To: Tom Bates, Mayor, Linda Maio, District 1, Darryl Moore, District 2, Max Anderson, District 3, Jesse Arreguin, District 4, Laurie Capitelli, District 5, Susan Wengraf, District 6, Kriss Worthington, District 7, and Lori Droste, District 8
Berkeley City Council: Stop the construction of U.S. military helipads in Takae, Okinawa
The people of Takae, Okinawa are fighting to stop the construction of new U.S. military helipads that would bring the MV-22 Osprey - a dangerous war machine - into their community. We must stand in solidarity with Takae to stop further militarization of their home by passing a resolution to stop the construction of these helipads.
Why is this important?
Though Japan regained its sovereignty in 1952, the U.S. military continued to occupy Okinawa for another twenty years. Okinawa is less than 1% of Japan’s total area, yet is occupied by three fourths of the U.S. military bases in the country. [1] The island is choked top to bottom with war machinery and troops — built on land seized from Okinawans — which have caused extreme noise pollution, deadly accidents, destruction of natural environments, and assaults against women by American soldiers.
The construction of new helipads in Takae is only the most recent effort by the U.S. to project its military presence in the region over the voice of Okinawans. Residents who engaged in sit-ins and other peaceful protests at the construction site have been forcibly removed by violent riot police. [2] The central government of Japan, bending to the will of the U.S., has even filed a lawsuit against two residents called “strategic lawsuit against public participation,” or SLAPP. These retaliatory lawsuits are intended to silence, intimidate or punish people who have used public forums to speak, petition or otherwise move for government action on an issue, and have been made illegal in many jurisdictions around the world. [3]
When national leaders refuse to budge from unjust policies, it’s at the local level that we can have the most impact. In September 2015, Berkeley passed a resolution on opposing the construction of a U.S military base in Henoko, Okinawa. [4] We are proud that it became the first such resolution passed by a city council in the United States, giving tremendous hope to people in Okinawa. It is time to continue our support of Okinawans in their ongoing fight against the devastation of their communities.
Sources:
1. http://fpif.org/okinawa-small-island-trying-block-u-s-militarys-pivot-asia/
2. http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160722/p2a/00m/0na/013000c
3. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/national/social-issues/film-depicts-okinawans-fight-against-ospreys/#.V_07tlUrKVM
4. http://www.cityofberkeley.info/recordsonline/export/16874673.pdf
The construction of new helipads in Takae is only the most recent effort by the U.S. to project its military presence in the region over the voice of Okinawans. Residents who engaged in sit-ins and other peaceful protests at the construction site have been forcibly removed by violent riot police. [2] The central government of Japan, bending to the will of the U.S., has even filed a lawsuit against two residents called “strategic lawsuit against public participation,” or SLAPP. These retaliatory lawsuits are intended to silence, intimidate or punish people who have used public forums to speak, petition or otherwise move for government action on an issue, and have been made illegal in many jurisdictions around the world. [3]
When national leaders refuse to budge from unjust policies, it’s at the local level that we can have the most impact. In September 2015, Berkeley passed a resolution on opposing the construction of a U.S military base in Henoko, Okinawa. [4] We are proud that it became the first such resolution passed by a city council in the United States, giving tremendous hope to people in Okinawa. It is time to continue our support of Okinawans in their ongoing fight against the devastation of their communities.
Sources:
1. http://fpif.org/okinawa-small-island-trying-block-u-s-militarys-pivot-asia/
2. http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160722/p2a/00m/0na/013000c
3. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/national/social-issues/film-depicts-okinawans-fight-against-ospreys/#.V_07tlUrKVM
4. http://www.cityofberkeley.info/recordsonline/export/16874673.pdf