English Below
Campaña de escribir cartas para ayudar a resolver la actual crisis de salud en Vieques
El pueblo de Vieques sufre de una amplia gama de enfermedades graves debido a la contaminación con metales pesados luego de más de seis décadas de bombardeos por la Marina de Guerra de los Estados Unidos con todo desde uranio reducido hasta napalm. En el 1999, los residentes de Vieques eligieron al bufete de abogados de John Arthur Eaves para representarlos en sus reclamaciones por indemnización ante el gobierno federal. Desde entonces, unas 8,000 víctimas de la exposición a sustancias tóxicas militares en Vieques se han unido a esta demanda. El caso está ahora pendiente ante el tribunal federal en Puerto Rico.
En respuesta a la demanda de los Viequenses, el gobierno de los Estados Unidos -en representación de la Marina- ha levantado la anticuada defensa de la llamada “inmunidad soberana”, que proviene de la época medieval y dicta que “el Rey no puede hacer mal”, Debemos exigir que el Departamento de Justicia de Obama abandone el uso de esta doctrina anticuada que está siendo utilizada para intentar pisotear los derechos de los Viequenses. Debemos exigir que se le permita a los Viequenses tener su día en corte.
También debemos exigir que la Agencia Federal para Sustancias Tóxicas y el Registro de Enfermedades (ATSDR por su siglas en inglés) retire inmediatamente sus desacreditados informes del 2002 y 2003 que erróneamente alegan que no existe ninguna relación entre la contaminación militar con metales pesados y las enfermedades y las enfermedades y muertes sufridas en Vieques. Estos estudios del ATSDR representan la piedra angular del caso del gobierno federal en contra de la indemnización a las víctimas. El bufete de abogados The Eaves Law Firm insta a que todos sus clientes y otros residentes se comuniquen inmediatamente con la Casa Blanca y con el Congreso para pedir acción sobre la crisis de salud. Abajo encontraran mensajes modelos. Favor de enviar una copia de sus cartas al bufete de abogados a: Johnjr@eaveslaw.com
Escriba sus cartas y mensajes de correo electrónico al Presidente Obama, al Congreso, y a la EPA:
The White House – “We need help with the health situation on our island”
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
To send e-mail: http://www. whitehouse.gov/contact/
Congressman Alan Grayson – “Thank you for pressuring the ATSDR until the withdrawal of its prior studies regarding Vieques”
Office of Congressman Alan Grayson
1605 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2176
Fax: (202) 225-0999
To send e-mail: https://forms.house.gov/grayson/contact-form.shtml
Congressman Steven R. Rothman – “Thank you for pressuring the ATSDR until the withdrawal of its prior studies regarding Vieques”
2303 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5061
Fax: (202) 225-5851
To send e-mail: https://forms.house.gov/rothman/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson – “Please stop the proposed burning”
Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: (202) 564-4700
To send e-mail: http://publicaccess.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/publicaccess.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
Resident Commisioner Pedro Pierluisi – “Thank you for pressuring the ATSDR until the withdrawal of its prior studies regarding Vieques”
1218 Longworth HOB 250 Calle Fortaleza
Washington, DC 20515 Old San Juan, PR 00901
Phone: (202) 225-2615 Phone: (787) 723-6333
Fax: (202) 225-2154 Fax: (787) 729-7738
To send e-mail: http://pierluisi.house.gov/email.html
Escriba a sus pastores y pídales que llamen a los representantes de sus iglesias en Washington, DC para solicitar apoyo a Vieques. Llame también sus contactos en los medios noticiosos.
Message for The White House – “We need help with the health situation in Vieques. The Navy created a health crisis and they need to address it. President Obama pledged to address the health situation in Vieques. The time to do so is now.”
Message to Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) and to Congressman Steve R. Rothman (D-NJ) – “Thank you for asking t he ATSDR to reexamine the agency’s public health assessments in Vieques. We need you to pressure the agency until it withdraws its prior health assessments in Vieques.”
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson – “We need you to intervene and stop the proposed burning of some 200 acres of vegetation in Vieques. This proposed burning will only add to the health crisis in Vieques by further spreading toxins and chemicals.”
Resident Commisioner Pedro Pierluisi –
(In English) – “We need you to make sure the requested congressional field hearings in Vieques about the health crisis and the ATSDR take place. We also need you to pressure the ATSDR until it withdraws its prior health assessments in Vieques and to ask President Obama that he fulfill his pledge to address the health situation in Vieques now.
