In his article “’Justice for Vieques’ Resolutions Passed by Both Houses of Puerto Rican Legislature,” Brendan DeMelle (OpEdNews.com, July 11, 2009) reports that although the United Nations and both houses of the Puerto Rican Legislature have now passed resolutions supporting the people of Vieques in their struggle with disease, contamination and neglect from the United States Navy’s 60-year
bombardment of the island, nothing has been done by the present administration to follow-up on promises of cleaning up and decontaminating the impact areas previously used in military exercises. [Also see 6th anniversary of the U.S. Navy’s departure from Vieques and Viequenses and the Navy]
More worrisome than the sluggishness in taking action to respond to the ecological damages left on the island, is the U.S. Justice Department’s defense of “sovereign immunity” to protect the Navy and deny justice to the people of Vieques. De Melle expresses indignation at how the Justice Department, “perhaps emboldened by silence from the White House,” is trying to hide “behind an archaic principle derived from the Middle Ages when, ostensibly ordained of God, ‘the King could do no wrong.’”
De Melle writes:
The people of Vieques are experiencing an ongoing health crisis created by the U.S. Navy, which left behind a toxic brew of chemicals and heavy metals, including depleted uranium, napalm, mercury, arsenic, and lead from bombing and other military training activities. Residents of Vieques suffer from
abnormally high rates of cancer, birth defects and other serious diseases. Scientific studies show this stems from their contaminated environment [. . .]
Over 7,000 Vieques residents who are plaintiffs in an ongoing mass tort action have documented multiple failures by the Navy to comply with specific, mandatory environmental regulations. They also cite the Navy’s failure to warn the people of Vieques of the harmful effects of toxins released into the island’s air, water and soil. But the government is now using the “sovereign immunity” defense to claim that: “there was no specific and mandatory provision requiring any warning to citizens of Vieques regarding environmental hazards, and any warning would have required balancing competing concerns of secrecy and safety, national security and public health” [pg 21 of PDF]. The Justice Department even has the gall to suggest in a recent court document that: “With respect to any warning, the Navy would have had to balance its military and national security needs against any perceived benefits to public health and safety in light of the risks and burdens of a warning program and the great public anxiety warnings could create” [pg 23 of PDF]. Yes, you read that correctly. In the government’s twisted logic, warning people about the impending bombing that will contaminate their air, water, soil and bodies could harm them more than the toxic contaminants themselves. How thoughtful. Viequenses now suffering from cancer and birth defects must feel grateful to the government for saving them from the anxiety of being warned about their exposure beforehand.”
De Melle concludes his article demanding that President Obama deliver on his campaign promise and that he promptly intervene on behalf of the people of Vieques, who “have sacrificed greatly for our nation and deserve swift justice, attention to their health problems, and a thorough cleanup of their island.” [Many thanks to Robert Rabin for bringing this article to our attention.]
For full article, see http://www.opednews.com/articles/-Justice-for-Vieques-Reso-by-Brendan-DeMelle-090709-249.html
Photo from http://www.opednews.com/articles/-Justice-for-Vieques-Reso-by-Brendan-DeMelle-090709-249.html
That the current PR administration is doing nothing concerning the Vieques situation mentioned, is right on par with the rest of its agenda. The hollow governor hides behind his desk cowering while there is no Secretary of Health which should be providing some support for these people. Our Karma as a people can not be so bad as to suffer with these charlatans disguised as politicians.
By: james on July 12, 2009
at 12:33 pm
James,
Your last sentence is a gut shot but most people will never know. The problem is that many people have no idea what the word Charlatan means. I used the word before in some of my communication and people will email me back to ask what does that word mean; or is that an actual word. They have no idea what politics and politicians do or what they are capable of. I am convinced that all politicians change once they get into office. With politicians, it is mostly about power, because with power, large sums of money seem to cloud people’s judgement. The Devil’s Advocate is a 1997 American thriller/horror film directed by Taylor Hackford starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron, and based on a novel by Andrew Neiderman. It’s about a group of lawyers. Substitute the word politicians for lawyers and the meaning is just as poignant. James, you know I am a Lutheran but I do not wear my religion on my sleeve. My belief is somewhat private but I do think that lawyers and politicians just cannot help themselves. They are the Devil incarnate. The quote is “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven”. They don’t really want to change things for the better. For that, they have to accept Satan [just like the movie portrays] and suck up to the rest of the gutter people. So unfortunately, prosperity and health and social change and goodness and mercy is a fleeting thought or thoughts. Lastly when you first told me about the word Karma many years ago, I took it to heart. Most people never do. This includes politicians. It is much easier to do bad things and get away with it then good things and fight the good fight. You know that. It sickens me about your Commonwealth government and it sickens me on many levels about the federal goverment. I do not like to speak about politics too much anymore because I think we have all been disappointed by their actions. Have a good week.
Curtis
By: Curtis Hamlin Long on July 13, 2009
at 10:56 pm