[CPEO-MEF] Big Isle airs out Stryker grievances

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Hawai'i
HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN
Big Isle airs out Stryker grievances
Councilman Bob Jacobsen adds his protest at the meeting
By Peter Serafin
November 7, 2003

HILO >> More than 200 people -- many anti-war protesters,
environmentalists and Hawaiian activists -- jammed a hearing last night
to protest deployment of 20-ton Stryker armored combat vehicles in
Hawaii.

"There are over 50 sites in Hawaii that have unexploded ordnance and
toxic chemicals, including sarin gas," said community activist
Moanikeala Akaka, "and we just feel there should be a cleanup before
they even consider an expansion. Their track record has been dismal and
appalling."

At the hearing last night in the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 74 people
testified, including Hawaii County Councilman Bob Jacobsen, who opposed
the project, also citing a concern for unexploded ordnance on the
island.

It was the second hearing on the Big Island on the Army's proposed
conversion of the Hawaii-based 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division
to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The Army hopes to acquire 23,000 acres
on the Big Island and add 1,400 to the 27,000 acres Schofield Barracks
occupies in Wahiawa to build new facilities to accommodate 310 new
eight-wheeled Stryker combat vehicles.

This article can be viewed at:
http://starbulletin.com/2003/11/07/news/story11.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CPEO: A DECADE OF SUCCESS.  Your generous support will ensure that our 
important work on military and environmental issues will continue.  
Please consider one of our donation options.  Thank you.
http://www.groundspring.org/donate/index.cfm?ID=2086-0|721-0