Letter Fwd: [Enzo Ciscato] US overseas bases not welcome

* The Below is from Enzo Ciscato, Vicenza, Italy on July 18, 2010. Upon J. D.'s thankful forward of the Texas Insider article on July 14, "Hutchison: Military Construction Program Should be Fiscally Responsible Strategically Sound," he has proposed to write a message to Hutchison from the regions. Thanks very much, Enzo, for sharing!
______________________________________________________________

Dear Senator Hutchison,

we read your speech dtd July 13th expressing your concern about the money
spent for US military bases abroad.

For us, from Europe, it has been truly surprising to see the increase of
military spending with Pres Obama administration.

We fully agree: US troops should return to USA. More jobs could be created
in the nation, a lot of money could be saved and diverted to health,
enviroment and education instead of billions spent around the world.

We are citizens of Vicenza, one of the many cities suffering from the
presence of US military sites.

In addition to the base built in the 50s we have a new base being built on
the opposite side of the town (population 110,000).

The construction of the new/second base started in 2009.
Underneath there is one of the main groundwater resources of Italy.
Thousands of poles (up to 26 mtrs long) have been forced into the ground
to allow this construction with unkwnon damages.

The large majority of the population don't want this new base. Our land is
already full of military sites (mostly US).

Our city, Vicenza, is a UNESCO Heritage site and is being violated by this
military construction located only about 1 mile from the historic center.

It's four years we are protesting against this new base at DAL MOLIN.
We know that our story is very similar to other sites in South Korea,
Japan, Guam, just to mention a few.

About 30% of the running cost of the US bases are on the shoulders of the
hosting nations. We don't want to pay these costs.

Our economical situation is very difficult and these bases are not
bringing any benefit.

We don't want any more US soldiers in our town, in our country.

With your proposals you can make US military families and taxpayers
happier and also millions of people around the world.

Please carry on !

Annetta M Reams and Enzo Ciscato
Vicenza - Italy

Text Fwd: Italian film questions U.S. troop presence [in Vicenza and Okinawa]

* Text sent from J. D. on July 7, 2010
________________________________________________________________

Below is the Youtube Video of Standing Army film documentary (Video URL)



________________________________________________________________

Italian film questions U.S. troop presence

BY SHINYA MINAMISHIMA
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
2010/07/07

ROME--Two young Italian filmmakers have posed an intriguing question in a documentary that focuses on a U.S. Army base in their country and touches on the situation in Okinawa Prefecture.

They sought to find out why U.S. troops continue to be deployed worldwide more than six decades after the end of World War II. The documentary "Standing Army" was completed recently by filmmaker Enrico Parenti, 31, and Thomas Fazi, a 28-year-old researcher and translator. The two were first drawn to the topic of the U.S. armed forces through a January 2007 decision by the Italian government to authorize the expansion of a U.S. Army installation in the city of Vicenza, in northern Italy. The base is the home to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and a staging area for troop deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Some 2,750 U.S. soldiers are assigned to the base. Under the expansion plan, an additional 2,000 troops stationed in Germany were to be transferred to Vicenza by 2012. That would make it the largest U.S. military base in Europe.

The filmmakers set out by interviewing local residents opposed to the expansion. Although an opponent to the plan was elected mayor of Vicenza in April 2008, a plebiscite he initiated against the base issue was crushed by a decision by the Council of State, Italy's highest administrative court. According to an unofficial survey of 25,000 residents by the city government, 95 percent opposed the base expansion. Coupled with the fact that 25 countries around the world, aside from Iraq and Afghanistan, now host units with 100 or more U.S. military personnel, with a total 120,000 servicemen and women scattered worldwide, the base expansion prompted the two to seek answers.

Their theme had a special meaning, particularly as Italians remain ambivalent about the continued U.S. presence after Italian fascist forces were defeated by U.S. and British troops in World War II. Many Italians sided with the Allies as part of the partisan movement. Parenti's mother is a U.S. citizen and his maternal grandfather and uncle fought in the Korean War, while Fazi's mother is British, making the issue especially poignant. Through their work with anti-base activists, Parenti and Fazi learned about a similar situation that has been facing an island halfway around the world.

The two traveled to Okinawa Prefecture to see for themselves the situation surrounding the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the city of Ginowan. There, they watched military aircraft taking off and landing, noting that classes at a nearby school were constantly interrupted because of the roar of the engines. Including news footage of the 2004 helicopter crash at the campus of Okinawa International University near the Futenma airfield, the two sought to better understand the situation facing Okinawan residents.

The film, which has been shown at several events in Europe, was released on DVD in June.

Parenti and Fazi say they are hoping to find people willing to help show the movie and distribute the DVD in Japan.

Those interested can contact the two in English or Italian at (info@standingarmy.it).

