As the Pentagon Expands Across the Pacific, Guam Offers a Warning
The U.S. militarization of Guam has left its residents living with a legacy of pollution, environmental degradation, and cultural loss. Other Pacific islands may be next. The post As the Pentagon Expands Across the Pacific, Guam Offers a Warning appeared first on The Intercept .
Leevin Camacho discovered that his community's water supply on the island of Guam was contaminated with dieldrin, a banned pesticide with known health risks. His children had been drinking the contaminated water for most of their lives. The U.S. Air Force base located next to the well was responsible for reporting "very high levels" of dieldrin since at least 1993.
The Pentagon is investigating the source of the pollution but acknowledges that it may stem from other factors due to the history of pesticide use on the island. Local officials believe the military presence in Guam has continuously harmed the environment and residents, including through unexploded ordnance, PCB contamination in fish, and groundwater pollution.
The U.S. military is expanding its presence in the Pacific, with potential consequences for Guam's natural resources and Indigenous populations. Camacho laments that despite being a U.S. citizen, his island and people have suffered greatly from the military's influence.
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