with
Physical debility, a birth anomaly or other abnormality, the
People lend to believe that
such had not occured before
Cases of fish
poboning, unusual plant disease, the demise of the highly
valued arrowroot plant (a trad-
surveillance program who have
been categori.ed as ‘‘unexposed controls” should be so
categonzed, and whether the
even Lhough this is contrary to
people who qualify for it are
appropriately defined.
scentific evidence
Myth or
reality, these anxieties and
fears are painfwly real, and
they are a consequence of the
testing pregram
The radiation question is a
difficult one, even for scientists
who have been working with it
for many years. Many dedica-
ted US seientists have been
involved in an extensive effort
Over Many years lo assess and
treal the effects of radiation
exposure of Marshallese and to
always possible
which have become critically
important are (1) the education
of
the
nature
human
fect and
medical
Marshallese on
the
of radiation and its
and enviranmental ef(4) prosding wdlequale
care and compensation
for victims of the atomle bomb
test. Related to the first area
the recent US Department of
Energy (DOE) books on the
radioactive contamination of
Enewetok,
Bikini,
and
the
horthem atolls have been almost totally ineffective, and in
some instances, counterproduc-
tive in explaining the nature of
radiation and the effects of the
residual radioactive contamination on human health. These
books have been ineffective
even though wnitten in Marshallese and English and clearly
aimed at aiay audience.
Most
Marshallese simply cannot understand the text.
Moreover,
the presentation of the results
In terms of the average nsk of
dying of cancer -- perhaps
Presented this way in an effort
to simplify the issue -- tends to
mask the variability of the data
and its uncertainties, making
the results mudeadin
With regard to
the second
area, the US medical surveillance program conducted by
Brookhaven National Laboratory under DOE contract Is a
narrowly
focused research ef-
fort to identify the ate effects
of radiation in the most heavily
exposed Marshallese people.
The treatment by the US of
tadiation induced health effects and compensation for
these effects have been largely
but not totally limited to those
effects which have been clearly
identified by the survedlance
Program as being radiation
induced, mainty, thyroid ab-
normalities among those most
heavily exposed to the fallout
from the Bravo test. Health
effects that have not been
statistically linked to radiation
in the Marshallese population
under study are generally not
treated ~ exceptions have been
Needs and
Ata most baste level, this
situation must be seen as one
Nearly everyone wilh whom
the arms race. It was the US
Perception of its own securily
needs which was the driving
we spoke felt that the Marshall
gram
care (the lack of health care
facilities is obvious even to the
casual observer); thal all of the
gements are evolving
While
the US would clearly like to
resolve and be free with the
Pacific islands Frust Terrtory,
Islands has serous, unique
health problems and inadequate
people should be given comprehensive health care regardless
of whether they have been
categoized
as
‘“‘exposed’’
or
performed with honesty, and
In most cases -- particularly in
to identify areas where more
attention should have been
focused.
Two such areas
Security
force behind the testing pro-
the responsibility of the US
government not just Lo give
funding, but to ensure by all
ertheless, it 1s
US
Kwajalein Atoll
of the many tragic eflects of
“unexposed”, that the new
Marshall Islands Government
recent years -- with a reasonable level of competence. Nev-
Atoll
level af compensation and the
monitor the residual radioactiy-
ity comtaminating many of the
islands in the northern atolls.
It would appear that they have
PLUMBING * HAROWARE * GENERAL MERCHANDISE
Kwajalein
I,
does not have adequate capa:
city to do this; and that it os
reasonable
means
that
such
care mw made available. Moreover, a Marshalls governmentendorsed dependent medical
survey might be helpful in
moving more decisively in this
direction.
There is
widespread distrust
by Marshallese of US scientists
involved in radiation monitor-
ing and healih
sucveilance
Programs.
Awuttg tie Siatsshallese who are participants
and
the
scientists
working today are forced to
carry the baggage of tnistakes
and changes in policy accumulated over the past 37 years.
We heard ulterior motives
attributed to the DOE's educations efforts regarding renduat
radiation.
Some charge that
scientists are giving conflecting
messages. These are strong,
perhaps even paranoid statements.
be
Rut though they may
difficult tu accept they
must be seen for their signifi.
cance im the cynicism and
frustration which they reflect.
The problem of the primary
contaminated atolls, Bikint and
Enewetok, 1s deeply troubling
A serious cleanup attempt Is
being made at Enewetok, ata
reported expenditure of $218
million.
