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I do not understand why it would be necessary to put an airbase in a place where there is coral reef rich in marine diversity. Also very important is the fact that endangered sea turtles and dugongs are dependent on this ecosystem! I think that when so much is at stake, you could find another place to put the airbase. It's hard to replace a healthy coral reef once it is ruined if it can be replaced at all. Obviously once animals are extinct they are gone forever! This is not responsible stewardship. (MT,United States)
I am a United States citizen who is concerned about the quality of the world's natural environment. As such, I am writing to you about the proposed U.S. airbase in Okinawa.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my views.(MA,United States)
Please help protect our planet for our children so they may enjoy the same wonderful pleasures we have had the oppurtunity to enjoy. This airbase may cause irreversable damage to the ecosystem, are you willing to be responsable for that? Are you willing to kill our precious marine life that inhabits there? I hope not. Please rethink this plan. And remember, what you do effects us all. (New Jersey,United States)
The Henoko airbase is not worth it.
Warm greetings to you and your loved ones.
Along with thousands of others, I am very concerned at the threat to the ocean life of Henoko, Okinawa. As you must know, that off-shore environment is a coral reef rich in marine diversity. Endangered sea turtles and dugongs, an officially (and internationally) recognized protected species, are among the precious marine creatures dependent on this ecosystem.
I respectfully urge you to cancel the plan to build a U.S. airbase off the coast of Henoko, Okinawa. The damage from such a project could not be un-done, and the negatives outweigh any perceived positive gains.
Thank you for listening and doing the right thing.(NY,United States)
Conservation is especially crucial in the case of the dugongs. Habitat degradation and increasing scarcity of their food have led to the dugong's recent classification as an endangered species. Unfortunately, no active measures have been taken to ensure their conservation. As few as 12 dugongs are left in the Okinawa waters. If the plan proceeds, the dugongs of Japan may be lost forever.
The U.S. military should not be building in Okinawa. For the dugongs and the coral reefs, it is home. (CA,United States)
NO to the US airbase and YES to protection of the creatures. (NM,United States)
The airbase would only serve to further endanger the fragile ecosystem of Henoko. The airbase may not be critical to the survival of the planet, but I assure you, Henoko, and other ecosystems like it are. If this plan is continued, it will only be one more step toward the endangerment of our planet, and the human species.
Thank you for your time and interest.(ME,United States)
How can you justify building an airbase in an endangered species' habitat? Animal diversity is a beautiful and necessary part of life and the destruction of a species by something so easily avoided is a thoughtless and arrogant act. Please consider that you share this earth with animals of all kind, as well as people who care for the safety of all living things and who do not support the building of an airbase in this area. (UT,United States)
Save our earth and all its inhabitants!!
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
There are so few natural enviornments like this one left. How much longer until they are all gone and we start facing the issues of a degenerating planet. Will your grandkids enjoy the natural wonders like so many of us have. Do we have the right to take that away from them. Please think of the long lasting effects of what you do now. If we are kind to the earth, she will in turn be kind to us. That is all. Thank you for your time......(Barcelona,Spain)
I realize your defense program is important to you, but this is an opportunity for you as a nation,to be recognized as a leader in conservation, commanding respect and cooperation from other countries. Surely another location can found for the base before you destroy your own marine ecosystem and upset the balance of nature surrounding you.
Thank you(Texas,United States)
there are possitive uprising of conservation movement towards engangered spices all over the world and i would like to see japan to lead this movement. not leading it to distroy it. as i grew up in seaside villege in japan, it is very sad to see that japan's coastal line has changes so much to lose it's diversity in ecology. This coastal zone
I urge you in the strongest term to cancel the plan(Female,42,herts,United Kingdom)
Biodiversity is important in keeping disease harboring organisms out. Each organism has a vital role in a balanced ecology and must be protected. (Female,82,ME,United States)
Indeed, such official recognition of this unique site should promote protection and conservation. We need to protect our remaining pristine areas for future generations. (Female,CA,United States)
Do you realize that endangered sea turtles and dugongs, an officially recognized protected species, are among precious marine creatures dependent on this ecosystem and they will be destroyed? (Female,13,GA,United States)
To: those of you trying to ruin our enviroment,
You need to recognize all of this and realize that the right thing to do would be to call off this construction project. I, for one, am really surprised that this has even gotten this far!
