Cliff Sloan
June 24, 1980
Page Three
mejor finding in the Brookhaven studies, and it points up the
continuing uncertainties relating to the long-term effects of
radiation, and the need for extreme caution and prudence when
making policy decisions affecting the future health and safety
of the njebi people.
3)
The decision to allow the Bikini people to resettle on their
ancestral atoll, and then the decision to quickly remove them in
light of the potential threat to their health stemming from the
{internal deposition of radionuclides in the form of “residual*
radiation at Bikini surely must not be forgotten when considering
the proposed Enjebi resettlement.
I have enclosed a 1975 radiation
study from Lawrence Livermore Laboratory which should be compared
with the current Bender-Brill study of Enewetak.
It is uncanny to
compare the reassuring language in both studies, and the “misical
chairs" fiasco of the unfortunate Bikini Islanders--who were previously
"unexposed" and who are now “exposed"--should remind us of the
continuing enigmas surrounding the nuclear debate, especially as it
pertains to "safe" levels of radiation for humans.
4)
In retrospect, 1t seems clear why Japanese radiation scientists-who were invited out to the Marshalls by Marshallese and their elected
representatives--were not allowed to visit the irradiated atolls: o
Aongelap and Utirik.
The history of mistakes and mismanagement in
radiation matters in the Marshalls exhibits the flaws associated with
cecisions being made from the recommendations of a point of view which
has consistently been at odds with reality.
What has sorely been
needed (and wanted) in the Marshalls is an alternate point of view
concerning the radiological data, and we now have the opportunity to
correct our past mistakes by allowing truly independent radiation
exverts to assess Fnewetak and Enjebi, as well as the rest of the
Northern Marshalls which were affected by nuclear testing.
5)
In my 1979 address to the United Nations Trusteeship Council, I
requested indevendent and non-governmental radiation experts for an
assessment of the Marshall Islends.
he Trusteeship Council agreed
with my request in its “Report of the Trusteeship Council to the
Security Council" (in the Security Council's Official Records, ThirtyFourth Year, Special Supplement No. 1, 9 June 1978 - 15 June 1979).
To my knowledge, there has been no such survey by independent radiation
exverts in the Marshalls, and the time is right for such a survey.
(Please see the enclosed U.N. documents)
In closing, I would like to mention that I have received a copy
of a letter written by Mr. Theodore Mitchell (of Micronesian Legal
Services), who represents the Enewetak people.
I feel obliged to