(en español) – “Gracias por solicitar, junto al Congresista Grayson, que se realicen vistas congresionales sobre los estudios del ATSDR en Vieques y la crisis de salud. Le pedimos que trabaje para que esas vistas se conviertan en realidad. Le pedimos también que presione al ATSDR a que retire sus estudios previos sobre Vieques y que le solicite al Presidente Obama que haga cumplir su palabra de atender la crisis de salud en Vieques.”
ENGLISH
Letter-writing Campaign to Help Resolve the Current Health Crisis in Vieques
The people of Vieques suffer from a wide range of serious diseases due to heavy metal contamination of their island after over six decades of bombardment by the U.S. Navy with everything from depleted uranium to napalm. In 1999, residents of Vieques chose the Eaves Law Firm to represent their claims for compensation from the U.S. government. Since then, almost 8,000 victims of exposure to military toxics in Vieques have joined this lawsuit. Litigation is now pending in federal court in Puerto Rico.
In response to the litigation, the U.S. government -in representation of the U.S. N avy- has claimed “sovereign immunity”, the antiquated defense that asserts “the king can do no wrong.” We must demand that the Obama Justice Department abandon the use of this antiquated contrivance to thwart justice. We must demand that Viequenses be allowed their day in court.
We must also demand that the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) immediately retract its fatally flawed 2002-2003 reports that erroneously claimed that there is no connection between the heavy metal contamination and the illnesses and deaths suffered on Vieques. (The ATSDR is part of the Center for Disease Control or CDC). The ATSDR studies are the cornerstone of the government’s case against compensating the victims. The Eaves Law Firm urges that all its clients and other residents contact the White House and Congress immediately to ask for action on the health crisis. Sample messages are below. Please send a copy of your letters to the Eaves Law Firm: Johnjr@eaveslaw.com
Address your letters and email messages to President Obama, Congress, and the EPA:
The White House – “We need help with the health situation on our island”
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
To send e-mail: http://www. whitehouse.gov/contact/
Congressman Alan Grayson – “Thank you for pressuring the ATSDR until the withdrawal of its prior studies regarding Vieques”
Office of Congressman Alan Grayson
1605 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2176
Fax: (202) 225-0999
To send e-mail: https://forms.house.gov/grayson/contact-form.shtml
Congressman Steven R. Rothman – “Thank you for pressuring the ATSDR until the withdrawal of its prior studies regarding Vieques”
2303 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5061
Fax: (202) 225-5851
To send e-mail: https://forms.house.gov/rothman/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson – “Please stop the proposed burning”
Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: (202) 564-4700
To send e-mail: http://publicaccess.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/publicaccess.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
Resident Commisioner Pedro Pierluisi – “Thank you for pressuring the ATSDR until the withdrawal of its prior studies regarding Vieques”
1218 Longworth HOB 250 Calle Fortaleza
Washington, DC 20515 Old San Juan, PR 00901
Phone: (202) 225-2615 Phone: (787) 723-6333
Fax: (202) 225-2154 Fax: (787) 729-7738
To send e-mail: http://pierluisi.house.gov/email.html
Contact your pastors and ask them to call their clerical representatives in Washington about Vieques and call all of your contacts in media organizations.
Message for The White House – “We need help with the health situation in Vieques. The Navy created a health crisis and they need to address it. President Obama pledged to address the health situation in Vieques. The time to do so is now.”
Message to Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) and to Congressman Steve R. Rothman (D-NJ) – “Thank you for asking t he ATSDR to reexamine the agency’s public health assessments in Vieques. We need you to pressure the agency until it withdraws its prior health assessments in Vieques.”
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson – “We need you to intervene and stop the proposed burning of some 200 acres of vegetation in Vieques. This proposed burning will only add to the health crisis in Vieques by further spreading toxins and chemicals.”
Resident Commisioner Pedro Pierluisi –
(In English) – “We need you to make sure the requested congressional field hearings in Vieques about the health crisis and the ATSDR take place. We also need you to pressure the ATSDR until it withdraws its prior health assessments in Vieques and to ask President Obama that he fulfill his pledge to address the health situation in Vieques now.
(en español) – “Gracias por solicitar, junto al Congresista Grayson, que se realicen vistas congresionales sobre los estudios del ATSDR en Vieques y la crisis de salud. Le pedimos que trabaje para que esas vistas se conviertan en realidad. Le pedimos también que presione al ATSDR a que retire sus estudios previos sobre Vieques y que le solicite al Presidente Obama que haga cumplir su palabra de atender la crisis de salud en Vieques.”