Text & Video Fw: April 25th is also the “Liberation day” in Italy

* Image source: No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy

* Image source: No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy

____________________________________________________________________
* Text fw from Enzo Ciscato on April 26, 2010.

Further update from No Dal Molin:

http://www.nodalmolin.it/spip.php?article917
____________________________________________________________________
* Text fw from Enzo Ciscato on April 25, 2010


'April 25th is the“Liberation day” in Italy, recallling the day when the “Allied Forces” guided by US Army kicked the nazi-fascists out of Italy with the contribution of the Italian Partisan Brigades.

Many Italian Conservatives Forces, Prime Minister included, would like to change the meaning of this day, trying to forget about the great “Partisans” tribute to freedom of Italy from the Fascists.

Every year on the 25th there are commemorations in the main cities with occasional tension feelings between different parties.

Saturday afternoon, No Dal Molin Movement decided to enter (cutting the fence) in a portion of the area of the former civilian small airport named “Dal Molin”, next to area occupied by the construction of the new US base.

Just a few nervous moments with Police forces ended with the agreement to stay “in” till Sunday evening to celebrate the “Liberation” at the Dal Molin.

This is the area where in Sept 2007 we planted about 200 small trees to settle the “Peace Park” and the area where the Italian Gov just authorized a company named ESPERIA, the commercial face of Agusta-Westland (remember Apache and Chinnok ..) to have a space for a new HELIPORT.

It’s clear that a heliport next to the US base can only be the future military heliport.

So, today people of all ages, families and children are having a pic-nic inside the “Peace Park” flying kites say no to the heliport.

The first video and a few pics are available at the link below (more to follow)

http://www.nodalmolin.it/spip.php?article912




So, we all feel very close to Okinawa and to all of you in any nation and continent.

[...]

Much solidarity to you all.

[...]
Enzo
from No Dal Molin – Vicenza - Italy

Video Fwd: Vicenza update: Actists Cutting the Fense of Base

* Image source: in the same link in the quoted

* Below is from Enzo Ciscato, through group email, on March 29, 2010

"Good afternoon, from a sunny Vicenza.

Here below is the link to the latest news with the work done today to clear the riverbank from the recent fence built by the Constructors of the base, without any permission from the Local Authorities.

The Workers of the “Independent Municipality No Dal Molin” have brought a state of free transit on the public land by the river.

http://www.nodalmolin.it/spip.php?article874



Presidio Permanente No Dal Molin

Vicenza – Italy

www.nodalmolin.it"

Text Fwd: International Solidarity Messages against the Jeju naval base

International Solidarity Messages for the Struggle against Jeju Naval Base

제주 해군 기지 반대 국제 연대 메시지

March 23 to March 30, 2010
2010년 3월 23일~30일

______________________________________________________________________________________

Bruce Gagnon, Secretary of Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space

called South Korean embassy, Washington DC

브루스 개그논 남한 대사관에 전화 걸어 최 해군 대장과 통화.

March 23, 2010 2010 년 3월 23일

I just spoke with Admiral Choi at the SK embassy in Wash DC...he was first surprised by my call and then wanted to get off the phone but I made him listen to me.....I think he was shocked that I called. I asked him to report my call to his "chain of command" but he said no....I said don't you have a chain of command....yes he said...I said then you have to tell them I called.

My best to all there. I wanted to get something posted before I went on the walk.

Bruce

______________________________________________________________________________________

Jean Downey, Florida, to South Korean embassy, Washington DC

플로리다의 진 다우니, 남한 영사관에 보내는 편지

2: 31pm, March 23, 2010 , 2010년 3월 23일

Dear Ambassador Han:

I am writing to express my concern with South Korea's proposal to build a naval base on the southern coast of Jeju Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site--because of its unique and irreplaceable biodiversity:

"Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes together comprise three sites that make up 18,846 ha. It includes Geomunoreum, regarded as the finest lava tube system of caves anywhere, with its multicoloured carbonate roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls; the fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, rising out of the ocean, a dramatic landscape; and Mount Halla, the highest in Korea, with its waterfalls, multi-shaped rock formations, and lake-filled crater. The site, of outstanding aesthetic beauty, also bears testimony to the history of the planet, its features and processes."

Jeju is also a UN designated biosphere preservation zone with 137 designated cultural assets all over the island.

In 2001, the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration designated Jeju Island a national monument protection area.

The southern coast of Jeju is home to a beautiful and delicate soft coral eco-system, home to tropical fish. The proposed base will destroy a sensitive area of this eco-system which could lead to the death of the entire related eco-system around the entire southern coast, and more.

I am from the United States--where we are wrestling with pollution from military bases. In San Diego alone, there are 100 toxic sites from the U.S. naval base--with sewage, chemical, and heavy metal seepage as common pollutants. Nuclear pollution is also common at naval bases at which nuclear missiles are stored.

Jeju Island draws tourists because it is the "Island of Peace" with irreplaceable, traditional Korean culture--as well as for its beautiful biodiversity. No one wants to visit the "Island of Nuclear Missile Bases and War" with unhappy residents and dying soft coral in a polluted sea beach.

