Attend the July 10-12 National Assembly Conf. in Pittsburg

U.S. wars of intervention, mass murder and occupation are crimes against humanity. We must build a broad, united mass movement of the American people to end them.
U.S. wars of intervention, mass murder and occupation are crimes against humanity. We must build a broad, united mass movement of the American people to end them. How can this be accomplished? Share your ideas and proposals at the Second Open National Antiwar Conference sponsored by the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations at La Roche College, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 10-12, 2009.

We demand:

- Stop the U.S. Wars and Occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan! Bring All the Troops Home Now!
- No to War Against Iran!
- No to U.S. Aid and Support for Israel’s Occupation of Palestine!
- End the Siege of Gaza!
- Trillions for Jobs, Pensions, Health Care, Homes, Education and the Environment! Not a Cent for the War Machine or for Bailouts to Wall Street and the Banks!
The purpose of the July conference is to plan actions to advance these demands. The warmakers never rest in prosecuting their wars and interventions and they accord no respite for the victims of such aggression. So there must be no “time out” or drift for the U.S. antiwar movement. We must stay out in the streets, mounting ever larger protests and bringing to heel those who are committed to expanding the U.S. empire, whatever the cost to humanity. That is what we will be talking about on July 10-12.

Our focus is Iraq and Afghanistan -- where hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops, and contractors/mercenaries are at war – and Palestine, the victim of the U.S.- financed Israeli occupation. At the same time, Iran is faced with sanctions, threats and preparations for murderous assault if Washington and its partner, Israel, choose to play the “military card.” Meanwhile, Pakistan, bombed by the Bush regime, suffers the same acts of war under Obama’s lead.

We say NO to all these acts of aggression and occupation! For the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops, bases, and weapons. Out Now! Washington’s unprecedented military spending and corporate malfeasance – trillions for death, destruction and vast riches for the few – have lowered living standards and curtailed rights. All of this has contributed to a massive global economic crisis. Working people face depression-like conditions as millions lose jobs, homes, pensions and health care. The nation’s infrastructure, including schools, inner cities, hospitals, public transportation, and more, is in rapid decline. Misery, deprivation and poverty rise as social programs are cut, yet the U.S. government appropriates unlimited funds for wars and occupations.

The National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations is a growing network of local, state and national organizations. Endorsed by 600 groups and prominent individuals, it was founded in June, 2008 at a national conference attended by over 400 activists in Cleveland, Ohio.

Our central objective remains to unify the diverse forces that make up today’s antiwar movement in periodic, independent, broad and massive demonstrations that challenge the warmakers and demand an end to their policies of aggression, intervention and occupation.

During the past year we participated in antiwar protests at the Democratic and Republican Party conventions, supported coordinated antiwar actions in scores of cities in October and December 2008, collaborated with national and local organizations in building the March 21, 2009 mobilizations marking the sixth year of the invasion of Iraq and participated in organizing the April 4, 2009 New York antiwar protests.

Our conferences are conducted democratically, with all groups and individuals having the right to submit action proposals for discussion, debate and vote. Decisions are made by majority rule based on one person, one vote. These are invaluable tools for the antiwar movement to be the inclusive, independent mass force we must become to stop the warmakers.

We have learned from the struggles for civil, women’s, trade union, and LGBT rights and against the Vietnam War that successful challenges to the status quo are the product of collective, united, mass social movements. In the face of escalating wars and global economic crisis, we will convene again in July in Pittsburgh to strive for the unity required to end the bloodshed and occupations and replace current U.S. foreign policy with one that promotes peace and respect for the right of self-determination.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Friday Night, July 10

7 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Roundtable Discussion on the question: "What Can Be Done to Broaden and Unite the Antiwar Movement?" with Speakers from Local Antiwar Coalitions and Key Constituency Groups – students, trade unionists, communities of color, veterans and military families, faith groups, immigrants. Questions to be discussed: How can we build the antiwar movement among the named groups? What can be done to overcome the divisions in the antiwar movement?

