Route 15 to be realigned. Alternative B could possible would see the military take 1,129 acres with no realignment to Route 15.

If conducted, both of the training facility options would consist of live fire ranges under the classifications of known distance, unknown distance, pistol, square-bay, and machine gun; in addition to range control, range roads, range towers, and proposed special use airspace.

Additionally, the study cited that “Implementation of [Main Cantonment] Alternative 1, regardless of the Training Complex Alternatives A or B, would cause the cessation of the present activities at all the resources mentioned because the Known Distance Range Complex is proposed in that location. The loss of Guam International Raceway land and use would be an adverse impact. Therefore, [Main Cantonment] Alternative 1 would result in significant impacts to recreational resources.”

“Heightened awareness and education about environmentally sensitive areas,” will contribute toward “minimizing deterioration of resources,” the draft study says. “The general wear and tear of the amenities available and the conditions of the recreational resources would likely be accelerated due to the presence of potential users.”

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/550/index.html

This NOW program was shown on PBS last week about the U.S. military expansion on Guam.   Go to the NOW website for links and other resources.

Guam is an American colony, with no say in the military invasion that will suffocate the Chamoru people.

http://thedrowningmermaid.blogspot.com/2009/11/honk-if-you-hear-me.html

On Friday, November 20, the day the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Guam Military Expansion was released, there was a demonstration against the U.S. military expansion in Guam.     The Drowning Mermaid blog carried a report and  photos from the action.  Here’s a few excerpts:

I don’t think it’s uncommon to stay silent on an issue when you think no one else is on your team. But there are times when you start to whisper it to people near you, only to find out that there are many like you, sitting quietly in the corners trying to avoid being the odd man out. After a while, you get the sense that there are a ton of individuals who share the same fears, grievances, and goals. You start wondering why the hell no one is saying anything if everyone feels the same way.

We’re so used to being told no one cares. But it’s not true. People do care; and once they see that others care, they feel more empowered to take action. There were many people who were truly happy to see us; and it showed just how much our island worries about the ramifications of this huge movement. There are many residents who are also not sold on this “deal” the Department of Defense is trying to push on us.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091113/BREAKING01/91113045/Pentagon+urged+to+keep+Guam+better+informed+on+Marine+transfer

Friday, November 13, 2009

Pentagon urged to keep Guam better informed on Marine transfer

By JOHN YAUKEY

Gannett Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Guam’s government needs more timely information from the Defense Department about the planned transfer of 8,000 Marines and their dependents there from Japan so it can better plan for the necessary infrastructure buildup and financing, a government report out Friday said.

“The government of Guam is expected to be largely responsible for funding and constructing … off-base roads and utilities and providing certain public services,” said the report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office.

The movement of Marines, which is expected to begin next year with preliminary construction, would also require bringing in additional support troops from the other service branches.

If implemented, the transfer would increase the military population on Guam from 15,000 in 2009 to about 29,000 in 2014, and to more than 39,000 by 2020, according to the GAO report. That would increase the island population of 178,400 by about 14 percent over those years, the report said.

The transfer of the Marines would be a huge economic boon for Guam, if it’s prepared to handle the influx and all the jobs the move will create.

It’s estimated the move will cost $15 billion or more and will generate as many as many as 20,000 construction jobs during peak phases, GAO has determined.

But thus far in the planning process, some of Guam’s government agencies have had a difficult time accurately estimating construction and financing costs.

For example, when Guam officials received updated information on some of the road improvements necessary, the cost estimate dropped from $4.4 billion to $1.5 billion, GAO reported.

The Pentagon responded to the GAO report by saying that it is sharing information as soon as it becomes available and that it has planned several consultant studies that should help Guam officials plan better.

The movement of the Marines from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam is considered a critical part of the nation’s Pacific military and diplomatic strategy.

The Japanese government has been under intense political pressure to get the Marines off Okinawa since 1995, when three U.S. servicemen raped a 12-year-old girl there, straining U.S.-Japan relations. In all, the U.S. has about 50,000 military personnel in Japan.

President Obama discussed the move with Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama when they met Friday in Tokyo.

“The United States and Japan have set up a high-level working group that will focus on implementation of the agreement that our two governments have reached with respect to the restructuring of U.S. forces in Okinawa, and we hope to complete this work expeditiously,” Obama said. “Our goal remains the same, and that’s to provide for the defense of Japan with minimal intrusion on the lives of the people who share this space.”