The hidden cost of America’s Pacific bases | The Pacific | ABC NEWS

[00:00:09]This pristine coastline on Guam's northern edge is known as Ritidian, a protected wildlife refuge and sacred to Chamorro people.

[00:00:23]But near its entry, the serenity is broken by the sound of demolition.

[00:00:32]It's It's It can be really loud.

[00:00:35]You hear it. You hear it very clearly.

[00:00:37]The all of the clearing and grading.

[00:00:40]We're here with Monaeka Flores, an activist taking a stand against the military build-up. I will not consent.

[00:00:48]Here in Ritidian, Monaeka has fought hard against the controversial live-firing range being completed just behind these trees. You wouldn't believe that all of this is happening right on top of this beautiful sacred area.

[00:01:01]It's heartbreaking. [music] It's really heartbreaking.

[00:01:05]We'll follow over here. Okay, got it.

[00:01:07]Yeah, and then that's the Pass and ID office.

[00:01:08]>> At the nearby entry to Army Camp Blaz, she shows us the scale of the build-up.

[00:01:13]So, what are these large buildings? What are they housing? So, the large buildings include housing for the Marines, clinics, classrooms, um offices.

[00:01:24]Nearly $9 billion US has been allocated to expand facilities for thousands of Marines relocating from Okinawa.

[00:01:32]US military assessments indicate up to 10% of Guam's remaining limestone forest has been cleared or impacted by expansion works.

[00:01:41]It's still unclear when the Marines will actually move. And it's even more frustrating today to think that all of that destruction took place and now the Marines might not even come here.

[00:01:51]Environmental watchdogs also warn millions of rounds fired in the base each year could leech lead into soil and water.

[00:01:59]The firing range sits above an aquifer supplying [music] 80% of the island's drinking water.

[00:02:05]Guam already lives with a long history of military contamination.

[00:02:10]This is generational home and we have high incidences of cancer, heart disease, diabetes here.

[00:02:18]You know, essentially the military built up here guarantees ecological destruction.

[00:02:23]Um affecting our food security, our the safety of our drinking water, the health of our people. Those are real security issues. See, they're just back-to-back.

[00:02:32]>> Taking on the military has come at a price for Mana'eka.

[00:02:35]Like many here, she comes from a military family.

[00:02:40]My activism has definitely affected my relationship with my family. It's been really tough. It's definitely kind of been in like an identity crisis in some ways.

[00:02:51]It can be really lonely, actually.