I want you to cancel the plan and I am not alone.(Female,12,Ohio,United States)
It is also extremely important not to ignore the wishes of those living on Okinawa who have already had to suffer the crimes, rapes, and economic problems caused by the already too many military bases on Okinawa as clearly described by Chalmers Johnson in "Sorrows of Empire," whose book I recommend highly for all.(Male,40,California,United States)
I have a great appreciation for the nation of Japan, and hope to spend several months there in the coming year. One of the things I am drawn to is the beautiful wildlife I've heard about.
I wish that my own country was not so destructive. Please do what you can to avert the destruction that the U.S. military could do.(22,New York,United States)
DO NOT BUILD THE AIRBASE. THIS PLANET IS ALSO FOR ANIMALS.(29,CUERNAVACA,Mexico)
This is unacceptable!
What will my children learn by this destruction of wildlife? Get with the programme, be"ENVIRONMENTALLY ACTIVE / AWARE", this can only benefit you and our future leaders.(Female,22,Kwazulu Natal,South Africa)
Protection for coral reef to protect the marine biodiversity !
The air-base will destroy the coral reef; STOP the project, STOP the building !!!
Protection immediate for Henoko's coral reef !!!(Male,23,Rn,Italy)
Our planet, especially the marine environments, sustain all humanity. Without forethought, we are rapidly degrading it, making it dimished for life in all ecosystems, on land and in the oceans. The lives of all humans are tied directly to the oceans, and this proposed plan to build an airbase strikes at the very heart of an ecosystem that sustains all life.
Please, honor our fragile planet and be a proud steward in conserving its remaining beauty and diversity.(Female,42,FL,United States)
Military bases can be built anywhere, overnight. Do not destroy this area that has taken hundreds of years to flourish. (Female,45,Massachussetts,United States)
And invite you to read Vandana Shivas article, on this site:
http://www.dostje.org/Eko/tsunami.html (Male,44,Aude,France)
Please cancel the plans for another airbase for the U.S. off the coast of Henoko.
I urge you, and common sense will direct you, to cancel the plan to Do it for all of earths children, and for all of the diverse species that are so very important for the ecosystem in this precious area.(Female,44,Ontario,Canada)
All life is sacred and deserves to be honored. Please protect the marine habitat of Henoko in Okinawa, a coral reef so important to the survival of sea turtles and dugongs.
Thank you for your compassionate and responsible choice in this matter.
Victoria Cross Manning(Female,TX,United States)
I am fourteen years old and I am an animal rights activist. First I want you to ponder this a little bit:
The US did not destroy small pox completely, because they thought it was bad to completely eliminate a species from the earth. Correct?
Now, by building this base you are threatening to destroy the dugongs, straight off the face of the earth. Do you like small pox more than our animal dugong friends who are in need of our help?(Male,14,CT,United States)
Say"NO" to the construction of the U.S. military airbase and "YES" to the protection of the Okinawa dugong.
(40,IL,United States)
The massive construction involved in building a U.S. airbase in this area would damage if not destroy irreparably this delicate ecosystem. I feel it is humankind's responsibility as caretakers for the earth to prevent such destruction.(Female,38,New York,United States)
We cannot continue to destroy these areas without some day suffering the consequences. It may not be in our lifetime, but it could well be in our children's lifetime. Is that the legacy we want to leave to future generations? An earth that has been ravaged and depleted of natural resources? We don't need this base - we DO need this coral reef.(Female,51,MA,United States)
You are blessed with such a natural treasure, i pray you may value it for such!(Female,50,MI,United States)
This area and its creatures are too precious to destroy and must be preserved for future generations .
