“its Wallace O,
July 18, 1980

Green

Pege Four

when we are dealing with so many unknowns about the effects of a new
technology over the course of time.

fnd I might add, thet despite the solace an alternative point of

view of Injebi dose assessments will have for us and the concemed
United States agencies, such an independent assessment will go a long
way to reassure the Imewetak people themselves about tne risks involved
in the proposed return.
It should be pointed out that the Mmjebi veople will be living in
& contaminated environment, end their concerns anc pessible anxitites

, about the long-term effects of low-level radiation effects will not
eutomaticelly cease uvor their return.
It was my experience on Utirik

thet the people spent =uch tine discussing the residuel radiation on

their contaninated atoll, end although I mst adnit thet aany of their
“theories" about possible radiation effects seemed neive end inappropriate
to me at the time, the real point was that they honestly believed their

intuitions and "theories" about radiation effects.

I have enclosed a

ropy of ny 1977 Congressional testimony which details sone of these
eliefs.

I think the very least that we can presently do to reassure the

smjebi people is to commission an independent survey with scientists
having no comnection with ex agency of the United States Government.

4iso, I

should mention that meny people in the Marshall Islands have

heard about “Physicians for Social Responsibility" and their eminent

President, Dr. Helen Caldicott.
Itis
y impression that having Dr.
Caldicott and her organization attached to an indenvendent survey and
assessment of the Marshalls will help to restore some of our lost
credibility with these people who have a long history of "losine” with
the United States Government.

In closing, I would like to point out that in my 1979 address
before the United Nations Trusteeship Council, where I represented the
International League for Human Rights, I

specifically requested that

an independent survey be conducted in the Marshall Islands.

In their

recommendations to the Administering Authority, the Trusteeship Council
agreed with my request and also recommended an independent survey in
the Marshalls.
4s we reach the termination of the Trusteeshio Acreement, it seems
that our legacy in Micronesia has been somewhat uneven and inconsistent.
The trust of the United States Government by the people of Micronesia

under the Trusteeship has become tenuous at best, and I think an

independent survey in the Marshall Islands is lone overdue if we are to

maintain eny degree of credibility, both with the Micronesians and with
the international community at large.

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