Episode 5: Military Presence and Its Impact on Communities with Zoltán Grossman

Do you know what military bases are near you and what purpose they serve? Guest Zoltán Grossman (he/him), a professor of Geography and Native Studies at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, recognized that the public does not have a true understanding of the role of the United States military and its bases, not just in Northwest Washington, but around the world. In this episode, he shares the history and current strategic significance of Naval installations in Northwest Washington, how local communities are affected by bases, and how he seeks to educate his students and the public about these topics through projects like Basewatch. 

 

Resources:

Learn more about the Growler jets and how to take action at: www.SoundDefenseAlliance.org

Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World by David Vine

The United States of War: A Global History of America’s Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State  by David Vine

Ground Zero Center for Non-Violent Action

Explore Zoltán’s Basewatch project

Read Zoltán’s writings on militarism

Read about Oceania Rising, a 2019 tour of three Indigenous women from the Pacific to discuss the growing movements against U.S. military bases, and for a demilitarized, nuclear-free, and independent Pacific

 

Glossary Terms:

Joint Base Lewis-McCord (JBLM) - A U.S. military installation located 9.1 miles south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is an amalgamation of the United States Army's Fort Lewis and the United States Air Force's McChord Air Force Base which merged on 1 February 2010.

Outlying Field (OLF) - A military airport owned and operated by the United States Navy located two miles southeast of Coupeville, Washington, on Whidbey Island. Also known as Naval Outlying Landing Field Coupeville or NOLF Coupeville. 

Ault Field - The main base portion ofAnother name for Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI).

Imminent Domain - The right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) - A ballistic missile with a minimum range of 3,100 miles primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery.

 

Nature sounds recorded in the Olympic National Park (Gordon Hempton, The Sound Tracker, Co-Founder Quiet Parks International)

Hosted by Terra Huey and Caitlin Epstein

Produced by Caitlin Epstein in partnership with the Sound Defense Alliance