ACTION ALERT: Navy Deja Vu-More Plans for Weapons Testing off the Pacific Coast

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Wednesday March 07, 2012 · 10:10 AM PST

2012/03/07 · 10:10

The U.S. Navy two years ago persuaded legislators, the media, NOAA, and even environmental groups who should know better that Navy war games and testing of unidentified weapons, drone aircraft, sonar, and war ships over the entire Pacific Northwest coastline would have no significant effects on marine life or coastal residents. [link to previous articles?]

As if that weren't bad enough, the Navy now intends to increase all those activities, once again without identifying what they will be doing or where. Pacific coast residents this week received postcards from the U.S. Navy inviting the public to participate in the National Environmental Policy Act Process by attending “Open House Information Sessions” in remote, scarcely accessible towns in California, Oregon, Washington (State), and Alaska.

Carol Van Strum

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Monday December 06, 2010 · 10:05 AM PST

2010/12/06 · 10:05

I've updated this diary because of the time change and to give new readers a chance to catch up on what's happening. Thanks, CVS.

Thanks to U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, northern California residents will have the opportunity to confront both NOAA and the U.S. Navy about Navy plans to increase and expand weapons testing in Pacific Northwest waters.

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, head of NOAA, will address the Mendocino Board of Supervisors meeting in Ukiah on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010 1-3 P.M.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAMBERS, 501 LOW GAP ROAD, UKIAH, CA 95482

The agenda allows for "Presentations by representatives of various constituencies" and "Written questions from audience." Those planning to attend should therefore prepare written questions in advance.

Carol Van Strum

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Thursday October 21, 2010 · 8:19 AM PDT

2010/10/21 · 08:19

Pacific Northwest residents have a last chance to stop the U.S. Navy from expanding deadly weapons and sonar operations off the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts. After widespread and intense opposition to its plans in 2009, the Navy has ignored or dismissed some 1,000 pages of critical comments in issuing its final environmental impact statement for this program. By the end of October, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is scheduled to authorize it.

Only the U.S. Congress can stop this carnage now. And only intense pressure from constitutuents and coastal governments will goad Congress into acting.

Carol Van Strum

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Friday May 28, 2010 · 10:57 AM PDT

2010/05/28 · 10:57

Here's to the Greeks. They know what to do when corporations pillage and loot their country. ... Call a general strike. Riot. Shut down the city centers. Toss the bastards out. ...The Greeks, unlike most of us, get it. -- Chris Hedges

What would the Greeks do to a company whose jerry-built oil well fouled their beautiful Aegean Sea, vomiting oily death onto its shores and fish and birds and islands, for week after week?

What would the Greeks do to a government that enabled such catastrophe, accepting company bribes and favors, allowing the company to write the rules and fill in the government's inspection reports, placing company officials in key government posts to emasculate its enforcement agency?

I don't know what the Greeks would do, but I need to believe that some population somewhere on this beleagered planet would have the balls to call a general strike, riot, shut down the city centers, and toss the bastards out – government, corporation and all their soiled bedding -- after stripping them of every asset they had.

Carol Van Strum

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Sunday April 25, 2010 · 3:23 PM PDT

2010/04/25 · 15:23

Back in the dark ages of the 1960s, my dog and I spent an uneasy night in a New Mexico jail after being arrested at gunpoint for the sole reason that I was driving a Volkswagon.

After releasing us in the morning, the police chief treated me and the dog to a lavish breakfast at a local café and apologized for the arresting officer, whose brother had been shot two weeks previously by someone in a Volkswagon.

Carol Van Strum

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Wednesday February 10, 2010 · 8:35 AM PST

2010/02/10 · 08:35

With many thanks to Susan Hogg, Social Security attorney in Corvallis, Oregon, for bringing this issue to my attention and providing background information.

There appears to be some confusion from my previous diary about the Social Security proposal to remove diabetes from its disability listings. The confusion stems from SSA's rationale that diabetes can now be controlled and that where it is not, the listings for other ailments that result from uncontrolled diabetes will provide the same benefits. Both of these grounds are unfounded and extremely misleading.

Carol Van Strum

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Monday February 08, 2010 · 3:31 PM PST

2010/02/08 · 15:31

The United States Social Security Administration is proposing to remove diabetes from its list of disorders for which Social Security disability compensation and medical care will be granted.

The rationale for this decision is that medical science has improved diagnosis and treatment of diabetes so greatly that the disease can be completely controlled and therefore not impair one's employment ability.

Carol Van Strum

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Thursday August 20, 2009 · 10:20 AM PDT

2009/08/20 · 10:20

"Universal health care?" an Oregon fisherman asks. "Damn right. The Navy poisons our fish and water and air, of course the feds should pick up the tab."

The fishing community has first-hand knowledge of a well-kept national secret: the U.S. Navy's expansion of supreme command over ocean and coastline surrounding the entire North American continent and extending far into both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In just the last two years, the Navy has received authorization from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to kill and maim marine mammals in at least twelve vast "range complexes" for training and testing of weapons, equipment, vessels, aircraft, and minefields. The NOAA authorizations apply only to marine mammals, with no concern for effects on fish, birds, amphibians, or – god forbid – humans. After all, the Navy's mission is to kill people, right?

Carol Van Strum

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Thursday April 02, 2009 · 12:23 PM PDT

2009/04/02 · 12:23

The U.S. Navy discovered Tuesday what adequate public notice means, when more than 100 people turned up at a special public information meeting of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors. At the request of CA Congressman Mike Thompson, the Navy had sent representatives to Ukiah to answer questions about the Navy's Pacific Northwest Training Range Complex draft Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS. The history of the Navy's attempt to push through the NWTRC's EIS with little notice or time for public input can be found here.

The public also learned what informed public comments can accomplish, when Navy Project Manager John Mosher announced that due to comments already received on the EIS, the Navy has issued a directive ordering all Pacific Fleet ships to stop all use of depleted uranium, effective immediately, and to offload existing stocks of depleted uranium ordnance at the earliest opportunity.

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