Cliff Sloan
June 24, 1980
Page Three

major 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 EInjebi 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 Imewetak.
It is uncanny to

compare the reassuring language in both studies, and the "msical

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,

pertains to "safe" levels of radiation for humans.
4)

especially as it

In retrospect, it 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
nongelap and Utirik.
The history of mistakes and mismanagement in
radiation matters in the Marshalls exhibits the flaws associated with
decisions 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 Enewetak 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 independent and non-governmental radiation experts for an
assessment of the Marshall Islands.
The Trusteeship Council agreed
with my request in its “Report of the Trusteeship Council to the

Security Council" (in the Security Council's Official Records, Thirty-

Fourth Year, Special Supplement No.1, 9 June 1978 - 15 June 1979).

To my knowledge, there has been no such survey by independent radiation
experts 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 e copy
of a letter written by Mr. Theodore Mitchell (of Micronesian Legal
Services), who represents the Mmewetak people. I feel obliged to

Select target paragraph3