a? ’ MARSHALLESE SPEAK OUT contine: trax Page 19 "The U.S. tested bombs here because of the expanse of ocean and because our islands were suitable for testing. They did not care about the people in the Marshalls ~-- they think they are some- thing to use for testing. It is just like what the French are doing to the people of Tahiti, and some of those people were put into prison for protes- ting." Jotm Anjain, who was magistrate of . Rongelap in 1954 during the fallout from "Bravo", explained in an interview that: “From the beginning of the testing program in our islands the U.S. has treated us like animals in a seientific experiment for their studies. They come and study us like animals and think of us es ‘guinea pigs.’ We are the 'guinea pigs. ve The lawsuits being filed for personal injuries and property damage on behalf of che Marshallese by the lawyers of the Marshall Islands Atomic Testing Litigation Project will not reverse the tragic and pernicious effects of radiation. However, if the Marshall Islanderg succeed in winning a settlement from the U.S., there are some positive and constructive ways to use the money in the future. For instance, the Marshallese feel very strongly about the need for independent doctorc and scientists to help them with their 2a ongoing radiation problems. It is feasible that an independent team of doctors could provide them with the compassionate and comprehensive medical care that has been so lacking in the past. It is true that even the best medical treatment cannot undo the lacent effects or genetic damage from radiation, but an independent group of doctors can at. least stem some of the fears and anxieties caused by tne callous and negligent treatment by the Brookhaven doctors in the past. Additionally, it is quite possible that some of the money from the settlement could be used to establish a small-scale fishing industry for some of the outer iealands in th Marshalls. The United Nations Development Program has recently instituted a pilot project in India using flat-tmlled fiberglass skiffs which use five-horsepower diesel engines. These small skiffe cost about $7,000 and require little maintenance and are ideally suited for lagoon fishing. Small deep freeze units, powered by solar energy would also be ideal for the outer islands, where alternative energy using photovoltaics and wind generators are perfectly suited for tropical localities in the Trade Winds regio: (Glenn Alcalay was a Peace Corps Volunteer on Utirik Atoll in the Marshall Islands, 197: -1977. He has represented the Utirik CouncL in U.S. Congressional Hearings and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at Rutgers University.) BEKERG N“DUMP Continued from Page 14 Bikini, their homeland," Senator Henchi Balog said. “We cannot welcome nuclear waste on Bikini.” Balos said he went with Kabua to Japan in July at Kabua's request to talk to the Japanese about storing nuclear waste in the Marshalls. "I told him it was premature for me to speak,'' said Balos, adding that "Bikini has its own independent study of the conta- mination going on so I couldn't say yes or no to the Japanese about storing waste on bikini." Balos said he has personally told Kabua chat storing wastes on Bikini is out of the question. "Even if it was stored on another ~slands in the Marshalls I would oppose it." Kabua contended that many Bikintans favor storing nuclear waste on Bikini. They might be compensated by the Japanese for allowing the storage, he said. Kabua also Said Bikini is already so contaminated no one can live there. ‘What is the problem of adding low level waste into it? does it do?" he asked. What harm (Combined from Pacific Daify News 9-3, 9-4; UPI 9-2, 3-=, 9-4; and President Kabua's speech to Guam conference.) NSC's NEW PHONE # IS: (808) 942-0437