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What's At Stake?U.S. Military Base in Okinawa Threatens Rare Dugongs
Okinawa has been called the "Galapagos of the East" as the region's surrounding bays and oceans are home to an amazing diversity of life.
The Kuroshio Ocean current brings tropical waters to the region's bays and coral reefs, a warm current that helps sustain as many as 400 different species of coral and supports the nutrient-rich seagrass beds upon which the Okinawa dugong feeds. More than 1,000 species of reef fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles — including the endangered hawksbill, loggerhead, and green turtle — also live among Okinawa's reefs and seagrass beds.Now, the United States and Japanese governments want to steamroll over these unique animals and their home by filling in a large area of ocean near Henoko in order to expand Camp Schwab. And to expand this U.S. military base, drilling surveys are being conducted on and adjacent to Henoko's coral reefs — and reef sections that are not damaged by the initial drilling will be heavily impacted by the massive military construction project. If the U.S. and Japanese militaries continue with the Camp Schwab expansion plans, critical dugong habitat will be destroyed.Camp Schwab is located adjacent to and in Henoko Bay, and for years nonviolent citizens' groups, led primarily by community elders, have peacefully blocked U.S. military expansion efforts there. But now, the likelihood of Camp Schwab's expansion looms ever larger. On May 18, 2007, Henoko community members took to their kayaks and canoes to protest against private, pre-construction drilling surveys in Henoko Bay. In response to this peaceful demonstration, the Japanese Coast Guard was called in to deter citizen demonstrators. Unfortunately, the approaching completion of some drilling surveys brings expansion of Camp Schwab ever nearer. This is a critical moment. As drilling surveys continue in Henoko Bay, more and more dugong habitat is being harmed. Without adequate habitat to sustain them, the Okinawa dugong is headed toward the path of extinction. Please, let your voice be heard. The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Japan Environmental Lawyers Federation, Dugong Network Okinawa, Save the Dugong Foundation, and several other Okinawan individuals have filed a lawsuit in federal district court in San Francisco against the U.S. Department of Defense base expansion plan. Environmental law firm Earthjustice represents the plaintiffs. The case will go to trial in September 2007. Please speak out today on this important issue. Send a message to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and their counterparts in Japan's government urging them to halt the expansion of U.S. military base Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan.
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