Saturday Morning, July 11

9 a.m. -- 9:05 a.m.: Welcoming Remarks, Molly Rush, one of the Plowshares 8 (which included Phil and Daniel Berrigan) who protested against nuclear warheads at a General Electric plant in King of Prussia, Montgomery County, in September 1980; founder of Pittsburgh’s Thomas Merton Center in 1973 and leader of peace and justice movement
9:05 a.m. — 10:05 a.m.: Keynote Speakers
Subject: “Collapse of the U.S. Economy While the U.S. Government Wages Wars on Several Fronts” by Michael Zweig, professor of economics and Director of the Center for Study of Working Class Life at the State University of New York at Stony Brook; active in American Federation of Teachers Local 2190; National Steering Committee member, U.S. Labor Against the War; articles published in The American Economic Review, The American Economist, Labor Notes, Monthly Review, The Nation, New Labor Forum, Rethinking Marxism, Review of Black Political Economy, Review of Radical Political Economics, Tikkun, and UE News; author of “What’s Class Got to Do With It: American Society in the Twenty-First Century” and “The Working Class Majority: America’s Best Kept Secret”; executive producer of the film Meeting Face to Face: the Iraq–U.S. Labor Solidarity Tour; Appeared on Bill Moyers Journal, Democracy Now!, CNN Radio and Al Jazeera English
Steve Early, Labor Journalist; for 27 years was International Representative for the Communications Workers of America and prior to that a staff representative for the United Mine Workers; author of Embedded With Organized Labor: Journalistic Reflections on the Class War at Home
Subject: “Strengthening the Movement to End the Occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine” by Zaineb Alani, member of the National Assembly Administrative Body; Iraqi poet and activist; saw firsthand the impact of two successive wars and has 40 extended family members still living in Iraq; Fulbright Scholar; her anthology of poems, “The Words of an Iraqi War Survivor and More” was published by Xlibris Corporation; serves as liaison to the international peace movement.
10:05 a.m.—12 noon: Discussion and debate of action proposals submitted by conference attendees
12 noon –1:30 p.m.: Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Workshops I
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Continuation of discussion and debate; vote on action proposals (one person, one vote)
6:00 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Dinner
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Public Meeting – Speakers Include Gail Austin, Black Voices for Peace; Christian Parenti, correspondent for The Nation and author of The Freedom: Shadows and Hallucinations in Occupied Iraq; Chris Gauvreau, National Assembly Continuations Body, CT United for Peace, Builder of New England United; Monadel Herzallah, President, Arab American Union Member Council; Brian Becker, National Coordinator, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism); Jorge Mujica, one of the country’s most important leaders in the struggle to defend immigrant rights; Sara Flounders, Stop War on Iran Campaign, International Action Center; Ahmed Shawki, Steering Committee, National Council of Arab-Americans, Editor, Haymarket Books; Michael Schwartz, Professor of Sociology and Faculty Director of the Undergraduate College of Global Studies at Stony Brook University, author of War Without End: The Iraq War in Context, his writings on Iraq have appeared on numerous internet sites, including Tom Dispatch, Asia Times, MotherJones.com, and ZNet, and in print in Contexts, Against the Current, The International Socialist Review, and Z Magazine. (entertainment to be announced)
9 p.m.: Informal Socializing; Caucuses

Sunday Morning, July 12

9 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.: Workshops II
10:35 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.: “New Challenges Facing the Antiwar Movement” by Michael T. McPhearson, Veterans For Peace Executive Director; Co-Chair, United for Peace and Justice
10:55 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: “An Assessment of the First Year of the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations” by Marilyn Levin, Member, National Assembly Administrative Body; Greater Boston United for Justice with Peace
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Adoption of Structure Document
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.: Lunch
1:15 p.m. -- 2:00 p.m.: Election of Administrative Body
2:00 p.m.: Conference Adjourns
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.: Administrative Body Meets to Elect Secretary, Treasurer and Subcommittee

CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS:

