Making war on environment a savage threat to national security
Making war on environment a savage threat to national security
The Air Force is asking permission from the National Marine Fisheries Service for “incidental taking” of whales and dolphins, referring to the sanitized translation of killing 16 species of these amazing, beautiful and intelligent creatures and all other sea life facing destruction in air-to-surface munitions tests 44 nautical miles off the coast of Kauai beginning in September and lasting for a period of five years thereafter. We have fought hard to prevent extinction of whales and dolphins. This area of ocean is in danger of becoming a completely lifeless and toxic dead zone unfit for any sort of habitat for whales and all other sea life. Gone also will be the fishing grounds providing livelihoods for local fishermen as well as the destruction of special ocean plants, which produce earth’s richest supply of oxygen. Now the military is more than willing to wipe out these generous gifts of nature in the so-called interest of “national security.”
In reality, bombing the ocean is a huge threat to national security. Blatant weapons testing will intensify the arms race, definitely no enhancement to the national security while other nations scramble to catch up with American military might as witnessed by the hugely obscene profits amassed by weapons manufacturers for the fresh production of bombers, fighter aircraft, helicopters, cargo aircraft, cruise missiles, thousand pound warheads along with unearthly science fiction type war systems to name a few. New weapons always require testing which invariably leads to those highly endorsed “endless wars” touted by the industrial military complex. The American economy has become a mostly war economy which brings no peace nor national security. It seems profits to the dogs of war is the real reason for the Air Force being hell bent on bombing the ocean.
Making war on our own environment, which supports all life on land and in the seas is the most savage threat to national security. We have become our own worst enemy. For a change, let’s try diplomacy.
Janet Ashkenazy
Honokaa
Proposed bombing off Kauai is madness
It seems to be the letter from Paul Santos objecting to Kyle Datta’s letter of March 3 was completely off subject. He complained about the Superferry (a very old issue) when Mr. Datta’s only subject was the Air Force’s potential bombing in the waters off Kauai and thereby injuring dolphins, whales and other marine life.
This plan is indeed madness and we should all be voicing our objections.
Mare Grace
Waimea