Hey U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, You Forgot Something…

Anti war　media for peace and justice
December 18, 2017

“What makes the green grass grow? Blood, blood, blood makes the green grass grow.”

This is a popular phrase in the military. Many of us had to scream it at the top of our lungs when our drill instructors ordered us to show our ‘war face’.

No, its not water or a clean environment that helps the green grass grow. It is violence, war, and militarism that makes the green grass grow according to our beloved armed forces. A few friends of mine made a visit to the pristine Yanbaru Forest on Okinawa Island, the same area where the USMC conducts military training exercises. To even begin to think that the military will leave no trace of them behind is a joke. With 800 bases around the world, the Pentagon is the largest polluter in the world today.

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Metal window frame from U.S. military helicopter falls on elementary school grounds in Okinawa

Metal window frame from U.S. military helicopter falls on elementary school grounds in Okinawa　(the japan times)

KYODO
Dec 13, 2017

NAHA, OKINAWA PREF. – A metal window frame fell off a U.S. military transport helicopter and onto the grounds of an elementary school in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on Wednesday, triggering renewed anger and concerns in the municipality where a key U.S. air base is located.

A student was slightly injured by small stones that were scattered by the impact when the object fell on the playground of the school, located just next to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. About 60 students were there at the time.

Brig. Gen. Paul Rock, commander of Marine Corps Installations Pacific and Camp Butler, met and apologized to Okinawa Vice Gov. Moritake Tomikawa later in the day.

He also said flight operations of the helicopters of the same type at Futenma had been suspended as of Wednesday afternoon.

“The safety of children should come first. It is unforgivable that it dropped in the middle of the playground,” Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga told reporters as he visited the school.

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Japanese nursery school hit by possible US aircraft part

Japanese nursery school hit by possible US aircraft part

By REX SAKAMOTO

OKINAWA JAPAN — Dec 7, 2017, 8:54 AM ET


A Japanese nursery school, which is located about 2.5 miles from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, a unit of the U.S. Marine Corps, is investigating reports that an object from a U.S. military aircraft fell onto the roof of the Midorigaoka Nursery School in Okinawa, Japan, Thursday morning.

A staff member at the school told NHK, a Japanese public broadcasting company, that a cylindrical object fell on the roof right after an American military aircraft passed over. The nursery school is located about 2.5 miles from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

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American conservationists in dugong lawsuit visit Henoko, show solidarity with local citizens

American conservationists in dugong lawsuit visit Henoko, show solidarity with local citizens

November 30, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition


　　Members of the Center for Biological Diversity view Henoko on November 30.

On November 30, the plaintiffs in the dugong lawsuit against the U.S. came to inspect Henoko.

This lawsuit is aimed at stopping construction of the Futenma Air Station replacement facility, as the construction will affect precious dugong.

The plaintiffs comprise American and Japanese citizens, and environmental protection groups including the American organization Center for Biological Diversity.

That morning, the plaintiffs joined the ongoing sit-in protest against replacement facility construction in front of Camp Schwab’s gate and socialized with the local citizens there.

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　　On November 30 in front of the gate to Camp Schwab, the Center for Biological 　　
　　Diversity’s Peter Galvin (right) shakes hands with Fumiko Shimabukuro (left) during the sit-in protest.


　　The Center for Biological Diversity’s Mati Waiya (right) offers a prayer for the　sit-in protestors
　　on November 30 in front of the gate to Camp Schwab

Peter Galvin & Yoshikazu Makishi: "Saving Okinawa Dugong from US Base Building"

Peter Galvin & Yoshikazu Makishi: "Saving Okinawa Dugong from US Base Building"


Peter Galvin: U.S. plaintiff of Dugong case in Okinawa, a founder of the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and director of programs / Yoshikazu Makishi: Okinawan plaintiff of Dugong case in Okinawa