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The immediate, most major dilemma facing Okinawa today is the proposal to build a new heliport off the northern end of the island. This heliport would serve to house the Osprey aircraft. The Osprey program has been fraught with controversy and dubious safety and flight records in recent years. During the 1990’s, two crashes in the United States killed dozens of Marines in training, and resulted in even more injuries.

The citizens who live in the proposed heliport area have repeatedly appealed to the governments of Japan and the United States of their objections to the heliport plans, but their protests have been met with indifference by both governments, and little assurance that their wishes and concerns will even be taken into consideration. An election in February 2002 revolved around the heliport controversy. When the incumbent mayor Tateo Kishimoto emerged as victor, the papers quoted him as saying that his re-election to office settled the issue and that Nago residents were in favor of the heliport, after all. This was a major setback to the anti-base movement in Yanbaru, and to the preservation efforts of the area’s precious and endangered-status ecology and wildlife.

The fact was, that Mr. Kishimoto's campaign, just like many campaigns of present-day democratic elections, depended heavily on the support of the central government and many economic sectors of Tokyo. This would suggest that campaign funding, just as it is a problem in the United States and many other "democratic" communities around the world, proved a major factor in the outcome of a major election. Politicians in Okinawa constantly use the woeful status of the Okinawan economy and the lure of "prosperity" that military bases bring with them in order to soothe the local residents who have to live with the noise, disruption, pollution, and other drawbacks that cause irreparable damage to communities around military facilities.

Henoko heliport is planned to be the upgraded version of the major Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, which is nestled in a crowded metropolitan area on the South End of Okinawa. Futenma has long been the object of controversy, as its noise pollution and other chemical contagion have been pinpointed as major causes of health problems in the area. Schools, hospitals, and of course, thousands of homes are located within mere yards of this highly valued Marine transportation hub and supplies outpost.

In 1995, after a highly publicized rape case, solemn promises were made to Okinawans and their governmental representatives that Futenma would be returned to their control. The dilemma that now faces the Pentagon officials is: where are they going to get the forward deployment support that “American economic interests and security goals” in the Asian region are so reliant upon?

The answer to that question is the Henoko offshore warship port, and prolongment of Okinawa's burden under occupation.

Furthermore, despite the promises made to the Okinawan people, a RAND thinktank Publication released earlier this year made the recommendation to retain Futenma, as a part-time base for “forward deployment” positions for troops. If the Pentagon follows this recommendation, it would be directly against the promises made to the Okinawans to "give back" full control of the land that is currently occupied by Futenma Air Station.

The proposed site for the new heliport is none other than the very critical feeding grounds for the extremely rare marine animal called the Dugong. The Dugong is a saltwater “cousin” of the freshwater Manatee.

If a military structure were to be built on these feeding grounds, the sea grass of which the dugong diet solely consists of would be destroyed, and the pollution and other chemicals commonly used at such installations would virtually destroy that part of the ocean floor and render it unsuitable for sustaining life. The devastation resulting from the military’s use of chemicals, exhaust from military aircraft and other vehicles, as well as construction on the ocean floor and other factors will obliterate the vegetation that Dugongs need mass amounts of. It will not be long before the area around Northern Okinawa is rendered unable to sustain a community of Dugongs, or, worse, present an environment that is hostile to their well-being.