However, women’s rights activist Nicole George said there is still a lack of debate among local women regarding the plan to relocate nearly 8,000 U.S. Marines and their dependents to Guam.
“The military buildup is proceeding at an alarming rate here on Guam,” said George. “But this development has been met with a benign response from women so far.”
George, a professor at the University of Queensland in Australia, is on Guam to learn more about how women in the Pacific make their voices heard in regional discussions.
She presented her research about women-led activism in the Pacific at the University of Guam earlier last week.
Increased military presence
George said the Pacific is no stranger to militarization, as residents in various Pacific islands have experienced some level of an increased U.S. military presence over the past few decades.
However, she said the implications of militarization on Pacific women have not always been addressed.
George, who spent many years researching the involvement of Pacific women in activism, said local women should begin to voice their opinion about the military buildup.
According to George, women in other Pacific islands are looking to local discussions to gauge how the buildup will affect them as well.
“This is not only an issue for Guam,” said George. “It’s an issue for the entire Pacific region.”
George said women on other islands want to know what the buildup will cost Guam women as well as what the buildup will cost the entire Pacific region. George said it was vital for women in other Pacific islands to understand the cost of colonization.
While women from smaller islands might see the growth of Guam’s infrastructure as positive, George said any negative impacts of an increased military presence on local women may be overlooked.
“It’s not all shining lights,” George said of the need for Guam women to express their concerns over the military buildup.
George suggested that women’s groups on island begin to network with other local and regional groups to discuss what a major buildup on Guam will cost the Pacific.
“It’s vital for the region to know,” said George. “I’ve already talked to women in other places and they all want to know.”
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