Lead poisoning of our island's aquifer, which provides our people with drinking water. The destruction of cultural heritage sites with no regard to their sacred nature. A potential increase of sexual assault cases amongst the women of the island. These are all points brought up in the Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian press conference this morning.

The event was held to express the appalling fact that the Department of Defense denied a public hearing in relation to the construction of the live firing range complex at Northwest Field. 

Prutehi Litekyan's Monaeka Flores announced, "It's interesting to note that the military themselves said, that this was the most destructive option environmentally, historically, culturally, socially. This particular choice had the worst impacts, the most destructive impacts for all of us. However they went ahead and moved forward and decided to place the firing range there."

According to Senator Sabina Perez, the construction of the Live Firing range will be devastating not only to our cultural sites, but to our health and the health of generations to come. She said, "Once in operation, 6.7 million bullets containing lead and other toxins will be expended annually, which studies correlate with contamination and exposure to toxins."

Senator Perez says that the traces of lead from the firing range could leave the children of Guam, victims to a litany of health issues.

"Lead, which was banned in the US since 1986 and 1999 on Guam, is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more than adults do. And, their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to its damaging effects. Even Low levels of Lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia," said the policymaker.

According to Dr. Lisa Natividad, the Live Firing Range is just a fragment of the Bigger Picture, that picture being the military buildup. And, when looking at the bigger picture, she stated, "I want to particularly highlight in my role through I Hagan Famalaoan Guahan, the impact of the military buildup on women and children and the safety of such. Particularly when it comes to the issue of Sexual Crimes being committed."

"When you look at the Guam military buildup, you can't help but ask yourself the question. What happened in Okinawa that has created such a huge community outcry against the presence of these Marines in their community. And, clearly we know historically and well documented, tremendous number of cases well into thousands of crimes committed particularly against women and children."

The impacts of the buildup and the construction of a Live Firing Range are issues we've faced for years, according to Flores. She said, "I mean this has been going on for many years, with thousands and thousands of residents coming out in all forms from submitting comments to testimony in various hearings, to participating in these protests to writing letters. And so, the work will continue."

"We must do whatever is in our power as leaders and community members," continued Senator Perez, "And, one of the things we can do is definitely to restart the discussions with our Governor as well as the new administration, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The Decision makers, we need to talk to the decision makers about this and re-register our grave concerns and how we can move forward."

Moving forward, it is imperative that we as a people do not shy away from expressing our concern, voicing our disappointment, and pressuring those elected into positions of power to do everything within their power, to ensure that the people of Guam and the generations to come do not fall victim to a lack of inaction and a failure to see the writing on the wall.

Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian will be holding a peaceful protest on February 6 at 4:30pm in two locations - Adelup and the ITC intersection.  For more information as well as the full press conference, visit the Prutehi Litekyan Facebook page.