----- Original Message ----- From: Editions D�mocrite <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2000 3:01 PM Subject: MLL: [Fwd: Springfield, Mass. says U.S. out of Vieques] Scott Marshall a �crit : > People's Weekly World June 3, 2000 Edition. > > Springfield, Mass. says U.S. out of Vieques > > The Springfield, Massachusetts City Council has unanimously approved a > resolution in support the goal of having the U.S. Navy leave Vieques. The > text, slightly excerpted, appears below: > Whereas, City of Springfield residents are concerned about the > environmental injustice and human rights violations of the U.S. Navy in > Vieques, Puerto Rico; and > Whereas, City of Springfield businesses have established commercial > relations with Puerto Rico for over 100 years, and many businesses are > interested in the economic conversion of military to civilian uses; and > Whereas, the City of Springfield has many descendants from the island of > Vieques and they are concerned about the lives of their relatives in > Vieques, Puerto Rico; and > Whereas, since 1941, the United States Navy has operated a training > facility on two-thirds of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico; and > Whereas, the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico is populated by more than 9,000 > Puerto Ricans, U.S. citizens, who are submitted to the disgrace of seeing > its territory bombarded by land, air and sea; and > Whereas, the U.S. Navy's presence and activities violate the natural right > of the people of Vieques to enjoy their natural resources; and > Whereas, for more than half a century, the U.S. Navy has thwarted the > healthy development of Vieques' economy forcing the people of Vieques to > emigrate in search of work and well being, resulting in family > disintegration; and > Whereas, the U.S. Navy has used depleted uranium, napalm bombs, and other > chemical and toxic weapons that have an adverse impact on the public health > and the environment; and > Whereas, the U.S. Navy's war practices has contributed significantly to the > pollution of air, water and land and has contributed to high cancer levels > in Vieques; and > Whereas, the U.S. Navy's presence in Vieques has contributed to the > psychological damage of the children on the island; and > Whereas, in 1993, a Navy FA-18 fighter jet missed its target by > approximately 10 miles, dropped five 500 pound live bombs one mile from > civilians living in the town of Isabel Segunda; and > Whereas, in 1998, Navy and National Guard exercises accidentally fired live > bullets to municipal vehicles, including school buses and public works > vehicles, forcing civilian employees to run for their safety; and > Whereas, on April 19, 1999, a resident of Vieques and citizen of the United > States, was killed and four persons injured as a result of a routine war > exercise conducted by the U.S. Navy; and > Whereas, the people of Vieques have unanimously demanded that the U.S. Navy > cease its bombings and leave the island; and > Whereas, the government of Puerto Rico adopted as public policy the > recommendations of the Special Commission of Vieques and the will of the > residents of Puerto Rico; > Therefore, be it resolved that the Mayor and the City Council of the City > of Springfield, Massachusetts calls upon the United States Navy to relocate > from the island of Vieques and return the land to the Municipality of > Vieques for civilian uses.
