Episode 220 - Gaslit

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*Sorry for the audio issue with this one folks, it should be fixed if you download again or reopen the app. Thanks for bearing with us!

This week, Roqayah and Kumars are joined by Danielle Espiritu and Mikey. Danielle is a Kanaka Maoli educator and activist from Kāneʻohe, O'ahu and Mikey is a filmmaker and activist also born and raised on O'ahu who also organizes with Shut Down Red Hill Mutual Aid.

Dani and Mikey describe their fight against the United States military's poisoning of Hawaii's water supply, and the (originally) secret Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, directly above the Southern Oʻahu Basal Aquifer, which is operated by the United States Navy.

Dani and Mikey explain the significance of the Red Hill Facility and the decades of poisoning that has resulted not only in jet-fuel tainted water but the displacement of nearly 95,000 O'ahu residents. We discuss the warning signs, local pushback, and the military cover up that is still having an effect on locals and Hawaii's native ecology.

We also examine the wider impact of colonialism on native organizing on the island, and the struggles facing local activists who are fighting further military encroachment and a tourism industry that often intersects—denying them access to not only their water resources but their land as well.

You can follow the Oahu Water Protectors @OahuWP on Twitter, and find them on Instagram @OahuWaterProtectors. Find Mikey on Twitter @karaokecomputer, and make sure to follow @ShutDownRedHillMutualAid as well.

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