Poison Paradise Response
Vieques residents have offered many differing and passionate opinions about a news report on CNN regarding contamination and possible health issues on the island.
The cable news network CNN produced and aired a two-part report on the class-action lawsuit involving 7,000 Vieques inhabitants against the federal government. The suit claims the military's contamination of Vieques is responsible for negative effects on the health of island residents.
The report aired on February 1st and 2nd as part of the Campbell Brown program. The 13 minutes of airtime featured interviews with a local family, a military veteran, an attorney, a doctor and an environmental scientist. The report appeared to suggest that military activities are responsible for many illnesses in locals including cancer and hypertension.
The island's response to the report is greatly varied. Opinions range from strong support to ardent opposition. Many feel that the broadcast will attract much-needed attention to the issues of health and environmental justice. Others have expressed that the report will alarm possible visitors and hurt the tourism industry.
Vieques residents also hold mixed attitudes regarding the connection between military training exercises and health problems, those agreeing outnumbering those opposed by a wide margin.
Some have criticized the class action lawsuit of 7,000 residents as a means to extract a large settlement from the government. Others are greatly troubled by a lack of due process as the US government has claimed sovereign immunity in response to the lawsuit, preventing the case from appearing in federal court. Many insist that all the facts are not known and that it is not yet possible to make an informed decision.
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Comments on the Web
CNN Special Investigation Comments
Opinion Survey
What is your opinion regarding the broadcast of 'Poisoned Paradise?' Will the report benefit or harm the island, and how? Is there a health crisis on Vieques, and is the military responsible? What do you think about the lawsuit and the government's response?
Comments (1)
Barry Nelson on February 7, 2010
The Viequense people should have there day in court like everyone else. We need to know definitively the extent that the health situation relates to the bombing and we need to know what the current risks are now that the bombing has ended. I hope that a report like this will be coming soon. In the meantime I think the mayor could spend some time lobbying the governor to get some more doctors to Vieques and begin giving regular checkups and cancer screenings to every person who wants one. Is anyone out there a grant writer. Perhaps we could get some private money to help fund this.