Thank you.(Organization,66,KY,United States)
Hasn't there been enough death among plants, animals, and people. It's time to save not destroy. Life is too short as it is.(Female,47,Oregon,United States)
There are good environmental reasons to refuse to allow the construction of yet another military base in Okinawa, and these have long-term importance. But equally important is the vital necessity for the nations of the world to resist US expansionism, which threatens real democracy everywhere. Those coral reefs are also threatened by global warming---which will not be effectively adressed until there is regime change in the US. Appeasement must end. (Female,49,WV,United States)
are you willing to wipe an animal species of the face of the earth. And another thing can we send all red necks to Iraq instead of good natured humans. yeeha(Male,23,Wisconsin,United States)
I know you are tired of reading these letters, but please. There is so much to learn from the oceans and reefs of the world's coasts, such as the possible cure for cancer in sea sponges. Market your coasts toward SCUBA divers. Do anything, but build an airstrip. I am 17. I live on a bay miles across and away from a small power plant, but daily, yearly we always have soot on the southern side of our house and every evening when the sun begins to set it is always behind the power plant. For the following generations, please do not contruct this airstrip. Leave them a beautiful ocean view, rather than having to choke on fumes. I know it is just one air strip in one town, but to someone somewhere that town means the world. Please, and thank you for taking the time to here me out.(Female,17,New Jersey)
Please, leave the beautiful coral reef alone, and let the Dugongs and sea turtles live undisturbed.(Female,19,Florida,United States)
Airbase construction in Henoko, Okinawa is destructive and uneccessary.(Female,18,NE,United States)
Please do not knowingly endanger another of our planet's precious species.(Female,32,OH,United States)
I am appalled and ashamed by many things that my government is doing currently, without regard to the environment and the irreparable damage it's actions will cause. I urge my government to wake up to the responsibility we all have to the stewardship of this earth and to reconsider actions, like building this base, which will damage our earth and it's creatures.(Female,38,FL,United States)
I am ashamed of and embarrassed for the President of my own country! It seems George Bush does everything in his power to pollute the environment and destroy the earth and it's wildlife. Please, don't help the "Toxic Texan" destroy one of the great coral reefs in Japan.
Please, for the wildlife, my children, and yours, do not build this airbase!(Female,39,KY,United States)
As a former U.S. Naval Officer, I know the importance of national security. But it is even more important to save what we are trying to protect with our military forces. The wonders of our natural world, including the coral reefs of Okinawa, are irreplaceable, and should not be sacrificed to build a military base.(Male,49,MA,United States)
Having served the USAF on Okinawa from Kadena to Okuma for more than 3 years, I can personally state that the military installations already in existence there should be upgradable to meet any forseeable need.(Male,67,OH,United States)
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.(Female,33,New Jersey,United States)
It is important to take a stand for the planet and all its species. Please cancel the plan to build a US airbase. (Female,52,NY,United States)
Please, keep the beautiful nature of the area intact. I'm sure that thousands, if not millions of people agree with me.
Thank you for the trouble of reading this e-mail.
Yours Sincerely,(Female,18,Noord Holland,Netherlands)
Coral reefs are considered the "rainforest of the ocean," a very fragile (and slow-growing) home to many, many species of sea creatures. Reefs are being destroyed at an exponential rate; in the US state of Florida, for example, over 90% of the coral reefs are dead or dying. Please do not let Okinawa become another Florida.(Female,23,NC,United States)
Dear Leader,
Your position of leadership gives you the unique opportunity and the responsibility to act in the best interests of future generations in the entire world. It is important to save this coral reef, not to lead to its destruction over time, by building an airbase nearby. The deleterious effects would be permanent. The entire world and our grand-children and their descendants deserve better.(Female,62,MA,United States)
I am very concerned that ill-considered expansion of the US military base on Okinawa will lead to the extinction of precious, irreplaceable species and the devastation of the wondrous marine ecosystem of Henoko.
