Community groups on Guam call for peace

Transcript

KENNETH GOFIGAN KUPER: This is really an opportunity for the community to come together and show the world that this is an opportunity that needs to be talked about. Why are we put in the middle like this? How does this relate to political status? How does this relate to militarisation and how the world can help us? So we are going to be holding signs and just speaking about how much we want peace in our homelands how much the people of Guam should be allowed to lead their lives. They call Guam where America's day begins and so what I would like to say is that Guam's day shouldn't end just so America's day can begin. That really is what I personally am fighting for. Is fighting for a stance in the political status where we are not just domineered over we are not just put under the control of a nations that says we are going to use you as a pawn in a game of power politics. In a nuclear game of power politics. I don't want that for my family, I don't want that for my people and so this is an opportunity for us to express that through positive messages of peace.

KOROI HAWKINS: And is there much frustration in the community?

KGK: You know you are going to, it’s mixed because this is not the first time. This is not our first rodeo with nuclear threats. We had this in 2013 we had this earlier than that. So you know there is a level of desensitisation that people in Guam have regarding the issue but on the other side there are a lot of us who feel. Even if this isn't the first time there is a little unique situation because there is a new president of the United States and it was a bit different than the last one. And also simply the fact that we shouldn't be desensitised to the possibilities of a nuclear bomb that is not something that should just be a part of our daily life here. So our people it is a mixed reaction but the fact of the matter is we should not have to be in a situation in which the only choices are desensitisation or worry. You know we did not create this situation why are we once again stuck and forced into the middle?

KH: You have described it as a global issue. Why do you say that?

KGK: Well number one colonisation was a global issue you know after World War II you know the world went through a massive phase of decolonisation. But according to the United Nations there are seventeen non-self-governing territories and Guam is one of those and so it is almost like the world went through this massive global issue of decolonisation and Guam never got its chance to be a part of that. So that is a lingering global issue. Number two we definitely have to think about the role of the hyper militarisation of the world in which diplomacy starts falling apart in favour of pure realist power politics. Number three if Guam is hit any nuclear attack could be the catalyst for World War III. But the thing is though peace can begin here. We want to show a message out to the world that peace can begin here. We want to show a message out to the world that peace is the only option that we want. We do not want to be victims of nuclear bombs. We do not want to be put into a situation of existential worry for our lives.