Recently a U.S. Aegis destroyed, the John McCain, which ported in South Korea, undertook a "drag race" off the coast of Okinawa. Tourists and residents would be alarmed at similar shenanigans with nuclear missile carriers in Jeju Island, just as they are in Okinawa

A nuclear naval base will destroy the coral reef and injure Jeju Island's tourist industry. Many wealthy tourists who do business with China will avoid Jeju Island because the missile base considered provocative to the Chinese people.

Please change this project's proposed location, if you want to protect the Jeju Island people and its tourist industry. Please reconsider the project altogether unless Korea wants to create military instability in the Asia-Pacific and provoke the Chinese government and businesses throughout the world that want to maintain cordial relations with China.

Sincerely,

Jean Downey, M.A., J.D.
Florida

______________________________________________________________________________________

Jon Olson 존 올슨으로부터

3:01 PM, March 23, 2010 , 2010년 3월 23일

* Forwarded by Bruce Gagnon 브루스 개그논으로부터 포워드

OK, Bruce, I will follow up. I noted with dismay and alarm the following astonishing quote:

Kim also said that, "I think, in the case of Hawaii, the naval base has given much help for the Hawaii development."

In fact, the US occupation of Pearl Harbor has been a disaster for the people of Hawai'i with the exception of those who may be employed there. It has gone from a pristine sanctuary for fish prior to US involvement to one of the most polluted bodies of water. Furthermore, 55-gallon drums of radioacative waste were dumped out in the ocean decades ago, with who knows what affect on the acquatic life and the people who eat them! Not good, that's for sure. If you want to blast this comparison out of the water, please contact Jim Albertini for specifics at ja@interpac.net. And Pearl Harbor is just one of a couple of dozen bases on Oahu alone! This is an area of only 604 square miles, 30 x 20 miles.

Politically, the correct status of Hawai'i to this day, if one uses US constitutional law AND international law, is that of a nation under 117 years of US occupation. The economic developent has largely gone to benefit multinational corporations, first in agriculture, along with military contractors, then the "new plantations" tourist development with profits being drained out constantly. Jon

______________________________________________________________________________________

Nydia Leaf, after calling the South Korean embassy

니디아 리프, 남한 대사관에 전화한이후

3:38 PM,Tuesday, March 23, 2010 , 2010 년 3월 23일

* Forwarded by Bruce Gagnon 브루스 개그논으로부터 포워드

Bruce,
I just spoke with the aide to the attache at the Korean Embassy (202-939-5600) and she asked that we contact the U.S. Navy to complain. She understood our motivation is to support the resistance of the people on Jeju but she said "you have to talk to your government because they are the ones who want to do this." She asked me to relay this message to others.
She asked for my name and telephone and said someone might call me but I doubt it.
Nydia Leaf

______________________________________________________________________________________

January Boudart 재뉴어리 보대트로부터

4:00 PM, March 23, 2010 , 2010년 3월 23일

* Forwarded by Bruce Gagnon 브루스 개그논으로부터 포워드

I called two different numbers and they said to call the U.S. Navy, not them.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Ron Saff, MD to South Korean Embasy, Washington DC

메릴랜드 주 론 스탭이 워싱턴 수도 남한 대사관에게 보낸 편지

5:20 PM, March 23, 2010 , 2010년 3월 23일

* Forwarded by Bruce Gagnon 브루스 개그논으로부터 포워드

Please dont allow the US government to push your country into building a base for the United States, this will only heighten world tensions. The United States sadly is expanding its forces around the world and is adding to world tension, not peace. I am an American and not only is the US military expansion causing more political upheaval and strife, but it is also bankrupting us. The United States has enough military might, we dont need more. Additionally, whereever the military sets up shop it usually leaves a legacy of contaminated soil and ground water which can poison local populations for decades. Just say no, dont ruin your lovely Peace Island with the US military presence, just look what the U. S. did to Vieques Island off Puerto Rico- a legacy of cancer. thanks Ron Saff, MD

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Mary Beth Sullivan, Outreach Coordinator, Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, to the South Korean embassy, Washington DC

글로벌 넷워크 아웃리치 코디네이터, 메인주 매리 배쓰 설리반이 워싱턴 수도 대사관에 보낸 이메일

8:26 PM, March 23, 2010 , 2010년 3월 23일

* Forwarded by Bruce Gagnon 브루스 개그논으로부터 포워드

‘Whom This May Concern:

I have been quite upset since I learned that the Korean military plans to build a naval base on the coast of Jeju Island.

I understand this base will port Aegis Destroyers -- both Korean and U.S. Destroyers.

There is no need in the world for South Korea to take the risk of exacerbating tensions with China and North Korea by adding yet another military base in the area.

It is surely an abomination to be paving over a rocky shoreline, and threatening the destruction of coral reefs to satisfy the insatiable appetite of the U.S. military's global reach.

I implore you to communicate to the South Korean government that the American people flatly reject the building of a military base on Jeju Island.