It is especially troubling that leaders who unfailingly declare their allegiance to God in order to secure votes are so eager to deface God's earth and destroy God's creations. This not only violates law and human decency, it betrays our sacred charge to be faithful stewards of the earth. (Female,51,VA,United States)
As few as 12 dugongs are left in the Okinawa waters. These creatures are a beautiful and important part of the Pacific Ocean, and humans have already made them nearly extinct. This coastal zone You have the power to make a difference. Please us it and stop further destruction of this amazing ecosystem. Thank you for your time and consideration.(Female,23,Missouri,United States)
In a world where freedom for all creatures is becoming an endangered problem, we (Mr. Verrill and I) pray you will do all you can to prevent yet more destruction of the ecosystem upon which these beautiful and ecologically necessary creatures depend.(Female,71,Charleston County,United States)
We need to ensure the protection of all species on this earth, if we want to continue our own species. We surely are not contributing to our own survival by building more tools of human destruction.
Sincerely yours,(Female,53,OH,United States)
As America is a country who has opted out of Kyoto I know they really do not care about anyone elses environment or the state of the planet for our future generations.To the Americans only money and power are important.They do not think about the condition of the air, water, food we will eat in the future when they have polluted everywhere and broken the food chain.
As a country with their own 'weapons of mass destruction' it looks to me like they are positioning themselves around the world so that eventually, one day, Mr Bush can dictate to the whole of the world instead of just the American people...its a shame that there won't be anything worth saving when this day comes!
Please make a stand against this dictator and stop the destruction of this important ecosystem!(Female,38,Oxfordshire,United Kingdom)
To add to this I have many times assisted my aunt who is a marine biologist in attempts to rescue wildlife around the coast of malaysia, indonesia, thailand, borneo and singapore. I am also taking my dive masters to be able to do more of these projects to help protect marine life and also show others by sharing my experiences and knowledge of marine life. However if the countries allow the US to continue bullying themselves into allowing projects such as these that destroy not only the island but also the marine life I am going to have nothing left to show and neither are those that inherit the world after us.(Female,19)
Besides, haven't you noticed that the U.S. seems to make an effort to destroy every little peace and nature there is in the world? Think twice about if it's really that important to build this.
Sincerely,(Female,14)
build a U.S. airbase off the coast of Henoko in Okinawa, and protect the endangered animals living there such as the dugong. This ecosystem is priceless.(Female,17)
Please do not let the disappearence of one more jewel of the earth become true.(Female,20)
Deliberately destroying a coral reef, and an endangered species' vital habitat is both irresponsible and arrogant. I utterly fail to believe that the safety of Japan and US interests requires or will benefit in the long-term from such short-term thinking.
It is the responsibility of all humanity to be stewards of the environment and to avoid harming our fellow creatures. Constructing an airbase in this area is plainly irresponsible in this regard and again I urge you to drop the plan.
We must think of our children, and our children's children.
I'm sorry, with all do respect, but this is bullshit, if your gonna destroy the enviroment anymore, don't do it on top of a reef full of endangered creatures, build it somewhere else, will it hurt you? No, but it will hurt the reef and the animals if you go through with this, you may not care about the enviroment now, but what are we gonna leave our children and granchildren with?
To the US government, please stop destroying our environment and the world's. You must realize that we must keep our world's natural treasures intact. Economic red tape aside, the conservation of both our's and the world's environment should be one of your top priorities. Thus, we as a country must not destroy this area as we have our own, through stupidity and carelessness.
To Japan, I urge you to act correctly and swiftly by protecting this vital area. Killing off an animal characteristic to the area of Henoko (dugongs) would most likely produce a black eye for your country and destroy the environmental balance of Okinawa, specifically Henoko.
Furthermore, to both, The environmental damage could be irreparable and the dugongs--relatives of the manatee--could be gone forever.
Thank you for your time and please seriously consider this proposal.
