SAVE the Dugong, STOP the Air-Base

Nature vs Power Politics

Friends,

You may have seen some of the news stories that Japan and the United States have come to an "agreement" on the future of the US military bases in Japan.

That "agreement" has been long delayed because of popular support in Okinawa and globally to prevent the construction of a new American military airfield that will destroy the habitat of the last remaining dugong in Japan.

That "agreement" is opposed by the Governor of Okinawa and over 80% of the population of Okinawa.

But because US President George W Bush is coming to Japan in November to sign a new military bases agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi, power politics demand that an "agreement" be reached.

After months of protests including the peaceful occupation of the 4 drilling towers sitting on the reef, no construction has actually taken place. The protests have forced the governments to amend their plans sunstantially; the runway is now shorter, and some of it will be on land.

But the threats to the dugong and other endangered wildlife such as sea turles remain.

In October Greenpeace sent a letter to the US Ambassador to Japan, asking him for a meeting to outline our concerns. A week later the "agreement" between the 2 countries was announced, so Greenpeace held a protest in front of the US Embassy.

The Koizumi government is threatening to introduce legisltion that would allow him to by-pass the opposition of the elected Governor, and ignore public opinion.

In the international game of power politics, it is not only public opinion that is being steamrollered. The dugong, the turtles, and other creatures who do not have a voice rely on your voice to strengthen the activists in Okinawa who have been standing up to this base for years. Help Greenpeace as we help these activists. The leaders can sign their "agreement" in Kyoto November 16. But nine years after the first "agreement" was signed for a new airbase, the people have stopped construction. And with our help they will continue to stop it.