Please assure me that you have received and understood this message, and that you will pass it on.

In peace,

Mary Beth Sullivan
Outreach Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space’

______________________________________________________________________________________

Robert Shetterly to South Korean embassy, Washington DC

미국 메인주 로버트 셰털리가 남한 영사관에 보낸 편지

8:39 AM, Wed, Mar 24, 2010 2010 년 3월 24일

* Forwarded by Bruce Gagnon 브루스 개그논으로부터 포워드

Dear South Korean Embassy,

I'm writing to protest the building of a navy base on small, pristine Jeju Island.

The base is against the will of the local people. It will destroy the fragile environment of the island & the reefs and fisheries.

And, it is very provocative. Clearly the base is aimed at potentially impeding China's importation of oil & surrounding them militarily. It will certainly increase the arms race. We should all be using our resources to make peace and increase dialogue. We need alternative energies, not more weapons.

Please reconsider this plan.

Sincerely,

Robert Shetterly

Brooksville, Maine USA

www.americanswhotellthetruth.org

______________________________________________________________________________________

Ariel Ky to South Korean embassy, Washington DC

아리엘 기, 남한 대사관에 보낸 이메일

Wed, Mar 24, 2010 2010년 3월 24일

I am writing to urge S. Korea to stop construction of the military base at Jeju Island. I understand that the U.S. is pressuring S. Korea to build this military base, and that you plan to go forward, despite resistance from the local people who do not want the military base built there, because you probably feel that you don't have any choice in the matter.

Jeju Island has many sacred places that will no longer be sacred once a military base has been constructed there. Precious marine life will be destroyed. Villager's way of life will be destroyed. And the villagers' lives will not be made safer, instead they will be nakedly exposing themselves to retaliation by either China or possibly even Japan, if a war should begin. Constructing a military base on Jeju Island takes everyone a step closer to bringing on WWIII.

Really, it's a waste of money, too, because there is a very different option open to South Korea today, one of alliance with both China and Japan instead of enmity. Already South Korea has extensive trade with both Japan and China; can you just visualize how that will be wiped away if hostilities begin? Is this really what South Korea wants to prepare for?

And if you think this is just a matter of deterrence, think again. The U.S. is extremely aggressive and belligerent today, just spoiling for a fight somewhere and spending huge sums of money that it doesn't even have (and how does it get away with it, by the way?), on building military bases all over the world and holding ongoing war games to prepare the military in several countries to fight its wars for it by proxy. Using drones, fighting from space, using high-tech weaponry, and training the armed forces of other countries to carry on its wars are all ways that the U.S. today is plotting to start wars that don't create any American casualties. Is this really want South Koreans want? I know that South Korea today is little more than a vassal to the U.S., but it doesn't have to be that way.

I would like to share a prophesy with you that came to me in a telepathic message upon waking in the wee hours of Sunday morning, July 26, 2009, during a night of little or troubled sleep because of the intense energies coming in.

The people of the East will rise up and stand together as never before, and the people of the land of volcanoes will secede from their union with the great Western power and join them; from near to far, north to south, from the Asian continent to large and small islands in the Pacific, the people of the East will come together so the balance of power is restored, giving humanity more time to unite in service to the planet.

South Korea is one of the three major powers in alliance with ASEAN, China and Japan. EAS, the East Asian Summit, is also rapidly becoming a unifying force for Asian countries that will make the prophesy come true: the people of the East will rise up and stand together as never before. China is strengthening the yuan as an international currency with the growth of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and in the process of going off the dollar as the main foreign currency reserve, as are many other countries today. Does South Korea really want to tie its destiny to a declining economy by building this military base on Jeju for the U.S. military to use?

I am a disaffected American living in China. I don't have any authority or position, nor am I affiliated with any group, but I am one very determined woman. I claim sole responsibility for issuing this ultimatum, but nevertheless you must think this matter through very carefully if you choose to ignore it:

I need to see an announcement within the week that South Korea is not going to build this military base, or I am going to do my best to make it an issue for China. I am determined to stop the outbreak of another world war, and I will do whatever it takes to stop it. I have drawn a line in the sand at Jeju.

--
ARIEL KY

______________________________________________________________________________________

J. Narayana Rao (India)to South Korean embassy, Washington DC

제이 나라야나 라오 (인디아), 워싱턴 소재, 남한 대사관에 보내는 편지

1:18am, March 26, 2010 2010년 3월 26일

To Mr.Admiral Choi,
Embassy of Republic of Korea in USA.

Dear Sir,

Most of the problems and tensions in Asia are the creation of Colonialists and Imperialists. They want to thrive at the cost of the Asian People. The constant interventions, interferences, occupations, aggressions,

preemptive attacks in the Asian Region are meant to continue the hegemony and nourishing of the US Military Industrial Complex.

