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15,000 Ask U.S. to Clean Up All Variety of Weapons Left Behind on Vieques printable version

20 Apr 2016: posted by the editor - United States

For six decades prior to 2003, approximately one trillion pounds of explosives were dropped by the U.S. military, NATO and other military allies in practice exercises on Vieques, Puerto Rico. Fifteen thousand people have signed a petition to the Pentagon, Congress, and the White House seeking action from the U.S. government.

The petition calls for action on:

Health Care—Provide a modern hospital with cancer treatment facilities, early screening and timely treatment for all diseases. Create a research facility to determine the relationship between military toxins and health. Provide just compensation to people suffering poor health as a result of the Navy's activities.

Cleanup—Fund a complete, rapid cleanup of the land and surrounding waters, still littered by thousands of bombs, grenades, napalm, Agent Orange, depleted uranium and other explosives left by the Navy. Cease the ongoing open detonation of unexploded ordnance. Guarantee community participation in the cleanup; train Viequenses as managers, administrators, and scientists, and foster Viequense companies to do the work.

Sustainable Development—Support the Master Plan for Sustainable Development of Vieques which promotes agriculture, fishing, eco-tourism, small guest houses, housing, collective transportation, archaeology, and historic and environmental research, among other things.

Demilitarization and Return of the Land—Close the remaining military installations still occupying 200 acres of Vieques. Return to the people of Vieques all land still under the control of the U.S. Navy and the federal government.

The following letter has now been submitted:

Vidas Viequenses Valen
Calle Flamboyan #153
Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765

April 19, 2016

President Barack Obama
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Obama:

Today we commemorate the seventeenth anniversary of the death of David Sanes and the almost 13 years since the closing of the U.S. Navy bombing range in Vieques, Puerto Rico. For six decades prior to 2003, approximately one trillion pounds of explosives were dropped by the U.S. military, NATO and other military allies in practice exercises.

After decades of protest and a campaign of non-violent civil resistance that began in 1999 and included the arrests of over 1,500 people, the Navy was forced to close the bombing range on May 1, 2003. Peace-loving people had defeated the most powerful military force in history without firing a single shot.

As a candidate in 2008, you wrote to the Governor of Puerto Rico in 2008: 'We will closely monitor the health of the people of Vieques and promote appropriate remedies to health conditions caused by military activities conducted by the U.S. Navy on Vieques.'

But that promise remains unfulfilled. The environmental disaster the Navy created continues to afflict Vieques. We urge you to act immediately to provide adequate resources to address the health crisis in Vieques and to provide a safe and complete clean up the island.

We are attaching 15,000 signatures from people all over the United States who support our demands as detailed in the following petition.

We look forward to the opportunity to meet with you or anyone you should appoint to respond to our needs.

Sincerely yours,
Myrna Pagan
Vidas Viequenses Valen

Encl.: Petition—Provide adequate resources to address the health crisis in Vieques and fully clean up the island

CC: Jerry Abramson, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs

* RootsAction.org is an online initiative dedicated to galvanizing Americans who are committed to economic fairness, equal rights, civil liberties, environmental protection—and defunding endless wars. RootsAction is endorsed by Jim Hightower, Barbara Ehrenreich, Cornel West, Daniel Ellsberg, Glenn Greenwald, Naomi Klein, Bill Fletcher Jr., Laura Flanders, former U.S. Senator James Abourezk, Coleen Rowley, Frances Fox Piven, and many others.

Tags: Puerto Rico

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