In the light of the
drastic measures and unusual
lifestyle required for resettle-
ment,
st ts mot
yet clear if
many af the people will choose
to return. Bikini poses a more
difficult case than Enewetok,
and thus far the US Govern-
upon
question 1s posed here for
global community. Who is to
decide
matters
upon
of
such
land
weighty
abuse
and
restoration? While even avery
imperfect cleanup at Bikini
could cost several hundred
million dollars, some Marshall-
ese pointed out that the US
Government is spending much
more that that amount on just
a few weapons such as the MX
in
the paltical, economic
and social status of the new
nation. —
It is af the Kwajalein Atoll
where we see the embodiment
of this question. The Kwayalein people, most of them now
living in crowded dismal conditions on 27 Ha. (67 acres)
Ebeye Island, are seeking, thus
far unsuccessfully, to attain &
measure of restoration to their
land, which is being used as
part
range.
of the
miussile testing
The determination of
the Kwajalein people working
hrough an
lon known
mw the Kwajalein Atoll Corporation, is a remarkable story in
itself. ‘the Key yalein peaple
will wilheat nae clit fe
a fev
role in this continuing debate.
‘The
SEA-AIR
EXPORTS, INC.
baporete rs Penge ttre
AW San Vetoes Koad Suite Se
Palo Vio LA ator
KOJELLA
RUOQ WETO ILO JAl
NON WIAKARE:
BO, AKNO ROBELLOK
RONG WETO
UROKBUROT WE FO
ELANE EWOR AM MAKON ION JOREIN, JOU;
IM LOTORK OFFICE FO AN RRE
KOJJELLA
Kojjella non ro ewer ace maron ion Nerak Weto
ilo Amo Island, Amo Atoll, bwe hiv i) wia hake
maron koan Iroj, Alab, im Dri Jerbal.
Jabdrewot eo cj lomnak tn jumac wia kake in ao,
en jou im wonmantok im file an complaint ilo
Court im julkincok copy in complaint in non; Box
2112, Majure, Marshall Islands.
Dri kojella,
Neilan Biti.
8.9 5
THE
FIRST BOOK
Written, Typeset, Printed
Ail in the Marshall Ijjands
Lawyers”
IV. “The Lawyers”
Lawyers and thelitigation to
pursue health damage and land
claims have become a signifi-
compelling
ro.
stories of the
Marshall
cant, often troubling political
factor. This, too, is is a con-
Sequence of the weaponstesting program. Are the people
being exploited in new ways
Islands
through the lawyers, even as
they deal with older injustices?
Is there an unfortuante “pull”
towards money solutions, or
compensation,
rather
than
long-term restoration of the
basic relationship belween the
people and thew land and
culture?
Perhaps,
but
the
lawyers
apparently
have
brougtit these greatly disad-
vantaged peupie a new means
of much-needed power, and tt
would
be
jeopardise
most
this
by
unwise
to
attacking
their sensttive lawyer-client relationship.
TheChurch
in the
Marshalls
ment has taken the position
that cleanup would be too
expensive. It would seem that
a profound morat and legal
way
its current military requirements are having major impact
rogram some have even said,
Unfortunately
the
which the new political arran-
in the Brookhaven surveillance
‘the Marshallese are geing used
ws ‘guinea pigs’ ", “and that the
faliout from the 1954 Bravo
test was not an accident.”
now
Continued pare 8
YOUK CALLFORNIA CONNECTION
Needs and
The US Government -- and
perhaps the Tmted Nations -should consider whether the
medical surveillance program
should he so narrowly defined;
whether the people in the
itional staple), seem invariably
lo be attnbuted to radiation,
US Security
V. The Church tn the Marshalls
The Church in the Marshall
Islands has played and will
apparently continue to play a
Nurturing and comforting role
rather than one of advocacy.
In this fragmented society the
church is a relatively strong,
self-relant indigenous tnstitu-
tion where people can come
together in spite of thetr
division.
In communities
where
virtually
all
Seven degrees \
Hotel Adyirth
Marehalls Mandierald
Alele Museum
&
Micronitor
P.O. Box 14, Majuro 96960
(add $1 50 for atrmail postage)
=
ow toe
nd
with
>|
accord
contract
cs
in
Ra
From page 6
“The Bomb”.
heen
Brookhaven’s
Page 7
While we have regretted Uo ita
clear, of{tiial church statement
has not come tocward fram the
Marshalls on (hese conce ms,
Many
church
people ft uve
spoken oul, aid we musl [ust
ti
nol
DOE ~ and the sictims are not
compensated
in effect, the
burden of proof les not with
the US to demonstrate the
dinease is nol radiation induced, bul with the victim Lo
demonstrate that It was,
Volume t4, Number 73
belong too the chureh, und
where virtually all member of
the local government councils
are church people, at ay. the
custam ty speak on political
and economic matters through
civic channels
ri
Radiation
and
Relation
Questions
MARSHALL ISLANDS JOURNAL
missiles, now being tested al
Kwajalein
AL one meeting an
articulate young man asked,
“Why can the |S do whatever
an
1 chooses?
haere
‘Tuesday, September 13, 1983
made but generally these have