geh S- Pratt, M.D.
dcptenber
Page
6,
1979
6
been the major cause of many of
government funds, which in my opinion has
a ship whose
As a former naval officer aboard
these disasterous effects.
Japanese
from
grounds
nission once was to protect Micronesian fishing
incident on Majuro last
{ntrusion, I had to be profoundly impressed by’an
unavailable because
ch
sandwi
May when w e found our favorite grilled tuna
ent of canned tuna
the Trust Territory ship had not yet delivered the shipm
le seas surrounding
from Japan - tuna undoubtedly harvested from the ferti
that very island.
back in the
Similar contrasts were evident to many of us on field trips
receive
not
did
tion
popula
mid-sixties. Visitors to Utirik, where the
pride,
civic
the
with
sed
indemnities for radiation exposure, were Wipres
care and participation of the natives, their industry in farming and
Simultaneously, a short
fishing, the craftsmanship of their canoes, etc.
distance away, Rongelap had the early stigmata of a ghetto. The $11,000
indemnity granted to each exposed individual had caused palpable effects.
Fiber glass boats with twin Evinrudes had replaced outrigger canoes, and
these were not often used for fishing. Purchases from Trust Territory
shipShad replaced farming and fishing, and a society was converted from
self-sufficient bartering to a currency~based economy - in an environment
Of 17,000 paid positions in
Jere currency generating jobs are minimal.
Micronesia, less than 5,000 are outside of government supported institutions.
The Marshallese may never be able to recover effectively from this cultural
intrusion and economic conversion, but the problem deserves serious
.
investigation by competent, interested professionals. Perhaps we should
consider inclusion of sociologists and psychologists as well as epideyiniologists
in future teams. Certainly the problems should be emphasized in appropriate
In many ways, the
I realize that these points have been set down in asomewhat rambling fashion.
Certainly they should not be considered in order of importance.
If you would
like amplication on any, please let me know. I hope that some will be useful.
With warmest personal regards,
Donald E. Paglia, M.D.
Professor
Division of Surgical Pathology
DEP/mf
ewwtel +
forums, and care should be taken not to’ compound them.
Micronesians have been harmed by misguided, albeit altruistically motivated,
outside influences. The problems now are not easily soluble, if at all, but
at the very least, they deserve recognition and attempts at correction.