Posts Tagged: Movements and Resistance

Okinawa’s win may be Hawai’i’s tragedy

As Okinawans move closer to removing the oppressive presence of U.S. military bases from their island, the repercussions are already being felt across the Pacific. In November, President Obama announced that the U.S. will deploy 2,500  troops to Australia.  Recently, the U.S. and Philippines have engaged in talks about expanding the U.S. military presence in… Read more »

Okinawan Anti-Bases Delegation Makes An Impression in Washington, D.C.

Even as Tokyo tried to force the Futenma base relocation plan on Okinawa in a desperate effort to salvage its unraveling deal with the U.S., a prominent delegation from Okinawa visited Washington, D.C. to educate political movers and shakers and lobby Congress to close the military bases in Okinawa.  An overview of the delegation “Making… Read more »

Philippines lawyers union denounces possible U.S. military buildup

A Philippines lawyers union denounced the possible increase of U.S. military forces and activities in the Philippines: National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers  Press Release January 27, 2012 NUPL on reports about negotiations seeking for bigger US military role in PH Mendicant errand boys beg US soldiers to use Philippines as war playground On the reported… Read more »

Impacts of Missile Defense in the Pacific, Asia and the World

The Kaua’i Alliance for Peace and Social Justice and the International Forum on Globalization present a thought-provoking evening with prominent peace activists. DOWNLOAD THE POSTER Impacts of Missile Defense in the Pacific, Asia and the World PMRF Missiles Destroy Environment, Democracy, Cultures February 21, 2012 6:30 pm Kapa’a Public Library FREE Speakers: Bruce Gagnon, Coordinator… Read more »

ALONG THE AXIS OF PEACE: Global Resistance to U.S. Military Bases and Space-based Weapons

DOWNLOAD PDF OF THE POSTER   ALONG THE AXIS OF PEACE: Global Resistance to U.S. Military Bases and Space-based Weapons February 18, 2012 7:00 – 9:00 pm Art Auditorium UH Manoa FREE From Vandenberg, California to Kwajalein Atoll, Kaua’i to Jeju, South Korea, Okinawa to the UK, the U.S. global network of military bases and… Read more »

Philippines may allow greater U.S. presence in latest reaction to China’s rise

As Kaleikoa Kaeo points out, if you imagine the U.S. military in Hawai’i to be a monstrous he’e (octopus) with tentacles strangling other lands and peoples around the Asia-Pacific region, its tentacles can regrow if they are cut off.  The Washington Post reported that the Philippines government may allow the U.S. to expand its military… Read more »

Afghan soldiers step up killings of Allied Forces

The New York Times article “Afghanistan’s Soldiers Step Up Killings of Allied Forces” paints a disturbing picture of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan: American and other coalition forces here are being killed in increasing numbers by the very Afghan soldiers they fight alongside and train, in attacks motivated by deep-seated animosity between the supposedly… Read more »

Soldier suicides hit record high in 2011

The social and human costs of U.S. wars and military policies are coming due.  The New York Times reported that “Active-Duty Soldiers Take Their Own Lives at Record Rate”: Suicides among active-duty soldiers hit another record high in 2011, Army officials said on Thursday, although there was a slight decrease if nonmobilized Reserve and National… Read more »

“Message from Yambaru: Takae, Okinawa”

This short video shows the beautiful Yanbaru rainforest in northern Okinawa that is impacted by U.S. helicopter and jungle warfare training. The residents are fighting against the expansion of the helicopter activities, including the stationing of Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.  They have been encamped outside the military site for several years to block construction. The Marines… Read more »

Army won’t shrink force level in Pacific region, general says

William Cole reported in the Honolulu Star Advertiser that according to Army Chief of Staff General Raymond T. Odierno, the Army will maintain force levels in the Asia Pacific despite recent proposed defense cuts: The Army will keep its force level about the same in Asia and the Pacific as the service looks to make… Read more »