1. Afghanistan and Pakistan: Washington’s Escalating War Policies
2. The Economy and the War Budget: Attacks on Workers and the Poor
3. The Future of the Earth: Climate Crisis, Global Warming and the Wars
4. The Palestinian Struggle After Gaza
5. What We Can Learn From the Movement to End the War in Vietnam
6. Mass Action: Central Strategy for Ending the Wars and Occupations
7. What It's Like To Be a Deployed Soldier, Vet, or Family Member Opposed to the Wars
8. Haiti is Ourselves: U.S. Role in 100 Years of Oppression & Similarity to Other Struggles
9. Defending Immigrant Rights Against ICE Raids and Unlawful and Indefinite Detentions
10. Torture, Renditions, Unlawful Detentions, Guantanamo, and Wrongful Prosecutions: Holding Those Who Give the Orders and CarriyThem Out Accountable
11. Campus Antiwar, Counter-Recruitment & Palestinian Rights Organizing
12. Iraq Today: A Land of Blood and Oil
13. Abuse and Discrimination Against Women, Gays and Lesbians in the Military
14. The Continued Threat of Nuclear Weapons: Washington’s Attempt to Disarm Other Nations While the U.S. Retains Its Stockpile
15. Racism: A Cornerstone of U.S. Foreign Policy
16. Why We March and Lobby
17. Is War a Force That Gives Us Meaning?
18. New Weapons of War: Crimes Against Humanity
19. Iran: The Key to Understanding U.S. Policy in the Middle East
20. Pirate Panic: What is the Truth Behind the U.S. War on Somalia?
21. Assault on Civil Liberties Since 9/11

JROTC update

On May 19, the Duluth school board accepted a compromise recommendation to phase out JROTC. Members Nancy Nilsen and Tim Grover had pushed to temporarily spare JROTC so that this year's juniors could complete the full 4 year program. The compromise plan would, in theory, end JROTC after the 2009-2010 school year, but effectively sets the stage for years of emotional pleas from junior class after junior class, and years of school board stalling tactics.

As part of the plan, one of the JROTC instructors will likely lose her job. Jackie Ring, a fully-credentialed teacher who was brought on board a few years ago under pressure from the union, will go. Peter Palen, whose only teaching certification is from the Navy, will stay. Questions to the board about this decision were left predictably unanswered.

Adeline Wright spoke on behalf of parents who don't think sparing JROTC is a good idea (statement below).

The big surprise came from a woman who took the podium and identified herself as a former employee of the Navy Recruiting Command. She praised JROTC as a "great program", but agreed with Adeline that if the district is short on cash, it should "go into books" and not JROTC. She also explained that JROTC cadets do NOT have an edge when it comes to applying for the Naval Academy, which is one of the arguments that spared JROTC in the first place. (Truth in Recruiting activists had pointed this out months ago, but this time board members seemed to listen).

The details of the compromise are not set in stone. The board won't formalize the 2009-2010 school budget until its June meeting. In the meantime, keep the pressure on. Tell the board and administration that they should close JROTC at the end of this year, but if they insist on phasing it out to do so responsibly. This means:
1. Close JROTC enrollment to new students; and
2. Make sure that the one teacher they keep to instruct the class is fully credentialed and union!

Duluth School Board
Mary Cameron (At Large): mary.cameron@ duluth.k12. mn.us; 341-8893
Laura Condon (District 4): laura.condon@ duluth.k12. mn.us; 624-7045
Gary Glass (At Large): gary.glass@duluth. k12.mn.us; 525-2384
Tim Grover (District 3): tim.grover@duluth. k12.mn.us; 722-5961
Nancy Nilsen (At Large): nancy.nilsen@ duluth.k12. mn.us; 628-2125
Judy Seliga Punyko (District 2): Judy.SeligaPunyko@ duluth.k12. mn.us; 525-4688
Ann Wasson (District 1): ann.wasson@duluth. k12.mn.us; 728-1931

Assistant Superintendent
Joe Hill: joe.hill@duluth. k12.mn.us; 336-8739
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Adeline Wright's statement to the Duluth school board

As the mother of a Duluth Public school student and a successful local business owner, I am concerned about your recent decision to fund JROTC for another year and maybe more, even as you have cut specialist time in grade schools and made deep cuts to co-curricular activities.

I say this with respect for the JROTC students who are here tonight; they are upstanding kids. But it is important to look at the big picture.

