This year was an eventful year for We Are Guahan.  The organization helped organize over 11 hikes to historic sites on Guam, announced a high school scholarship program and enjoyed a historic legal victory against DOD in the lawsuit to save Pagat Village.  We Are Guahan would like to extend a dangkulu na Si Yu’us Ma’ase for your continued support of our efforts.  Special thanks to Dr. Miget Lujan Bevacqua for coordinating and assisting in the organizing of the Heritage Hikes, Alissa Eclavea for her efforts to raise funds for the GAPSS scholarship program, all of the artists who have volunteered their time and creativity for the Prutehi yan Difendi campaign and everyone else who supported us this year.  We look forward to being involved in more things in the year to come.  Below is a chronological summary of just some of the activities We Are Guahan was a part of in 2011:

February 2011

• 2/14: Sticker-up day to spread awareness about Pagat Lawsuit.
• 2/25: Release of Grey Paper on Traffic

March 2011

• 3/12: Hike to Tumon Bay (Part of “Un Nuena Na Inatan” Heritage Hike Series)
• 3/15: Presentation given to Rotary Club of Guam Sunrise
• 3/19: Hike to Pagat Village
• 3/26: Hike to Cetti Bay and Sella Bay

April 2011

• 4/13: Release of Grey Paper on Jungle

May 2011

• Launch of “Prutehi yan Difendi” bus stop painting campaign.  To date, volunteers have painted 4 bus stops in 3 villages and a mural in Piti

June 2011

• 6/12: Hike to Hila’an Village (Part of “I Kantan i Latte Siha” Heritage Hike Series)
• 6/18: Hike to Haputo Village
• 6/25: Hike to Pagat Village

July 2011

• 7/2: Hike to Almagosa Springs / Falls

August 2011

• Launch of Guam Alumni of the Public School System (“GAPSS”) scholarship program

September 2011

• 9/22: Scoping meeting on MITT-EIS
• 9/28: Present at UOG forum hosted by Guam Coalition for Peace and Justice regarding Pagat Lawsuit

October 2011

• 10/13: Scoping meeting on “divert” facilities
• 10/22: Hike to Ague Cove (Part of “Na’i’ Tatte, Chule’ Tatte” Heritage Hike Series)
• 10/24: Provide comments on Public Access Plan to historic sites controlled by DOD
• 10/30: Hike to Hila’an Village

November 2011

• 11/1: Present to Rotary Club of Tumon Bay
• 11/5: Hike to Pagat Point
• 11/16: Village meeting to discuss Compatibility Sustainability Study
• 11/16: DOD files declaration agreeing to relief requested
• 11/18: Press conference to discuss Pagat Lawsuit

December 2011

• 12/6: Fundraiser celebrating 2 years of WAG
• 12/12: Hearing scheduled for Pagat Lawsuit
• 12/17: Hike to Haputo Village

The hike schedule is as follows:

• Saturday, October 22, 2011 – Ague Cove (Difficulty: Easy. Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours)
  Meet at Former FAA property (near NCS Dededo)
• Sunday, October 30, 2011 – Hila’an Village (Difficulty: Very Easy. Duration: 2 – 2.5hours)
  Meet at Tanguisson Beach Park.
• Saturday, November 5, 2011 – Pågat Point (Difficulty: Medium. Duration: 3 – 4 hours)
  Meet at Pågat trailhead along The Back Road.

WHEN: The show-time for the Ague Cove and Pågat Point hikes is 8:45a.m. with a go-time 9:00 a.m. The show time for the Hila’an Village hike is 3:30pm.

WHAT TO BRING: All participants must bring LOTS OF WATER. Participants are encouraged to bring sun block, bug repellant and light snacks or lunches.

WHAT TO WEAR: All hikes will have areas with dense jungle, so if you are sensitive to mosquito bites, please wear long sleeved shirts, pants and a comfortable pair of shoes. Participants should wear tennis / hiking shoes, shorts and a comfortable shirt. Swimming is an option and encouraged at Ague Cove and Hila’an Village, so come prepared with appropriate clothes and towels if you’d like to swim.

