Dear _______________
As one of your constituents, I am writing you out of deep concern
for the environmental contamination that was left behind in the
former U.S. military bases in the Philippines.
Serious groundwater and soil contamination at Clark and Subic
is documented in reports by the U.S. General Accounting Office,
World Health Organization, independent U.S. and Philippine experts,
two U.S. based environmental firms, and the Department of Defense’s
internal reports. For instance, a 1992 GAO report stated that
the environmental problems in the Philippines approach “Superfund
proportions.”
Already, there are signs that the contamination has seeped into
the nearby communities, affecting the health and safety of hundreds
of people.
A health survey conducted by a Canadian health organization in
1998 revealed high rates of health problems in communities surrounding
Clark.
Already over one hundred people from around Clark and Subic have
died from illnesses believed to be linked to the toxic waste.
Currently, over one hundred people are suffering from sicknesses
attributed to the same problem.
For instance, one little boy who was born in the former air base,
Abraham Taruc, cannot walk, talk, or eat solid foods. His sickness
is traced to the water that he and his mother drank, which was
later found to contain significant levels of mercury and nitrate.
What is ironic is that his mother considers herself lucky. Of
nine children who were born in a neighboring area with similar
nervous system problems, Abraham is the only one who has survived.
The hundreds of sicknesses and deaths around Clark and Subic
is a tragedy and a signal for immediate action.
How can our country claim to be a global environmental leader
if we just walk away from a mess left behind in a friend’s backyard,
especially when that friend does not have the capabilities nor
resources to deal with it. It is in the best interests of the
United States to address this problem, to maintain the good relations
with the Philippines that it has enjoyed for almost 100 years.
I urge you to support legislation, (or in the case of the House-to
co-sponsor Resolution 355 that Congressman Underwood has introduced)
that addresses this problem.
Can I count on your support? I look forward to your response
to my concerns.
Respectfully,
Your name
Address/city/state/zip