The proposed construction of a Naval Base on Jeju Island by the Govt of Republic of Korea is an invitation to create tensions in the area which is in proximity to China. There are no reasons to justify such a military base on Jeju Island except to allow US Military to misuse it to deploy Missile Defense system targeting China. This naturally will attract opposition from China leading to friction between Republic of Korea and China and counter measures from China. This is an avoidable situation in the interest of a Peaceful Asia. I implore you to objectively evaluate all the pros and cons and prevent this development.

Yours sincerely,

J .Narayana Rao,
General Secretary
All India Peace & Solidarity Organization
Maharashtra State Committee
Nagpur, India.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Emily Rose Ciscato (Italy) to the South Korean embassy, Washington DC

에밀리 로즈 치스카토 (이탤리)가 워싱턴 소재 남한 대사관에 보낸 이 메일

(*Emily Rose Ciscato is a daughter of Enzo Ciscato. The below text was informed by Enzo Ciscato on March 29, 2010)

(* 에밀리 로즈 치스카토는 엔조 치스카토의 딸임. 아래의 텍스트는 엔조 치스카토에 위해 3월 25일 보내짐)

12:47:56, March 25, 2010 2010년 3월 25일


To the Kind Attention of: Admiral Choi

Dear Sir,

I'm a first year geology student, at the moment living in UK, but originally from Vicenza, Italy.
My mother is American and my father is Italian. Together with them, I have been taking part and contributing in the struggle against the project of the US Army forces to construct a new military base in the center of our town, Vicenza.

Being part of a peaceful movement ("No Dal Molin"), opposed to war and the US Army, has brought me to know and discover that there are many, many more people around the world struggling and fighting against the constant and scary expansion of the US Army.
I've been receiving emails regarding Jeju Island, South Korea, and the plan to construct a US naval base on the island.

I find it quite "interesting" that both Vicenza and Jeju Island are considered as beautiful, and extremely important sites of World Heritage, part of UNESCO.
How is it possible that the US Army can have the right to simply ignore such facts and keep building its empire on coral hundreds of years old and both environmentally and scientifically precious and important, and in the heart of cities with a huge architectural history (home of Andrea Palladio) like Vicenza?
How can this be silently accepted?

It seems to me, that every day, more and more people forget where we are living.
The world we inhabit is a wonderful place, it has a history of millions of years and some of us are simply destroying peaces of it each day, irregardless of anyone or anything else but themselves, their power and their bank accounts!

You know much better than me, how strategic the geographical location of Jeju Island is for the US, and what this means in terms of geopolitical equilibrium.
Do you really want Jeju Island, now paradoxically known as the Island of Peace, to become the source of an increased instability in the Asian-Pacific region?
Don't you think it's a bit absurd to cover beautiful, colorful and living corals with dull, heavy, rough cement and ruin one of our world's greatest treasures just for money, power and control?
I think it is, and this is why I am asking you to please do as much is in your power to oppose the arrogance of one nation and favor the survival of this world, for your self and your future, but mostly for your children and their future.

This may seem a stupid and childish request, but I believe we can make a change, take a right decision and be listened to.
Please don't stand on the side of the arrogant.

Thanks for your attention.

Sincerely,
Emily Rose Ciscato
http://www.nodalmolin.it/

______________________________________________________________________________________

Kimberly Hughes (United States/ Japan) to the South Korean Embassy on Washington DC

킴벌리 휴지스 (미국/일본) 가 워싱턴 소재 남한 대사관에 보낸 이 메일

14:37 March 29, 2010, 2010년 3월 29일

(* Kimberly Hughes notified that her email was bounced back when she sent her email to the address of consular_usa@mofat.go.kr. According to her forwarded email of the bounce-back , it was written in Korean as below:

수신측 서버의 스팸 필터링에서 차단되었습니다. (Intercepted by the spam-filtering by the receiver's server)
자체 메일서버에서 발생하는 실패 메세지 입니다.(error-message by its own mail server)

The bold letter emphasis is by the server. The embassy is intentionally blocking the Jeju-related messages? )


Dear Admiral Choi:

My name is Kimberly Hughes. I am a translator, teacher and community organizer originally from the United States who is presently living in Tokyo, Japan.

It has come to my attention that a U.S. military base is being scheduled for construction on the environmentally rich island of Jeju, threatening to displace farmers from their land and destroy a precious soft coral ecosystem.

As someone who believes passionately in respecting the environment, and in solving national disputes via non-military means, it is deeply disturbing to me that the U.S. and South Korean governments continue to push for construction of a base on this island despite the strong voices of objection from local residents (and, if they could speak, the voices of the living creatures in the local ocean).

I urge you to desist construction immediately and use your resources for life-sustaining purposes that do not threaten the environment and living beings, which the present plans for a military base construction clearly do.

