• Two of her stalwart companions, Mr. Iha (left), at a Nago symposium, and Ms. Shimabukuro (right), at Camp Schwab gate, have engaged in protests against dangerous bases in Okinawa for nearly two decades.

The spectacular diversity (400 species of corals, 1,000 species of fish, even dugongs!) of Oura Bay's coral reef ecosystem is alarmingly threatened with destruction by US/Japan government plans for a Military Base.  (The gorgeous blue coral (Heliopora coerulea) and red sea fans in the photo are octocorals, Katherine's scientific specialty for the past 45 years.)

               

Muzik is often invited to participate in symposia and press conferences in Okinawa and Japan, to help protect the Oura Bay ecosystem. She also publishes articles in local newspapers, to help encourage the local opposition in their decades-long fight against US imperialism.  Her essays in international journals are available online.​​  Although Katherine moved to Kaua'i from Okinawa after the 2011
Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Meltdown, she

continues to devote time and effort to helping her Okinawan comrades rally to protect Oura Bay.


Photo by Osamu Makishi