resolution

US Policy in Vieques

2016 Book of Resolutions, #6058

Historical Background

Vieques is a small island about eight miles east of the island nation of Puerto Rico. In 1938 the US Navy began using the island-municipality of Vieques for military practices. In 1941, during the height of WWII, the United States initiated a campaign of expropriation of territory (evicting over 3,000 people), which ended in the Navy’s control of over two-thirds of the island’s most arable land. Thousands of families were displaced and those remaining were jeopardized in their basic means of subsistence. The net effect of these policies was the clustering of the entire civilian population into a small strip of land right in the middle of the island. Only 25 percent of the island remained under civilian control.

One of the effects of 60 years of bombing has been the degradation, and in some cases destruction, of Vieques’ delicate ecosystems. Hundreds of species of plants and animals have been killed as a result of the direct impact of projectiles during military practices. These bombings and military maneuvers have led to serious contamination of the environment due to toxic residues and other contaminants.

Conclusion

The United Methodist Church has been a key supporter of the struggle in Vieques. The voice of our Church joined with the voices of many organizations in Puerto Rico and around the world to halt the Navy’s maneuvers on the island. The Navy’s military presence finally ended on May 1, 2003, which the 2004 General Conference celebrated. Justice, however, is not complete.

Over twelve years have passed since the end of the bombing and other military practices in Vieques. Nevertheless, the waters surrounding the former target practice area still filled with unexploded bombs and contaminants from the target area continue to be allowed to go into the sea causing great damage to the ecosystem. It is imperative that these issues be addressed as soon as possible not only because of the clear environmental justice concerns but also for bringing about economic justice and full respect for human rights that continue to elude new generations of Puerto Ricans.

The removal of thousands of live bombs in the area is being done by exploding them on site, in the open air. This produces an additional quantity of contaminants that enter different ecosystems and continue to have an adverse impact on the food chain and on the health of the people of Vieques. The cleanup process is going too slow and many times is not done in ways that protect the residents of Vieques from further contamination.

Therefore be it resolved, that The United Methodist Church:

  1. request of the appropriate agencies of the United States government that the cleaning of all the contaminants produced by the US Navy activities or activities allowed by the US Navy be done using methods that will keep to a minimum the release of toxic agents into the environment. The health of the residents of Vieques must be protected. Diverse sources have published information on the availability of equipment and methodology that make possible the removal of explosive artifacts without detonating them in open air spaces;
  2. urge the US Congress to appropriate sufficient funds to decontaminate Vieques such that the land is again suitable for agriculture, environmental tourism, and other social uses;
  3. call upon the United States government to assign funds to enable the people of Vieques to have access to new health programs directed to reduce the high incidence of different types of cancer, to provide treatment to all the persons with toxic chemicals in their bodies, and to treat and reduce the high incidence of respiratory diseases;
  4. urge Congress and the government of Puerto Rico to establish mechanisms to promote the reconstruction and sustainable economic development of Vieques;
  5. call upon the Environmental Protection Agency and all other government agencies responsible for the cleaning to also expedite the cleaning of the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico, that was also contaminated as a result of military maneuvers.

ADOPTED 2004
REVISED AND READOPTED 2008, 2012, 2016
RESOLUTION #6058, 2012 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION #6048, 2008 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION #294, 2004 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION #274, 2000 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS

See Social Principles, ¶ 165B.

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