With many thanks for your consideration,

Kimberly Hughes
Co-coordinator
Peace Not War Japan
www.pnwj.org


--
Kimberly Hughes
Freelance Translator/Writer
Tokyo, Japan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down
a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that
unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, 1964

--

______________________________________________________________________________________

Rosalva Welsch, Us for Okinawa, to the South Korean Embassy, Washington DC

로살바 웰시, 오키나와를 위한 미국, 워싱턴 소재 남한 대사관에 이 메일 보냄

March 30, 2010 2010년 3월 30

Dear Ambassador,

On behalf of US for OKINAWA Peace Action Network, I would like to state that i think the South Korean government is extremely naive and short-sighted if it thinks military construction in Jeju will develop the island's economy.

You do not seem to be taking into consideration two very important factors:

1. Military base construction denies local people (as well as local governments) access to land, water, and air space that could otherwise be used for commercial or residential purposes.

2. Military base construction and subsequent military operations cause enormous destruction to and contamination of land and water, and the United States government does not take financial responsibility for this. On Torishima Island in Okinawa Prefecture, for example, the U.S. military's use of depleted uranium shells for firing practice has rendered a nearby fishery useless, and put local people at higher risk of birth defects and cancer. It will be the Okinawan and Japanese goverments that pay for these medical costs and clean up, not the U.S. government. Nor can they ever sufficiently clean up the effects of DU, which has a half life of 45 billion years.

US for OKINAWA was launched by U.S. citizens concerned about the effects of U.S. military bases not only in Okinawa, but in the entire East Asia region, and we would like to strongly encourage you to promote more genuine (and sustainable) peace and security in the region through the following means:

1. Working with Japan and China to form an East Asia Community that fosters dialogue, exchange, cooperation, and non-military, non-violent solutions to conflicts.

2. Working with Japan, China and North Korea to form a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone.

3. Supporting Japan's peace constitution (particularly Article 9), and adopting the spirit of Article 9 into your own constitution.

Please think very carefully about what kind of world you would like South Korean children to inherit. I bet they would choose access to their oceans and island, rich with biodiversity, rather than paved over coral reefs, dead ecosystems, and base related sicknesses.

Sincerely,

US for OKINAWA

Video Fwd: "Standing Army" _ a new documentary

* Text Fwd by Jean Downy on March 18, 2010

'"Standing Army" -- a new documentary from an Italian and Italian-American director--where citizens are still protesting the expansion of a US military base into the last green space in Vincenza--a World Heritage site. The filmmakers connect the dots between continued U.S. military expansion around the world under which the Obama administration's only change to Bush policies has been acceleration in South America. In Japan and Guam, we see the same bellicose faces who have been pushing for expansion since the 1990's and 2000's under Clinton, Bush--unchanged with Obama.'

Thomas Fazi (28/05/1982) is an Anglo-Italian researcher, translator and interpreter. He collaborates regularly with various Italian publishing houses.

Enrico Parenti (07/12/1978), a former IDEP film student, is an Italian-American free-lance filmmaker. He works regularly as cameraman and editor for various Italian and foreign televisions. He is the author of a short documentary shot in Brazil and currently has a documentary on Ethiopia in post-production. He has worked as director of photography on the documentary GIVING VOICE by Alessandro Fabrizi.'

"Over the course of the last century, the US has silently encircled the world with a web of military bases unlike any other in history. Today, they amount to more than 700, in at least 100 countries. No continent is spared. They are one the most powerful forces at play in the world today, yet one of the less talked-about. They have shaped the lives of millions, yet remain a mystery to most.

Why do countries like Germany, Italy and Japan – more than 60 years after the end of World War II and almost 20 years after the end of the Cold War – still host hundreds of US military bases and tens of thousands of US soldiers?

What role do the bases play in maintaining US hegemony in the world?

How will they shape our future?

Is a global military presence the last resource of an economically-, politically- and culturally-declining empire?

How do the bases impact the lives of local populations and how do these interact with their uniformed neighbours?

We will answer these and other crucial questions both through the words of prominent intellectuals, experts on the subject, political and military leaders, ex-government and CIA officials, philosophers and political activists – some of whom we have already interviewed: Noam Chomsky, Gore Vidal, Chalmers Johnson and others – and through the shocking but often inspiring stories of those directly affected by US bases: the citizens of Vicenza, struggling to stop the construction of yet another military base in their hometown; the Diego Garcia islanders, violently expelled from their island in the Indian Ocean to make space for a US military base, and who have been fighting for years to return to their birthplace; the many Japanese women brutalized by US soldiers in Okinawa; the various grassroots movements in Europe and Asia struggling for a base-free world; as well as those living inside the bases: the men and women who are often sent to faraway lands with little or no preparation for what they’ll find there."

[Text & Video Fwd] RESISTANCE TO U.S. BASE IN ITALY

Bruce Gagnon blog
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
RESISTANCE TO U.S. BASE IN ITALY



This is footage from today in Vicenza, Italy, where 50 women and men entered the construction site of the proposed mammoth new US military base in a location called "Dal Molin". They chained themselves to cranes and other machines.

