Dangers of experience
Pohakuloa Day
The May 13 Hawaii Tribune-Herald article (published May 14 in West Hawaii Today) on “Experience Pohakuloa Day” was completely one-sided. All who visit the Pohakuloa Toxics Area (PTA) need to be aware of the dangers of war dust.
PTA has many war toxins blowing in the wind from more than 70 years of weapons training in the center of Hawaii Island. A very dangerous one is depleted uranium (DU) oxide particles. DU oxide involves alpha radiation and can be deadly when small particles are inhaled. It can enter the lymph system and lodge in various organs causing cancer. DU has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. Our organization especially recommends that children not enter PTA.
Millions of live rounds are fired annually at PTA. PTA is a training ground for conventional and nuclear war. B-52 and B-2 strategic nuclear bombers fly from Louisiana, Missouri, and Guam to bomb PTA. DU oxide dust particles can be re-suspended in the air by ongoing live-fire training explosions at PTA, strong winds that are frequent in the Saddle region, and any kind of movement (disturbances) in the area.
Our organization first picked up high radiation readings on two monitors at Maunakea park on May 29, 2007, the day of the new Saddle Road dedication with strong winds coming off PTA from the south blowing toward the park. This was before the military officially acknowledged DU had been used at PTA after years of repeatedly denying its use.
Remember that the U.S. military is the greatest polluter on the planet. It is the largest consumer of oil and the largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2). For the PTA website to claim that the Army provides “environmental and cultural stewardship” reminds me of Nazis during the Nuremberg trials claiming “Auschwitz was a family camp.”
Jim Albertini
President, Malu ‘Aina Center for Nonviolent Education and Action in Ola’a
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Everyone has a choice
Dennis Gregory’s May 12 comment, “We pray that religious people keep their hurtful views to themselves…” If I assume he means “religious people” as Christians, and “hurtful views” as witnessing their faith, then he’s right. Christianity commands us to carry out the Lord Jesus Christ’s last command: “Go forth and preach the Gospel throughout the World.”
To say “…keep their hurtful views to themselves…” is censorship that is so prevalent on social media. It’s wrong to censor the truth.
Finally, remember God made us with free will because there is no love without free will. Everyone has a choice to where we spend eternity. You and I must choose.
Dennis Lawson
Kalaoa
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