eS Ne A a a A SS NS ON EO OO SOD MS PW oO a OD se wa oom Oo to a WEAPONS TESTING SOS A 1980 continued ed number of Marshallese citizens and a quick reading, without independent analysis, of reports prepared by the Brookhaven National Laboratory." “According to (a DOE) survey... the radiation on Rongelap, espe- cially in the northern part of the atoll, is higher than the level of JANUARY The Marshall Islands and the U.S. initial a Compact of Free Association, indicating general approval of this status, which gives the Marshall Islands control over their internal and foreign affairs, to the degree that this control doesn't conflict with U.S. authority for security and defense. 1981 U.S.: American ex-military men exposed to radiation during nuclear tests at Bikini and Enewetak, report an increasing rate of sickness in then- selves and their children, including dizzy spells, continuous fatigue, leg and back aches, skin problems, tumors, cataracts, cancers, sterility, and deformed and mentally retarded children. Many of these problems began within weeks or months of their radiation exposure, but the U.S. Veterans Administration refuses to acknowledge these disabilities as "service-related." APRIL Northern Marshalls: The Marshall Islands Atomic Testing Litigation Project, a consortium of U.S. law firms, announces the filing of multi-million dollar personal injury claims against the U.S. government on behalf of more ‘than 600 Marshallese; approximately 1,300 wore individual lawsuits will be filed, state the attorneys. In addition, cases seeking compensation for loss and damage of land for 13 atolls and one island in the northerm Marshalls will be filed. radiation on Eneu in Bikini...We are told by DOE doctors not to eat the food on the land and fish in the ocean near these islands.... More alarming is the fact that we have been eating the food and liv- «-s ing on these islands since the AEC told us it was safe in 1957." John Anjain, former magistrate of Rongelep, 1980. “There was a general complaint of diming vision some five or six years ago on Utirik, probably due to an increased incidence of cataracts. None of the people from Utirik that I spoke to told me that any physician examined their eyes in such a way as to be able to recognize cataracts. Instead, I was told that two boxes of eyeglasses were shipped. to the islanc being of various models and frames, and the people were to come in and choose whichever eyeglass seemed to help them. And this was the sum of investigation and treatment of the eye problems--of what I MAY Rongelap: Senator Jeton Anjain, a “member of the Marshall Islands Nitijela (legislature) attends the Radiation Victims Hearings in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Hearings primarily focus on civil- ians and servicemen who were exposed to radiation from the Nevada nuclear test think Is a unique epidemic of ca- taracts. American citizens would not Jikely tolerate such handling. At least my patients would not.” Rueben Merliss, M.D., followinc a July, 1980 visit to the MarShall Islands. site. 9002627 (continued on page 34) Sm mance meee 32 ’