In order to fund the $170,000 JROTC program, you will have to make that money up from somewhere else. Does this explain the $200,000 in cuts that we read about in the paper this morning? If so, this move seems short sighted considering sports and other co-curricular programs promote self esteem and teambuilding equal to JROTC and, as far as I know, are not struggling with enrollment. It’s my understanding that JROTC is at 50% enrollment and decreasing every year. Why is it being singled out among all of these other good programs?
Many of my federal tax dollars are already going to the military. Since the military considers JROTC one of its best recruiting programs, it seems that we should ask them to pick up the cost of the program rather than pay for it out of our scarce district resources.

JROTC is clearly important to many students, but you can’t deny that it is controversial and at this point it doesn’t make fiscal sense. Members of the board have said that they want to keep JROTC in fairness to the juniors in the program. But I encourage the board and administration to consider the worth of your time and realize that if you keep JROTC, you will be faced with the very same emotional and time-consuming debate about next year’s juniors, and the next year’s.

It's a hard decision and some kids might be disappointed, but don’t forget about all of the thousands of kids who are not participating in JROTC and are going to lose out on programs that are just as dear to them as JROTC is for these students. Please stop funding JROTC at the end of this year. Thank you.

Report on the May NAWC Meeting

NAWC MINUTES 5/17/09
Present: Joel K, Scott B, Carl S, Adam R, Peter K, Joan N, Sue D

Walk for the Lake: We voted to sponsor Nukewatch's annual July 19 Walk for the Lake to draw attention to the toxic munitions scrap barrels dumped in Lake Superior near Duluth's drinking water intakes in the 50's and calling for their removal. This includes a $50 donation from NAWC. Also, Joel K is organizing a "Toxic Monster Bash" party on the evening of July 18.
Smadar Lavie: Smadar Lavie is an ethnic minority Jewish Israeli who is a visiting professor at Macalester College in Minneapolis. We have met with her before and agreed to have her up to give a forum on the issue of minorities in Israel and solidarity with Palestine. She is available the week of June 15-19. We determined to seek out a venue, possibly the Friends Meeting House, and confirm a date and time with Smadar. Joel K. will do outreach to local churches, and Scott will outreach to Chum.
Financial Report: Peter reported that we have $1034 in the account and $100 in petty cash.
Minnesota Peace Project: A new state-wide project to lobby Congress against the wars is underway. NAWC agreed to partner with the Minnesota Peace Project in their efforts.
Counter-Recruiting: There will be a counter-recruitment activist conference in Chicago on July 17-18. NAWC approved $160 for assistance to bring two local youth to the conference. Interested parties should contact Joel K.
There is no news on the Duluth School District cutting JROTC. The decision was delayed at the last school board meeting, and a final decision probably will not take place until the June meeting. The committee will work with Progressive Action to meet with school board candidates on the issue and has delivered letters from high school students and parents to board members. More letters are encouraged. Joel K agreed to put some letters on the NAWC blog.
National Assembly: The national organization attempting to untie the anti-war movement will be having its conference July 10-12 in Pittsburgh. We endorsed the conference and approved at least $100 for travel assistance for those going, with the final amount to be determined at the next meeting. We will discuss further what to bring to the Assembly at the June Meeting. Joel and Adam agreed to talk to the Central Labor Body about sending a report, endorsement or representative. It was determined that we will hold a joint report-back session with those going to this conference and the counter-recruitment conference later in the summer or early fall.
Iraq Moratorium: In order to revitalize the third Friday actions, it was determined to hold a summer forum series immediately following the Superior Grandmothers for Peace picket at 5 PM each month. We will switch off locations between the Red Mug in Superior and Amazing Grace in Duluth. June's topic will be Israel and Palestine, hopefully with Smadar Lavie as a guest speaker (update: she is unavailable that evening), and it will take place at the Red Mug. July's will be at 5:15 at Amazing Grace, on Health Care Not Warfare. August will be on Soldiers' Mental Health, location tbd.
Military Families Speak Out: Joan reported that MFSO has taken a position for immediate withdrawl from Afghanistan. After polling, 84% of the membership was opposed to the war in Afghanistan. Joel and Joan agreed to work on some press statements before the deployment of Duluth's 114th Fighter Wing to Afghanistan, Joel agreed to look into getting a banner with the GI Rights Hotline on it, and Adam agreed to develop more literature on Afghanistan.
Fall Project: It's a good bet that the National Assembly will call for October local protests, and we should have one regardless. To build for it, we discussed trying to bring in a big-name speaker on Afghanistan, namely Andrew Bacevich. Joan agreed to try and reach out to him and determine what it would take to get him here. We decided to explore joint sponsorship with the St. Scholastica Center for Peace and Justice.
Announcements: The League of Women Voters is having a meeting on Instant Runoff and Rank Choice Voting on Tuesday, May 19 at 7 PM in the UMD Kirby Student Center Room 311.

