Mickey Z

Cool Observer

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Friday, April 20, 2007

Dream Vacation: Sea, sand, and depleted uranium at Vieques

For nearly sixty years, Vieques, a tiny island off the southeast coast of Puerto Rico, was used as a heavy weapons target range for the U.S. Navy. In addition, says columnist Juan Gonzalez: “The U.S. government (was) not content to simply use Vieques for its own military. It (had) the audacity to rent out the island to the armed forces of Latin America and Europe.” This deal earned Washington $80 million in 1998 alone but the roughly 9000 residents of Vieques faced socio-economic disaster. The fishing and tourism industries were wrecked and 50% of residents were unemployed while 72% lived in poverty.

Fast forward to 2007 and you’ll find travel articles extolling Vieques as an “untapped environment” with “pristine beaches” and “chic restaurants” perfect for the “upscale city dweller,” the “nature lover,” and the “spring breaker.” And the radiation comes at no extra charge.

Read Vieques article here