The F-35: Pollution Coming to Vermont?

One of the most controversial topics in Vermont now surrounds whether the F-35 will find its home base here in Burlington. I have to say that I am quite disappointed that it is even being considered as Vermont has always prided itself in being so enviromentally conscious - this decision, however, would change all of that as the amount of pollution (both chemicals and noise) that these F-35's would bring would immediately drop Vermont off of the "greenest state to live in" list.

One of the main reasons we moved here from Georgia was for the clean air. Our son has chemical sensitivities and he will have issues with 2000-4000 gallons of fuel emissions and benzene being dumped over our heads. Had we known that the government here in Vermont was more interested in getting in "bed" with major corporations like Lockheed than keeping the enviroment clean and safe for its residents then I doubt we would have picked it as the place to raise our family.

What I find so interesting is that these same polititicans that are supporting the F-35's coming to Vermont are the ones whose platform is adamently against war and pollution. So why ARE they giving Lockheed this support? Lockheed is promising some "greening initiatives" in return for bringing the F-35's here....funny because I thought vermont is already the #1 greenest state! They should be thinking about suing instead like a city in Flordia. "The city of Valparaiso, Florida, adjacent to Eglin AFB, threatened in February 2009 to sue the Air Force over the impending arrival of the F-35s, but this lawsuit was settled in March 2010" (wikipedia on F-35's). Also, I find it ironic that they want to help us "go green" since Lockheed is a major polluter of chemicals! "Hey, we are about to dump large amounts of chemcials on your city and state, but here are some more trees for downtown!" Seriously? It is so similar to the BP commericals that discuss how they are doing some greening initiatives, all the while they continue to pollute our planet. And do you really think that if the F-35's don't come to Vermont that Lockheed is still going to be offering those "greening initiatives?" Uh, hell no!

Come on folks, wise up! Do we really want these nasty fighter jets here in our pristine Vermont? Do you have ANY idea how loud they are going to be? Here are two quotes I got from Tuscon Forward:

"According to AF sponsored documents, if the new F-35 fighter comes to Tucson International Airport (TIA), the Air National Guard flights will sound three times as loud and the noise will spread over more than 4 times the area. In other words, a family 9 miles from the airport will experience daily noise like that of a family currently 3 miles from the airport. Again, according the AF sponsored documents, the F-35 will be 15 decibles lounder."

More info on cost to citizens:

"There are, of course, costs associated with the presence of the F-35. These costs will be carried by the citizens and property owners in the flight-path; This will negatively impact the tax revenues used to support schools, police, and other vital services. The hotels and restaurants in the flight path will suffer. The economic claims fail to consider these costs."

Look at the this article about the health effects and issues people living the Netherlands are having with overall noise pollution, including that of the F-16: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/267835.

Here is a scenario that could occur with the militarizarion of Burlington: http://salem-news.com/articles/february252010/lejeune_suit_tk.php

Here is another vermont blog that discusses the benzene emissions from the F-35 and F-16: http://f35insouthburlington.blogspot.com/2010/09/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know.html.

Bring these jets to Vermont, and we will not only not get another peaceful night's sleep, but the health impact from the massive pollution increase will devastate our clean air and environment. Please support not bringing them to Vermont NOW!!! Here is a website where you can find more information: http://stopthef35.com/