“ure

wallace O. Green

July 18, 1980
Page Four

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

er

énd I.might add, tnat despite the solace an alternative point of
view of Injebi dose assessments will have for us and the concerned
United States agencies, such an independent assessmert will €o a long
way to reassure the Rneweta: people themselves ebout tre risks involved
in the proposed return.
It

should be pointed out that the Injebi veople will be living ix

& contaminated environment, enc their corcerms anc pessible anxitites
about the lonr-term effects of low-level radiation effects will not
eutometiceslly cease uvor their retum.
It was =y exrerlence on Utirik
thet the people spent much tine discussing the residuscl rafiation on
their contazrinated atoll,

end

although I mst admit that nany of their

“theories” about possible radiation effects seemed nelve end inappropri:
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 tne
snjebi people is ts commission an inéeventent survey with scientists
having no commection with ex arency of the United Ststes Governnent.
é.so,

I

should mention thet meny people in

the Marshall Islands have

heard about “Physicians for Soctal Responsibility" ane their eminent
President, Dr. Helen Caldicott. It is
ww impression thet having Dr.
Caldicott and her organization attached to an indeverdent survey and
éessessment of the Marshalls will help to restore some of our lost

credibility with these people who have a long history of
the United States Govermment.
In closing,

"losing" with

I would like to point out that in ny 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 Islandse

In their

Be

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 Arreement, it seems
that our legacy in Micronesia has been somewhet uneven and inconsistent.
The trust of the United States Govermnment 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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