Duluth DFL supports the RNC 8 and demands investigation of RNC-related police violence

On May 16, Duluth Democratic-Farmer-Labor party delegates passed two resolutions related to law enforcement actions during the 2008 Republican National Convention in St Paul. The first echoes Amnesty International's call for an independent investigation into charges of police violence and civil liberties violations - a demand that has been widely ignored by the DFL establishment in St Paul and Minneapolis. The second resolution asks DFL gubernatorial hopeful and current Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner to drop charges against the RNC 8, a group of anarchist organizers who were swept up in pre-protest police raids and charged with conspiracy to riot and "furthering terrorism."

Delegate to the 17,000-member Duluth Central Labor Body unanimously condemned the prosecution of the RNC 8 in March. Days after received a copy of the DCLB resolution, Susan Gaertner dropped the most inflammatory terrorism charges against the 8.

Below are the two DFL resolutions.

Resolution for Investigations of Civil Rights Abuses During the RNC

Whereas tens of thousands of Minnesotans were inspired by the war in Iraq and other disastrous policies of the Bush Administration to take part in protests against the Republican National Convention (RNC) when it was held in St Paul on September 1-4, 2008; and
Whereas the RNC was designated a “National Security Event” by the Department of Homeland Security, leading to the heavy influence of Bush-era federal agencies in RNC-related law-enforcement operations; and
Whereas human rights, civil liberties and press freedom organizations have raised serious accusations, supported by video evidence, of excessive police force and civil rights violations against participants in RNC-related protests, including but not limited to: raids on activist homes and confiscation of political literature; surveillance and infiltration of activist groups; the offensive use of chemical irritants, impact rounds, batons, tasers and rubber bullets; mass arrests of activists and passersby; and the detention and harassment of journalists covering the protests; and
Whereas in September of 2008, Amnesty International called for “city and county authorities to ensure that all allegations of ill-treatment and other abuses are impartially investigated, with a review of police tactics and weapons in the policing of demonstrations”; and
Whereas investigations into RNC-related police actions to date have been limited to internal police department reviews and an RNC Commission Report headed by two former prosecutors who interviewed a total of forty law enforcement agents and one activist;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Duluth DFL strongly reaffirms the first amendment rights of all Americans to freely assemble, speak and petition their government for redress; and
Be it further resolved that the Duluth DFL demands a thorough and impartial investigation into accusations of police violence and civil rights abuses against activists during the Republican National Convention in St Paul; for the findings of this investigation to be made public; for responsible parties to be disciplined; and for measures to be put in place to ensure that future police operations in Minnesota respect our constitutionally-guaranteed rights to assembly, speech, and a free press.

Passed by the City of Duluth DFL, in Convention, May 16, 2009, voice vote, one and only one dissenting vote.

