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<font size=3><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzmXU6u5CTE">
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzmXU6u5CTE</a><br><br>
The U.S. military currently is conducting public hearings on its draft
environmental impact statement for its military buildup in Guam and the
Northern Marianas islands. At the first hearing, residents
overwhelmingly opposed the plan. Here is a powerful testimony
by prophet-poet Melvin Won Pat-Borja, a former mentor with YouthSpeaks
Hawai’i who now teaches in Guam.<br>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzmXU6u5CTE">
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzmXU6u5CTE</a><br><br>
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Description from the YouTube page:<br>
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<dd>Melvin Won Pat-Borja, representing the community organization “We Are
Guahan” presents his official testimony against the U.S. Military’s plans
to transfer thousands of marines from Okinawa to Guam. The Department of
Defense has published a draft of the Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) detailing their plans. The DEIS is about 11,000 pages long, and
the public only has until February 17, 2010 to submit comments on the
document.<br><br>
<dd>“We Are Guahan” is a group of community members dedicated to reading
and disseminating information in the DEIS to the public, including
details of the devastating effects of the military buildup on the
island’s culture, water sources, coral reefs and marine habitats, family
lands, historical and archeological sites, and social environment.
Furthermore, despite common belief that the buildup will benefit Guam’s
economy, the DEIS reveals that majority of new jobs and contracts will be
given to off-island workers and companies.<br><br>
<dd>Most importantly, the U.S. military’s decision is a blatant violation
of human rights for Guam’s residents, who have not been allowed to
participate in any aspect of the buildup plans. “We Are Guahan”
encourages everyone, in and outside of Guam, to stay informed about the
military buildup! Read the EIS and make your voice heard! You can submit
comments online, by mail, or in person at public hearings.<br>
<dd>For more information, please visit
<a href="http://www.weareguahan.com/">www.WeAreGuahan.com</a>.<br>
<dd>-- <br>
</dl>si Debbie Quinata<br>
I Nasion Chamoru<br>
P.O. Box 6132<br>
Merizo, Guam 96916<br>
(671) 828-2957<br><br>
<br>
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