Hello John-

The Young Democrats of America joined the Young Democrats of Hawai‘i  Young Democrats of America Pacific Region and the entire Young Democrats of America organization in calling on the United States Navy, at the direction of President Joseph R. Biden, to immediately relocate the fuel above the Halawa Shaft Well in Halawa, O‘ahu, and complete a comprehensive assessment of the threat this fuel has on O‘ahu’s natural resources and infrastructure, including environmental impacts, and potable water supply. 

Access to clean water is a fundamental human right. Our country has had a number of incidents in places like Flint, Michigan and Denmark, South Carolina, where communities of color have their potable water contaminated, as well as the Indigenous People whose water has been polluted by pipelines, and still to this day do not have drinkable water. We cannot let the people of O‘ahu become another one of these statistics. The U.S. Navy and the Biden Administration have a responsibility to this community to make sure they can continue to maintain their health and well being.

Members of the military, their family members, residents of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, and surrounding communities, pleaded for accommodations from the beginning of this public health crisis. Several individuals sought urgent medical attention after distress and pain related to ingestion of the contaminated water. They reported concerns over hygiene resulting from the lack of potable water in their homes, and a plethora of other issues relating to the contamination of their water supply. Yet, the U.S. Navy was slow in response, oftentimes following the lead of the U.S. Army. On December 3rd, nearly one week after the reports of contamination, the U.S. Army and Navy then began authorizing individual procurement of alternative housing.

While this disaster has mostly impacted military residents, it has foreshadowed a looming water contamination crisis for a quarter of local residents on O‘ahu. Residents of O‘ahu deserve to know the current effects and threats to their personal health and safety and the U.S. Navy’s action steps to prioritize the health, safety, and preservation of their home. This action would restore trust and integrity in the U.S. Navy, military, and government by acknowledging their part in creating this imminent hazard and affirming their commitment to the health and wellbeing of the residents of Hawai‘i.

Sign our petition now to help the protect the residents of O'ahu.

Democratically yours,

Quentin Wathum-Ocama

YDA, President