HIKE DESCRIPTIONS:

The first hike is a new trek to Ague Cove. DoD is considering re-“acquiring” this area, and the surrounding area, to build brand new housing and administrative buildings for the proposed relocation. The hike ends at a scenic cove that is perfect for swimming.

On the second hike, Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua will explain the historical significance of Hila’an Village, an area that was recently returned to GovGuam. There are over 70 latte throughout the area, which will give hike participants an opportunity to imagine what the village would have looked like.

The third and final hike is also a first for We Are Guåhan. The hike is to an area where DoD is planning on building a firing complex: Pågat Point. This area is north of the more popular hiking trail to Pågat arch and cave. Dr. Bevacqua will discuss the cultural and historic significance of the area, as well as DoD’s proposed plans to build a firing range complex there.

If you have questions about the Heritage Hikes, please contact leevin@weareguahan.com

The goal of the Guam Alumni of the Public School System (“GAPSS”) program is to offer scholarships to high school students at the beginning of the school year to pay for these expenses.  We Are Guåhan’s goal this year is to raise $3,000 for the GAPSS program to award a total of sixty (60) scholarships to public school students every year starting in 2011. This money will pay for ten (10) SAT registration fees at each of the five (5) public high schools and an additional (10) scholarships island wide to students who apply.  We hope to raise enough money in the long-term goal to extend the program to pay for one (1) college application for sixty (60) high school seniors.

Public education is one area where the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) for the proposed military buildup predicts a significant impact. Specifically, the EIS says that Guam’s public schools will need to accommodate at least 3,800 more students. We Are Guåhan hopes that the GAPSS Scholarship Program for high school juniors will help those who would be most affected by the proposed buildup.

To donate to our GAPPS Scholarship Program, please use the following link and the code ’3000.’

We Are Guåhan is pleased to announce its third series of Heritage Hikes: I Kantan i Latte Siha.  The previous 2 series of Heritage Hikes have been a major success with over 240 people showing up to see and learn about Guam’s history.  The upcoming Heritage Hikes will include 2 new sites, Hila’an Village and Haputo, as well as a hike to Pågat Village.  It also includes We Are Guåhan’s first hike scheduled on a Sunday.

The hike schedule is as follows:

• June 12, 2011 – Hila’an Village  (Difficulty: Easy.  Duration: 2 – 3 hours)
  Meet at Tanguisson Beach Park.
• June 18, 2011 – Haputo (Difficulty: Easy.  Duration: 2 – 3 hours)
  Meet at NCS Finegayan.
• June 25, 2011 – Pågat Village (Difficulty: Medium.  Duration: 2 – 3 hours)
  Meet at Pågat trailhead along The Back Road.

The hike to Haputo is subject to the discretion of the Department of Defense.  If you are interested in attending the hike, you will need to submit your Social Security Number to DoD and sign a waiver by June 10.  Please contact leevin@weareguahan.com for more information on how and where to submit this information.  Hike organizers have been advised that DoD reserves the right to cancel the hike at any time for any reasons.  If DoD decides to reject our hike request, the group will hike to an alternate site.

WHEN: The show-time for all hikes is 8:45a.m. with a go-time 9:00 a.m.

WHAT TO BRING: All participants must bring LOTS OF WATER.   Participants are encouraged to bring sun block, bug repellant and light snacks or lunches.

WHAT TO WEAR: The first two hikes will have areas with dense jungle, so if you are sensitive to mosquito bites, please wear long sleeved shirts, pants and a comfortable pair of shoes.  Participants hiking to Pågat should wear tennis / hiking shoes, shorts and a comfortable shirt.  Swimming is an option and encouraged at all sites, so come prepared with appropriate clothes and towels if you’d like to swim.

HIKE DESCRIPTIONS:

On the first hike, Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua will explain the historical significance of Hila’an Village, an area that was recently returned to GovGuam.  There are over 70 latte throughout the area, which will give hike participants an opportunity to imagine what the village would have looked like.