Background: http://afterdowningstreet.org/vicenza

The campaign we need to support: http://www.nodalmolin.it

__________________________________________________________________________

* Text Fwd from Enzo Ciscato and Kyle Kajihiro on Feb. 3

US MILITARY BASE AT “DAL MOLIN” IN VICENZA

50 ACTIVISTS GO INTO THE SITE

AND CHAIN THEMSELVES TO THE CRANES

Fifty women and men of Vicenza entered today in the construction site of the new US military base at Dal Molin and chained themselves to the cranes and the working machineries used to build the foundations of the military installation, and that every day are damaging the “vicentina” groundwater. Recent surveys have produced evidence of unjustified increase of water level in some residential areas.

Today we want set legality as first priority – they declared passing the fence of the site – the construction site must stop in order to defend health, safety and history of the “vicentina” community: groundwater resources and archeological findings must be preserved. Since the early days of this story we stated that this territory has a priceless value for the local community; but, at the same time, it's particulary fragile, delicate, because under the green carpet it preserves one of the essential elements of life, water.

Yesterday they met in an extraordinary assembley open to all the citizens of Vicenza, at the Presidio Permanente (permanent camp). Today (Monday) they will get together for a torchlight march in the streets of the city center in solidarity with the action and with the request to STOP the construction site. A file with a photo service of the condition of the construction site (under water) has been delivered to Mr Variati, Mayor of Vicenza.

You may see immages and video on http://www.nodalmolin.it/spip.php?article765


Presidio Permanente No Dal Molin

Vicenza , Italy

[국문 번역:Text Fwd] APPEAL from Vicenza: Let’s defend our HISTORY

* Image source: No DalMolin

* Image source: No DalMolin

* Image source: Wikipedia: Veneto area

* Text Fwd from Enzo Ciscato (enzo(at)ciscatoitaly.com) on Jan. 27, 2010

APPEAL from Vicenza: Let’s defend our HISTORY
비센차로부터의 호소: 우리의 역사를 지킵시다.

To the associations, to the movements, to everyone
연합들, 운동들, 그리고 모든 이들에게

who, in these years, have put effort and struggle to preserve the landscape, the history and the cultural traditions of our territory
근래 풍경, 역사 그리고 우리 영토의 문화적 전통을 보존하기 위하여 노력하고 투쟁한 이들에게

we are asking
우리는 요구합니다

for an extraordinary mobilitation to protect the archaeological findings in the Dal Molin area.
달 몰린 지역의 고고학적 발견들을 보호하기 위해 총동원할 것을

The excavations for the construction of the US military base are actually progressing at full speed and in addition to the destruction of one of the last oasis of green and trees of the city and putting under serious risks our groundwater resources, are now endangering even the finding and the salvage of a new archaeological site on the origin of our “veneto” heritage.
미군 기지 건설을 위한 굴착들이 도시의 녹색들과 나무들의 마지막 오아시스 의 하나를 파괴하기 위해 실제로 전 속도로 진행되고 있으며 우리 지하 자원을 심각한 위협에 처하게 하고 있읍니다. 이 굴착들은 현재 우리 “베네토” 유산의 기원인 새로운 고고학적 장소들의 발굴과 인양도차 위협하고 있읍니다.

The art facts and the findings so far discovered give shape to the existence of a palaeo-veneto village dating back to a period (8000 years b.C.) preceeding of several centuries the one considered as the original first site in Vicenza area.
지금까지 발견된 예술품들을 비롯한 발견물들은 (기원전 8천년) 까지 거슬러 가 고대 베네토 마을의 존재를 형성하고 비센차 지역에서 가장 첫번째 장소로 고려되는 곳보다 서너 세기를 앞선 것입니다.

The risk that all this invaluable heritage will end up buried and destroyed forever under the foundation of a US military outlet is very high !
모든 가치있는 유산들이 미군 기지 배출구 지반 아레 영원히 묻혀지고 파괴되는 것으로 끝날 가능성이 매우 높습니다.

We are simply asking for the formal inspection of the value and consistence of such findings, through the channel and procedure which normally apply to the Italian archaeological sites: that is to stop the works and the intervention of the “Sovraintendenza dei beni Architettonici del Veneto”.
우리는 이탤리 고고학적 장소들에 보통 적용되는 통로와 절차가 여기에도 통해 그러한 발굴들의 가치와 일관성을 위한 공식적인 조사가 있을 것을 단지 요구할 뿐입니다: 이는 “Sovraintendenza dei beni Architettonici del Veneto” 에 대한 작업과 개압을 막기 위함입니다.

we are asking
우리는 요청합니다.

to do this with transparency, making the results of the inspection available to the citizens
투명하게 할 것을, 검사 결과가 시민들에게 활용될 수 있도록

we think
우리는 생각합니다.

that this is a necessary procedure, but we think that without a mobilization of the city even this request will be ignored, as happened before for the denied referendum for the construction of the Dal Molin site and the demand for the investigation on the environmental impact of the new base.
이것이 필요한 절차나 도시의 동원없이는 이 전에 달 몰린 장소 건설을 투표에 부치는 것과 새로운 기지에 대한 환경적 영향에 대한 검사조차 무시되었던 것처럼 이 요청초차 무시될 것이라고 말입니다.

