What happened in Vieques Puerto Rico?
The “Navy–Vieques protests” is the name given by the English-speaking media to a series of protests starting in 1999 on the Puerto Rican island-municipality of Vieques. The protesters were against the use of the island by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps for bombing target practice.
Why did US bomb Vieques?
It involves the legacy of US militarism, which has left much of the island contaminated and its residents sick. From the 1940s until 2003, the US Navy used Vieques as a training ground for war, pummeling the island with bombs as it conducted military training operations.
When did US bomb Vieques?
They are to be resettled by the land authority. 1941. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. On April 19, 1999, during a military exercise on Vieques (pronounced vee-EHkus) Island, Navy planes dropped a bomb and accidentally killed David Sanes, a Puerto Rican security guard at the Naval training range.
Does Vieques have radiation?
This conclusion was verified by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in their 2003 Public Health Evaluation for Vieques, which said, “The very low levels of radiation released by depleted uranium at the LIA do not present health hazards.”
Is Vieques a US territory?
Vieques is part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and retains strong influences from 400 years of Spanish presence in the island. Vieques lies about 8 miles (13 km) east of the Puerto Rican mainland, and measures about 20 miles (32 km) long by 4.5 miles (7 km) wide.
Why the Navy left Vieques?
The Navy phased out of Vieques at the turn of the millennium, pushed by decades of intense local activism and international outcry after David Sanes Rodríguez, a Puerto Rican security guard, was killed in a bombing run — one of thousands conducted by the military over more than 60 years.
Is Vieques polluted?
In addition to normal pollution stressors associated with human activities, Vieques was also the site of a military bombing range from the 1940s until 2003. Local concern exists about potential impacts of pollution from these and other activities on fisheries stocks, as well as potential seafood safety issues.
How expensive is Vieques?
The average price of a 7-day trip to Vieques is $1,635 for a solo traveler, $2,936 for a couple, and $5,505 for a family of 4. Vieques hotels range from $53 to $242 per night with an average of $80, while most vacation rentals will cost $240 to $540 per night for the entire home.
Are there snakes on Vieques?
Although snakes have been reported for Vieques, its presence has not been confirmed during recent surveys. Aquatic Organisms Due to the limited freshwater habitats on the Refuge, most aquatic organisms are either estuarine or marine species.
What does Vieques mean in Puerto Rico?
(vee-AI-kais) Vieques is known as “La Isla Nena” (little girl island) and “Isabel Segunda” (Isabel II). Vieques was founded in 1843 by Francisco Saínz. It’s 21 miles (34 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide, and it is 52 square miles (135 square km) in area.
Who first lived on Puerto Rico’s Vieques Island?
Studies show that Vieques was first inhabited by Native Americans who came from South America about 1500 years before Christopher Columbus set foot in Puerto Rico in 1493.
How did the natives get to Vieques?
Studies show that Vieques was first inhabited by Native Americans who came from South America about 1500 years before Christopher Columbus set foot in Puerto Rico in 1493. After a brief battle between local Indians and Spaniards, the Spaniards took control of the island, turning the locals into their slaves.
What type of landform is Isla de Vieques?
Vieques Island, Spanish Isla de Vieques, island and municipio (municipality), Puerto Rico. It lies 13 miles (21 km) east of the main island, fronting to the south on the Caribbean Sea and north on Vieques Sound, which connects the Caribbean with the Atlantic Ocean. Composed mostly of volcanic and granite intrusives,…