Holding the Military Accountable

A film still from the documentary No Defense: The U.S. Military’s War on Water by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim.

By Marguerite Adelman
WILPF Burlington Branch and VT PFAS and the Military Coalition

April 2021

More than 650 towns contaminated. Millions of Americans affected. The largest-known polluter of chemicals that are nearly indestructible…is also the regulator that has failed to act. The award-winning documentary No Defense holds the military accountable, exposing their role role in the contamination of our ecosystems with PFAS, a forever chemical.

Thanks to the Vermont International Film Festival (VTIFF) and WILPF Burlington Branch, WILPF members and friends in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine can see the award-winning documentary film—No Defense—for free, anytime between April 16^th and 25^th. This powerful film, not yet released for distribution, is about PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (a Department of Defense Superfund Site) in Oscoda, Michigan. Oscoda has waited years for cleanup. The people who are suffering, who are blowing the whistle, and who are fighting against the U.S. military, tell their stories in this one-hour film that has already won five film awards. (Find out more about the film and filmmakers at www.nodefensedoc.com).

For decades, it’s been documented that PFAS, known as forever chemicals, are harmful to life. Yet our military continues to use them at hundreds of sites across the country, contaminating ground water, drinking water, rivers and lakes, fish, and wildlife. The documentary, by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim, is one of the first to focus on the military’s use of PFAS and the contamination they have caused at communities and bases across the United States and abroad. For WILPF members, the film brings together our concerns about the military and war and how these intersect with so many social and global issues from social to economic to environmental justice.

How to Participate in Viewing the Film

There are two parts to participating in viewing No Defense. First, you will need to register to see the film on or after 4/2/21. Click on vtiff.org/vtiff-now/split-screen/ and then go to No Defense to register for the film. You’ll get directions on how to view the film between April 16^th and 25^th. While the film is free, donations are welcome and will be split between the filmmakers and WILPF Burlington and the Vermont International Film Festival.

Second, you are invited to participate in a one-hour, film discussion after you’ve viewed No Defense. Mark your calendars for Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, at 8 PM (EDT). You can register for this Zoom discussion at: http://bit.ly/3bJHtnS. The discussion will be led by Anthony Spaniola of Need Our Water (NOW), Marguerite Adelman of WILPF Burlington, and Nancy Price of the WILPF US Earth Democracy Committee. Anthony Spaniola served as a consultant to the film and was also featured in it.

The film and discussion are part of WILPF Burlington’s VT PFAS and the Military Coalition, as well as the Earth Democracy Issue Committee. On March 21, the newly designed website Military Poisons premiered in an hour webinar, entitled "Combating Military Poisons and Valuing Water". The webinar is available on the WILPF US YouTube Channel.

As WILPF members, we need to advocate that the military be included in all climate agreements and state and national environmental legislation. Arm yourself with the knowledge that you need to be a powerful advocate for our climate and our ecosystems.