The second hike will be to Haputo, which is an opportunity for people without access to military bases to see Haputo Beach and the artifacts, several latte scattered throughout the area.

The third and final hike will be to the area where DoD is planning on building a firing complex: Pågat Village.  Dr. Bevacqua will discuss the cultural and historic significance of the area, as well as DoD’s proposed plans to build a firing range complex there.

If you have questions about the Heritage Hikes, please contact leevin@weareguahan.com

As part of its Three C’s campaign, to protect and defend our Community, Culture and Coral, We Are Guåhan volunteers launched the “Prutehi yan Difendi” bus stop painting program on May 29, 2011 at the entrance to Marbo Cave in Pågat, Mangilao.  Since then, We Are Guåhan has painted two more bus stops in the villages of Yigo and Ordot.  The goal of this project is to have our children waiting at bus stops that have an empowering message rather than the graffiti that is seen too often.

If you are interested in volunteering for future bus stop projects, please contact leevin@weareguahan.com.

This Grey Paper, EIS on Jungle & Wildlife, features a photo of the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher by Eric F. Savage available under a Creative Commons Attribution‐ShareAlike license.

You can obtain a copy of the Grey Paper summary points here (link available).

EIS on Forests & Wildlife

• More than 80% of the remaining limestone forests on Guam are on DoD property.[1]
• DoD plans on destroying over 2,000 acres of limestone and scrub forest for military housing and operations.[2] This does not include any private development, such as worker housing.    
• The total limestone and scrub forest that DoD plans on destroying is larger than Hagåtña and Mongmong-Toto-Maite combined.[3]
• The Department of Agriculture has said that up to 10% of the forests on Guam are at risk because of the proposed buildup.[4]
• DoD’s plans calls for the destruction of over 1,000 acres of recovery habitat for the endangered fanihi, Mariana crow, and Micronesian kingfisher.[5]

Total Forested Area that DoD Plans on Destroying

The Department of Agriculture has stated that “[t]he proposed reduction of forest cover of up to 10% of the total forest cover of Guam is a significant impact that affects the viability of Guam’s forests, including reductions in the benefits of forests: groundwater infiltration, potential habitat, biodiversity, and water quality.”[11]

US Fish and Wildlife Service observed that “[t]he DEIS contains the conclusion that only impacts to primary forest are significant.  Disturbed limestone forest is valuable habitat for many native plants and animals and can aid in recovery of some threatened, endangered, and island-extirpated species.”[12]

Impacts on Guam’s Endangered Species

“There would be direct significant impacts to the endangered Mariana fruit bat, Micronesian kingfisher, and Mariana crow from the clearing of 1,340 ac (542 ha) of recovery habitat for these three species, to the Guam rail from clearing 1,084 ac (439 ha) of recovery habitat . . . .”[13]

Example of DoD Mitigation

“One week prior to clearing vegetation, a qualified biologist would conduct surveys to determine if federally protected species are present in the project site.  For example, if crows are nesting within 984 ft (300 m) of the project site the work would be postponed.  Or if fruit bats are present within 492 ft (150 m) of the project site, the work must be halted and not started again until the bat has left the area.”[14]

[2] This figure is the total of forest “removed” based on figures found in Volume 2, Chapter 10 of the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”).

[3] Village sizes from the Census Bureau: Agana: 2,333,830, Mongmong-Toto-Maite: 4,785,756 m².  Total: 7,119,586 m² or 1,760 acres.

[4] Vol. 10, Guam Territory Agencies p.  167.

[5] Vol. 10, Chapt. 10, p. 10-178.

[6] Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-169 & 10-90.

[7] Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-169.

[8] Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-169.

[9] EIS, Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-178 & 10-122.

[10] EIS, Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-178 & 10-139.

[11] EIS, Vol. 10, Guam Territory Agencies p.  167.

[12] EIS, Vol. 10, Fed. Agencies p. 66.

[13] EIS, Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-178.

