Lisa Natividad: NATO Is Destroying My Island for Its War Games
Regions
Dr. Lisa Linda Natividad, Professor of Social Work at the University of Guam, exposes how Guam — or Guahan, as it’s known by its Indigenous people — functions as a heavily militarised U.S. colony, serving the global ambitions of NATO and its allies. Despite being a small island with limited self-governance, Guam is a prime strategic site exploited for U.S. military operations in the Pacific. This colonial militarisation not only denies the inhabitants’ right to self-determination but also inflicts devastating environmental harm — from toxic contamination and unexploded ordnance to climate vulnerability. Natividad links the presence of military bases to threats against human rights, health, and ecological survival, arguing that NATO’s version of “security” brings existential insecurity to communities like hers. She calls for replacing war economies with genuine, peace-centered development rooted in health, education, sustainability, and Indigenous dignity.
A broad alliance of organisations and activists is organising a counter-summit and demonstration opposing NATO, taking place in The Hague on June 21 and 22. In the days leading up to the NATO summit, the coalition aims to amplify a critical, alternative voice. The event will culminate in a public demonstration against the NATO war summit, with a diverse range of participants expected from both the Netherlands and abroad.
Join the Countersummit: https://www.tni.org/en/event/no-nato-war-summit