And once again it seems, the Chamorro-American citizens living on Tinian will soon play another major role in American History, preparing again to sacrifice ALL to defend your way of life and the Motherland (U.S.A). Today, plans are underway to relocate U.S. Marines from Okinawa to the Mariana Islands.
To the detriment of the Tinian people the Draft Environmental Impact Study, or DEIS, for the Marianas Military build-up serves to provide a thorough examination of the potential impacts to people and the environment on Guam, with little effort made to investigate the same issues that will drastically effect the lives of all Tinian people, both present and future generations included. Making matters worse, the only alternative use for Tinian considered thus far in the DEIS is in the form of developing a series of live fire ranges right smack dab in the middle (the heart) of our tiny island, and right on top of the best farmland in all of the Western Pacific region that has in the past and continues to provide sustenance and food security for the people of the Mariana Islands and Micronesia. These live-fire ranges are expected to expand in future years to include activities such as full-scale company battles, coordinated air, sea and land assaults and whatever else can be dreamed up. In Essence, the Draft EIS proposes the most volatile of activities(A live fire range complex)as the first and only option for Tinian without due consideration in the DEIS as to the impact of these activities on food security, soil quality, water quality, and the quality of life for the people of Tinian. Furthermore, the Draft EIS provides no recommended mitigation strategies to deal with the loss of agriculture production (mainly sustainable grass-fed beef cattle
production) that the people of Tinian rely heavily on and that serves to provide food security for the region, which should logically be encouraged to support the influx of some 80,000 people that are expected to arrive on these islands as a direct result of the build-up. If you don’t think that food security is important, ask the Good U.S. Citizens of Rota CNMI, who are currently experiencing food shortages and food commodities Price-Hiking as we speak. The DEIS fails to consider as significant the loss of the Tinian Chamorro culture so closely tied to Agriculture, and puts at risk our efforts in the past decades to develop Sustainable Tourism and Agriculture industries for a diversified Tinian economy, and All of this in one shot, as the first and only alternative considered PATHETIC! As I recall, the United States Government is not in the habit of planning towards an atrocity, especially when it is unwarranted and may have a direct negative affect on the very citizens that have sworn allegiance to the United States and who have paid their dues to her. The U.S. Citizens of Tinian deserve better than this. We deserve the sustainable and strategic development of our island to allow for Agriculture, Tourism, and a military presence as beneficial to each other and especially beneficial to the Tinian and CNMI economy, and all the while ensuring the safety of all the residents of Tinian, both local and military personnel. Believe me, if the 3rd Marine Division moves to the Marianas, there are plenty of other alternative-functional uses for the island of Tinian that do not involve the total destruction and condemnation of the land and people(For All Time-Look at Chiget Beach), and all that for a bargain deal of almost nothing (13 jobs promised).
Please understand that it is in the best interest of the U.S. Military to protect this island and its vast underwater aquifers and prime agricultural grazing lands because Tinian has been proven in Battle during the last go around (World War 2) when Tinian made its Historical U.S. Military Debut, supporting an estimated 150,000 Troops (a formidable military force), and effectively solidifying America’s place as a World Power, all on only 39 Square miles of Land. The Americans living on Tinian and in the Commonwealth as a whole deserve better than to be so easily abused and forsaken (Damaged Forever), merely because it is convenient for the Military in the short term. The Tinian project is not even budgeted in the Department of Defense Budget so the Range Complex idea for Tinian is only a big waste of money and time as it will soon be scrapped because it just does not make sense. Do not hesitate. The people of Tinian are preparing to again make a Total and Complete Sacrifice of ALL that we know and love to protect your way of life, we only ask for a few minutes of your time so that we are protected from our very own Mother and Protector. Send in your comments on the DEIS, NOW! PLEASE! Tinian’s fate will be decided in a matter of hours as the DOD established DEADline for comments is Feb. 17th, 2010. Send Comments. Review the D EIS-Volume three. Spread the Word, but PLEASE-COMMENT!, RIGHT NOW!. Here is a sample comment:
The Draft EIS for the Marianas Islands (As it pertains to the use of Tinian, USA) does a disservice to the people of Tinian, to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and the Country of America as a whole as it is lacking in credibility and logic entirely, and is therefore deemed unacceptable (A complete Failure). We demand that the drafters of the EIS and the United States Military themselves develop an Environmental Impact Study just for Tinian that is at least as detailed and thorough as the DEIS has been for our beautiful island of Guam. All alternatives should be considered in the new EIS, not just one Stupid one (Live-Fire Ranges, Hell No!), and a thorough investigation of each alternative should go towards ensuring that Tinian is protected so that this island can continue to sustain a local, military, and human presence.
It is suggested that the new EIS include all of the islands of the Northern Marianas since other islands in the Marianas Archipelago are already being offered up to the military at a bargain price, behind closed doors. Furthermore, in the NEW and IMPROVED EIS, Regional Food security should be a top priority and the military lease-back program that was developed, and has been hugely successful in diversifying Tinian’s Economy by allowing prime cattle grazing lands (43 Locally Owned Grass-Fed Beef Cattle Ranches and Growing) to be utilized, must be solidified and encouraged. The re-negotiations of 1994 between the Department of Defense and the CNMI Government should be honored, encouraging the growth of a Highly sustainable Grass-fed Beef Industry (Just as Tinian has done in the past) that will add Value and Support the growing civilian and military presence in the Region. Strategic Alternatives considered within the in the New EIS should strive to focus primarily on utilizing only the Military Exclusive Zone in the Northern Portion of Tinian Island as agree upon. Lastly, the NEW EIS should involve the good Native American Citizens of Tinian, and the many professionals that worked in Tinian and know her best, in the decision making process.
Send Comments online at www.guambuildupeis.us Or, send written comments to Joint Guam Program Office, c/o Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Attn: Guam Program Management Office, 285 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 96860. Postmarked by February 17, 2010.
Thank you. God Bless America and all of her protectorates!
LAWERENCE DUPONCHEEL
Tinian, CNMI
