By George Gold, guest contributor
Beale Air Force Base, just outside Marysville California, has as a mission to “Deliver persistent integrated reconnaissance and combat power.”
In September of 2022, the U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report entitled, “The National Security Snapshot CLIMATE CHANGE RISKS TO NATIONAL SECURITY.” This report can be found here: https://www.gao.gov/assets/730/722656.pdf
Flooding, Melting polar ice, Migration trends, Rising sea levels, Catastrophic storms, and disruption of Base Utilities.
Some of the environmental concerns associated with the U.S. military presence and operations
are:
- Base Operations. U.S. military bases, both domestically and overseas, require vast amounts of resources, including energy, water, and land. The construction and maintenance of these bases can lead to habitat destruction, deforestation, and ecosystem disruption.
- Training. Military training exercises often involve the use of live ammunition, explosives, and heavy equipment. These activities can cause soil erosion, damage to vegetation, and contamination of soil and water with hazardous materials.
- Toxic Chemicals. Historically, the U.S. military has used a variety of toxic chemicals, such as Agent Orange and depleted uranium, in its operations. These substances have long-lasting and devastating effects on the environment and human health.
- Hazardous Waste. Over time, military activities generate significant amounts of hazardous waste, including chemicals, fuels, and munitions. Improper disposal and management of these wastes can lead to soil and water contamination.
- Air and Water Pollution. The operation of military vehicles, aircraft, and ships often contribute to air and water pollution through the emission of greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and other pollutants.
- Military Bases Abroad. U.S. military bases overseas often lead to tensions with local communities and governments over land use, environmental damage, and contamination issues.
- Climate Change. The U.S. military is a significant consumer of fossil fuels, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Chico Peace Alliance Protest at Beale Air Force Base
This past September 2023 about a dozen members of the Chico Peace Alliance travelled to Beale’s front gate to deliver a message to pilots and support workers that is a little different than the expressed mission of Beale Air Force Base.
We wanted to share our views not often noted by the defense establishment about the hazards that are caused by the United States military industrial complex. The view that points out that peace is more important than war, and that the US defense infrastructure causes a huge negative environmental impact right here in Marysville and around the world.
We arrived just before shift change so that our signs of peace, love and misunderstanding could be seen as they left the base.
Cross that white line as you approach the Front Gate and you can be arrested for trespassing. Where’s that white line? The military police car stationed at the gate will be glad to show you.
We decided on this visit we would stay behind the line and thereby we displayed several large banners along both sides of that entry / exit road with our message of peace love and understanding. And, a few of the departing workers actually flashed us the peace sign! But whether flashing a peace sign or not, EVERYONE leaving the Base, saw us, our signs, our banners, and thereby our message.
And we weren’t alone. Aside from the Base military police officer / car that was parked just on the public side of the white line, the entire time we were there, there were three California Highway Patrol cars and one County Sherriff’s car that parked themselves just about 30 yards from our main set up location.
The United States Military budget for 2023 is $857.9 billion. So, let’s see, if we just cut that budget by 10%, that would mean that some 85 billion dollars could be used to provide food for the shocking rise in child hunger across the United States, alleviate the crushing debt of so many students, solve the devastation of homelessness, work to address the negative impact of climate change, hmm, what a concept.