In the name of protection of one species, do not dostroy others, as this is a means of destruction for all species in the end.
For those, such as President Bush, who may receive this letter and who profess Christianity, I would add that this is a matter of stewardship of the earth that God has created and given us to take care of. It is vital that we do not ravage the earth and destroy species for our own purposes, particularly military ones.
I urge Japan and the US to work together for global security in ways that do not jeopardize biodiversity.
Do not destroy these coral reefs. These oceans and the animal life and vegetation and minerals. etc., in them are valuable. We have no idea how benefical they may be to us. Once we destroy these there is no way to replace them. Do the right thing do not destroy them. Thank you.
We need to keep & protect what little we have left of our healthy enviroment for future generations and focus on the consevation of our beautiful Planet.
Please do the right thing. We only have one chance to take care of our planet and it's delicate balence. Do the right thing.
I am saddenened to learn of plans that will surely destroy the off-shore marine environment of Henoko in Okinawa, one of the world's most beautiful and diverse coral reefs. There is nothing that can replace the reef once it is gone. Japanese people are most often very insightful when it comes to protecting the environment. Please deny the construction of a military base and support life in the reef.
Stop Airbase construction in Henoko, Okinawa.
Building an airbase there will undoubtedly have a large negative impact on the health and diversity of the environment. Not to mention the fact that the U.S. can not afford it.
It is time to put our Earth first and say no to killing for religious and politcal differences. It is also time to put corporations in their place, as SERVENTS to the people, Not dictators of governments.
I thank you for reading my letter and hope that you will do the RIGHT thing for humanity!
The devastation the building of this airbase would cause to the environment will be irreversible and will affect adversely future generations in this area.
Thank you for your consideration.
Progress is not supposed to mean the destruction of what is natural. We, as humans, believe we are the "supernatural ultraomnipotent creatures" but what will we do when we are all that is left and we have no way to survive. Your nation is known for your grace and your cinema has denoted the exact function you are about to make us as a species endure. Please look at what you have, the beauty of nature instead of metal and destruction. We, as part of the human race are begging you to look before you start such a dreadful endeavor.
you should stop this destruction immediately. we need to protect and nurture the endangered dugong so we can learn from its fascinating history and hopefully stop it becoming extinct. we all make mistakes but this is too big of a mistake to make!!!!!!!
PLEASE GIVE PEACE AND LIFE A CHANCE.
We at the GreenMount elementary school's 6th grade are concerned about the health of the animals and the destruction of the reefs around the planned airbases site.
build a U.S. airbase off the coast of Henoko in Okinawa this will help better the world and keep Japan a haven for endagered animals. Thank you.
It is important that we save these endangered species before they become extinct forever. It is essential to protect this fragile ecosystem for eternity. Save and protect all plants and animals of the world.
We must be mindful of everything around us. Everything we hurt or destroy in the environment will come back to hurt or destroy us, as well. Thus is the essence of our ecosystem. I urge you to not consider this a "Save the Dugong" mission, but rather a "Save Humanity" one. Surely other options can be explored that make everyone happy.
These animals are alive for a reason, becoming extict is acceptable in NATURAL circumstances, being murdered by humans is NOT. We have only one earth, if we kill it we kill ourselves.
PEACE
Please these animals need to live a lot more than we need another airbase. We don't want to see these animals extinct, they deserve to live. Please don't build the airbase!
Peace can only be achieved by saving the earth's heritage, a common and binding goal of all humanity. An unneeded airbase will achieve nothing but merely fuel the hostile atmosphere, particularly in the Korean Peninsula, and the neighbouring region. If the aim is to secure peace, promote democracy and developmen and root out terrorism, the US and Japan should rethink their strategy to ensure that the environment, on which the poor and marginalized are heavily dependent, is saved and protected. The intrusion into the Japanese sea to destroy the Dugong is not appreciated by the people all over the world. Please, if the airbase is desperately needed, and I doubt so, let it be eco-friendly.
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