[14] EIS, Vol. 2, Chapt. 10, p. 10-159.

As part of its continued efforts to engage and educate the community on the impacts of the proposed buildup, We Are Guåhan is sponsoring its second set of Heritage Hikes: Un Nuebu na Inatan.

HIKE SCHEDULE

March 12, 2011 – Tumon Bay (Difficulty: Easy. Duration: 1 -2 hours)

Meet at Ypao Beach (near the Main Pavillion).

March 19, 2011 – Pågat Village (Difficulty: Medium. Duration: 2 – 3 hours)

Meet at Pågat trailhead along The Back Road.

March 26, 2011 – Cetti / Sella Bay (Difficulty: Hard. Duration: 4 – 5 hours)

Meet at Cetti Bay parking lot.

WHEN: The show-time for all hikes is 8:45am, go-time 9:00am.

WHAT TO BRING: All participants must bring LOTS OF WATER. Participants are encouraged to bring sun block, bug repellant and light snacks or lunches.

WHAT TO WEAR: With the exception of the Tumon Bay hike, all participants should BRING GLOVES. There will be sword-grass and or jagged rocks on some areas of the hikes. Participants hiking to Pågat should wear tennis / hiking shoes, shorts and a comfortable shirt. Participants are encouraged to wear long pants, tennis shoes / hiking shoes and long-sleeved shirts for the Cetti / Sella Bay Hike.

Swimming is an option at all sites and so come prepared with appropriate clothes and towels if you’ d like to swim.

HIKE DESCRIPTIONS

On the first hike, Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua will provide a fresh historical overview of an area that many Guam residents are familiar with: Tumon Bay. Dr. Bevacqua will discuss the ancient history of Tumon, it’ s destruction during the Spanish-Chamorro War, and how its beauty led to it be “ acquired” by DoD after World War II.

The second hike will be to the area where DoD is planning on building a firing complex: Pågat Village. Dr. Bevacqua will discuss the cultural and historic significance of the area, as well as DoD’ s proposed plans to build a firing range complex.

The third and final hike will be to Cetti Bay and Sella Bay. In addition to the cultural significance of the area, Sella Bay is a site that DoD planned on “ acquiring” for military purposes during the Vietnam War. Dr. Bevacqua will talk about the efforts of the community, the Guam Legislature, and the lawsuit that stopped DoD from turning the historic site into an ammunition wharf.

If you have questions about the Heritage Hikes, please contact leevin@weareguahan.com

Si Yu’ os Ma’ ase,

We Are Guåhan

www.youtube.com/watch?v=T68Bo7lE2S8

Almost one year exactly after the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, We Are Guåhan has joined the Guam Preservation Trust and National Trust for Historic Preservation in a lawsuit against DoD.  This lawsuit is about Pågat, but it is not just about Pågat.  This lawsuit is also about DoD deciding that “operational efficiency” was more important than the requests of our Legislature, our Governor, our Congresswoman and our community.  In the name of military convenience, DoD has broken promises and, as will be shown in this lawsuit, it has broken the law.

How can we expect DoD to voluntarily help us pay for the 9 new schools and 500 additional hospital beds that will be needed outside the fence when a lawsuit is required to force DoD to follow the law?

To be clear, this lawsuit is about protecting Pågat, a site that has great cultural and historical significance to our island.  But to be equally as clear, We Are Guåhan has and will continue to oppose the buildup as proposed.  We are here, and we will use every tool that is available to us to protect our home, including legal action.

For copies of the Complaint, other court documents, and press releases, visit: http://www.savepagatvillage.com

As part of its continued efforts to engage and educate the community on the impacts of the proposed buildup, We Are Guåhan is sponsoring “Heritage Hikes: Tungo’ i Estoriå-ta” throughout the month of November. These hikes will focus on sites that will be affected by the proposed buildup (Pågat and Mount Lamlam), as well as historic sites that were previously threatened by proposed military expansion (Cetti and Sella Bay). Professor Michael Lujan Bevacqua will be giving information on the history of each site throughout the hike.