Vicenza cannot forget that in the 70s Querini park, the most beautiful park in town, was saved from cement thanks to the mobilization of the citizens, of the associations and the movements.
비센차는 70년 대 마을에서 가장 아름다운 케리니 공원이 시민들, 연합들과 운동들의 동원 덕분에 시멘트로부터 구해졌다는 것을 잊을 수 없읍니다.

For the Dal Molin matter Vicenza cannot accept to compromise its future, insult its present and destroy its past to do a favour to a foreign power.
달몰린 이슈로 말할 것 같으면 비센차는 외세에 호의를 베풀기 위해 자신의 미래에 타협하고, 현재를 모욕하고 자신의 과거를 파괴할 수 없읍니다.

Your browser may not support display of this image. That’s the reason why we invite everybody, citizens, associations and movements who care for the city and its artistic and environmental heritage, to gather in this fundamental and binding demand for truth.
당신의 브라우저가 이 이미지가 전시되는 것을 지지하지 않을 지 모릅니다. 그 것이 왜 우리가 도시를, 그 예술적, 환경적 유산을 보호하고 모든 이들, 시민들, 연합들, 그리고 운동들을 진실을 위한 이 근본적이고 묶는 요구에 초대하는 이유입니다.

Presidio NoDalMolin, Vicenza, Italy
프레지디오 노 달몰린, 이탤리 비센차
_________________________________________________________________

* Text Fwd from Enzo Ciscato (enzo(at)ciscatoitaly.com) on Jan. 27, 2010
2010년 1월 27일 엔조 치스카토 로부터

Dear Friends,
친구들

Yesterday, at home, we were talking about “could we go to Jeju in person to bring solidarity from Italy ?”
어제 우리는 조국에서 “이탤리로부터 연대를 가져가기 위하여 “직접 제주로 갈 수 있을 것인가?” 라고 토의했읍니다.

As many of you already did, we also expressed our solidarity to the population of Jeju Island Village.
여러분 중의 많은 분들이 그러했듯 우리 역시 제주도 마을 주민들에 연대를 표현했읍니다.

In our case, from Vicenza, Italy, where US Army are building a new (the second in town) military base.
우리 이탤리 비센차의 경우, 미군은 새로운 군사 기지를 짓고 있읍니다. (마을에서 두번째)

Considering the situation in Gangjeong village, we feel to propose to the whole No-Bases network to have one or two people, from all Nations (from USA, from Central and South America, from Euro, Africa, Australia and Asia) to reach Jeju Island within 6-8 days.
강정 마을의 상황을 고려할 때, 우리는 미군 기지 반대를 위한 넷워크의 모든 각 국가 (미국, 중앙 아시아, 남미, 유럽, 아프리카, 호주, 아시아)에서 한 두 사람이 제주도로 6~8일 내 갈 것을 제안할 필요를 느낍니다.

It’s a dream but, if we believe in it, we could make it come true.
꿈이나 우리가 믿는다면 실현되게 할 수 있읍니다.

We personally don’t know if we could make it but we will propose this to the No Dal Molin Movement.
우리는 우리가 그것을 할 수 있을 지 모르나 (이탤리) 노 달 몰린 운동에 이 것을 제안할 수 있읍니다.

There is a big shame going on in Jeju and, unfortunately, in many other parts of the world.
제주와 불행히도 전 세계의 많은 지역에서 커다랗게 수치스러운 일 [제주 경우, 해군 기지 건설 계획을 뜻함]이 일어나고 있읍니다.

We need to express our resistance even when it seems very difficult, almost impossibile.
우리는 매우 어렵고 거의 불가능해 보일 때조차 저항을 표현할 필요가 있읍니다.

You may wish to think about this and express your comments and thoughts.
우리는 이것을 생각하길 원하며 여러분의 언급과 생각들을 표현하길 원할 지 모릅니다.

It could be a sort of “emergency” action to activate reciprocally when a community enter in these hard days.
이것은 이 어려운 시기에 한 공동체가 상호적으로 움직이게 하기 위한 “긴급” 행동의 종류라 할 수 있읍니다.

Probably it could help …
아마도 도울 수 있을 것입니다.

Thank you for reading. Best wishes andlet’s support our Friends in Jeju Island.
읽어 주셔셔 감사합니다. 모두에게 최고의 기원을 보냅니다. 또한 제주도의 우리 친구들을 지지합시다.

Enzo Ciscato엔조 시스카토

Annetta M Reams안네타 M 림스

Emily Rose Ciscato에밀리 로즈 시스카토

No Dal Molin – Vicenza – Italy, 27 Jan 2010 노 달 몰린- 이탤리 비센차, 2010년 1월 27일