FOREIGN BASES

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

PHILIPPINES SUPPORT

 On September 24 in Washington, DC, representatives from
several regions of the U.S. formed the U.S. Working Group for
Philippines Bases Cleanup. Much of the meeting focused on
President Clinton's upcoming November 12 visit to the Philippines
as well as planned Philippine Senatorial hearings. The group wrote
the following draft mission statement:

 As members of the U.S. Working Group for Philippine
Bases Cleanup, our task is to work toward environmental
restoration of the Philippine land and water areas formerly used by
the U.S. military. The toxic and radioactive contamination at the
former bases is an important and substantial threat to both the
environment and human health. In order to work effectively toward
the cleanup of the bases, we:

* believe that the U.S. government has a responsibility to address
the environmental legacy of the former bases in the Philippines;

* wish to work in partnership with the Philippine people whose
lives and livelihoods are threatened by the environmental
contamination at the bases;

* and, are dedicated to addressing the cleanup challenge in a manner
that betters the economic well-being of the affected people.