Resolution In Support of the RNC 8
and Against The Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act

Whereas, in the days leading up to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in St Paul, local and federal law enforcement agencies carried out a series of raids on activist centers and the private homes of RNC protest organizers, seizing political literature, mobile phones and computers and detaining over one hundred people; and
Whereas, the raids resulted in the arrest of several protest organizers; and
Whereas, on September 3, 2008, Ramsey County prosecutors formally charged Luce Guillen-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald with CONPIRACY TO COMMIT RIOT IN FURTHERANCE OF TERRORISM, without evidence that the eight young activists committed any act of violence; and
Whereas, changes to the Minnesota criminal code under the so-called Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002 threaten free speech and the right to organize by defining acts that “further terrorism” so broadly as to include actions that “disrupt or interfere with the lawful exercise, operation, or conduct of government, lawful commerce, or the right of lawful assembly”; and
Whereas, in December of 2008, Ramsey County prosecutors amended the complaint against the eight activists with three additional felony counts of CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT RIOT, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, and CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IN FURTHERANCE OF TERRORISM; and
Whereas, Ramsey County prosecutors and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s office have consistently and publicly linked civil disobedience with terrorism and violence; and
Whereas, conspiracy charges and the conflation of dissent to violence have historically been used to undermine social movements, and particular the labor movement; and
Whereas, delegates to the Duluth Central Labor Body, recognizing the threat posed by these prosecutions to the right to organize, unanimously approved a resolution on March 12, 2009 condemning the Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act and the prosecution of the RNC 8; and
Whereas, on April 9 of this year Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner responded to pressure from the DCLB and others by dropping terrorism-related charges against the RNC 8, but is moving forward with prosecution under the two remaining felony conspiracy counts;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Duluth DFL affirms the right to organize collectively and calls on Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner to dismiss all charges against Luce Guillen-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald; and
Be it further resolved that the Duluth DFL goes on record as opposing 609.714 of the Minnesota criminal code (“CRIMES COMMITTED IN FURTHERANCE OF TERRORISM”) as a threat to free speech and the right to organize, and calls on Minnesota state legislators to repeal this law with haste.

Passed by the City of Duluth DFL, in Convention, May 16, 2009, voice vote, one and only one dissenting vote.

Tribe to begin removing barrels from Lake Superior near Duluth

The Red Cliff Band of Chippewa will begin removing rusty, half-century- old Department of Defense barrels from Lake Superior near Duluth this summer.

By Mike Simonson/Wisconsin Public Radio

The Red Cliff Band of Chippewa will begin removing rusty, half-century- old Department of Defense barrels from Lake Superior near Duluth this summer.

A report released today says a scan of Lake Superior’s bottom found 591 targets that are probably munitions barrels dumped during the Cold War.

The Red Cliff Band has been investigating the dumping of more than 1,400 barrels a few miles from the Duluth harbor for five years. Now, they’ve signed their largest contract with the Department of Defense -- $1.2 million over the next two years -- to remove about 70 of those barrels and examine the contents to see if they pose a danger to the fish habitat and drinking water of Lake Superior.

This report is the culmination of last year’s lake bottom sonar and camera survey of 96 square miles. It found nearly 600 likely barrels in varying states of rust. Pictures show concrete mixed with what’s being called “munitions debris”...scrap from a 1950’s secret grenade project that the United States wanted to keep secret from the Soviet Union.

For decades, environmental groups have speculated that there is more than concrete and metal in the 60 gallon drums. Now, through a DOD program that pays to clean up ammo dumps on reservations and ceded Indian territories, investigators hope to have answers later this summer.

In addition, the investigation of Lake Superior’s bottom off the Duluth Harbor has found three sites where barrels were dumped 50 years ago by the Department of Defense.

This sonar and camera grid scan last summer and fall found 591 likely barrels off Lester River, the Sucker River, and Talmadge River, but did not find barrels in four other expected locations off Knife River, French River, Shoreview Road and Knife Island sites. The investigation by EMR engineering of Duluth and commissioned by the Red Cliff Band of Chippewa has not completely eliminated those areas as likely barrel dump sites; the barrels could be outside the 96 square mile sonar grid.

The Red Cliff Band may go beyond removing and testing barrels. It is also asking for another $365,000 to do a toxicology study on the Lake Superior sediment to see if it has been contaminated by the barrels. The report states: “This is considered key to determining the potential threat the contents of the barrels may pose to area residents, aquatic life and the environment and whether or not preservation of the rich resources cherished by all who share the splendor of Lake Superior warrants further remedial efforts.”

[reprinted from the Duluth News-Tribune]