Comynication difficultes:
.
Over the years attempts have been made at villaye meetings te cupli im an
a straightforward
-
ome
c
manner the need for the examinations and the significance of
findings. However the language barricr aud uncertainity of trauslation Lave
alvoys imposed serious difficulties in this regard.
BNL with the Trisc Terri-
tory published an illustreted booklet in Marshallcse answering questions poses
by the exposed ;cople about rediation cffects.
The people have never ruclly
understood or appreciate the importance of annunl me‘*icai exe uinatic is and
thcrefore therc has heen come unrest concerning the need for such excruntions
in view of statements about the lack of findings.
It was explained that: the
exaidduations were a safeguard to their heatth and that though radiation effects
“were not expected to be secn fre such low doses, experience in humen beings
was too limited to be certain of this.
In spite of this, repport witn th-
people: was excellent and there was full cooperation in the examinations
Developments Ter
toe to the nresentcrisis:
Initial ce~sensation of Rongelap people;
Ninconventoarce payme:+" of“Utirik
people:
In 1965 the exposed Rongelap pepple received about 11,000 dollers cxuch
as conpensation for radiation effects.
This caused further unrest anonp the
Utixik people who felt that even though they had no radiation effects they
should be compensated to some extent.
Perhaps there was some resentment among
the people against the medical team for this though it was explained that the
BNL doctors did not formulate the compcnsation bills.
There was sympathy for
the Utirik people's feelings and later the AEC and the Department of Interior
granted the Utirik people a token payment (slightly over $100 per person) not
for radiation cif{ects but based on inconvenience to the people imposed as a
result of the fallout.