To travel to the island of Vieques, located east of Puerto Rico, you must take a boat or arrive by plane. Known as the “Isla Nena,” Vieques is an insular municipality known for its paradisiacal beaches, biodiversity, and a history marked by the presence of the United States military. It is home to one of the most impressive bioluminescent bays in the world and has a rich culture influenced by its Taíno and Afro-Caribbean roots. Despite its natural beauty, the island has faced economic and social challenges due to its military past and the struggle for the recovery of its lands.
Historically, Vieques has undergone multiple transformations since the colonial era. During the 19th century, the island thrived with the sugar industry, but in the 20th century, its fate changed with the arrival of the United States Navy. In 1941, the U.S. government expropriated large areas of land to establish military bases, displacing the population and affecting its economy. For more than six decades, Vieques was used for military exercises, leading to environmental contamination and health problems among its inhabitants.
The population of Vieques has been resilient in the face of these challenges. With approximately 9,000 inhabitants, the Viequenses have fought for the recovery of their territory and the sustainable development of the island. The local economy has relied on tourism, fishing, and small businesses, although the shortage of infrastructure and adequate medical and transportation services remains an obstacle. The community has worked hard to transform Vieques into an ecological and cultural tourism destination, promoting the conservation of its natural resources and its Viequense and Puerto Rican identity.
The presence of the United States Navy in Vieques was a source of protests for decades. In 1999, the death of security guard David Sanes Rodríguez during a military exercise intensified the movement for the Navy’s departure. Finally, in 2003, the Navy left the island but left behind a severe problem of contamination from explosives and heavy metals that continue to affect residents’ health. Despite cleanup efforts, the community continues to demand complete remediation and the development of economic alternatives that will allow Vieques to prosper and overcome the challenges of its military past.
Since 2003, the transformation of the shooting range into a natural sanctuary under the care of the Fish and Wildlife Agency has created tensions within the community, as has the wave of gentrification by foreign investors. Vieques’ struggle for land return, decontamination, sustainable development, and health and well-being remains a pending task today, an ongoing process that continues day after day, led by multiple community organizations.
Vieques: A Living Archive is a 20-year journey that tells the story of Vieques before and after the Navy’s departure. It explores the challenges and contradictions of this process, as well as the achievements and some lessons learned over the years.
Vieques’ Organizations
The Vieques Historical Archive is a nonprofit community organization that preserves and provides access to materials for the study of Vieques. The organization also safeguards and promotes Vieques’ historical and cultural heritage. Additionally, it educates a broad audience about Vieques, community archiving, and relevant topics.
Because Vieques is our home… let’s rescue our home.
Nonprofit organization that works to improve the quality of life of cancer patients as a supplementary service. Education and prevention.
La Colmena Cimarrona practices solidarity economy, agroecology, and beekeeping with the intention of fostering food sovereignty in the Puerto Rican archipelago. We seek to cultivate a farm guided by agroecological principles that works toward equity while also establishing a support network among agroecological farmers in Vieques to promote economically and culturally viable production on our island.
In Vieques, the struggle continues! We fight for our lives and our environment. We demand justice.
The Vieques, Environment, Health, and Community Action (VASAC) project brings together the efforts of researchers, Vieques residents, and community-based organizations to investigate the relationship between the decades-long history of bombing conducted by the U.S. Navy and the alarmingly high rates of illness on the island.
Festival de Cine y Derechos Humanos de Vieques
The Vieques Film and Human Rights Festival (FCDHV) is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness and fostering dialogue on human rights issues through film. Committed to social justice and cultural enrichment, the festival aims to engage audiences, inspire action, and celebrate the transformative power of cinema and culture.