Dy. Joseph Maher
December 16, 1976
Page 2
1.
Californians
continue
to build
homes on seismic
faults or live in areas highly prone to floods and
mudslides;
2.
Residents in wester n Washington and central
rebuilt their hom es in flood plains;
3.
Coal miners continve
to work in mines
Kansans,
and Texans
history of collapsing;
4,
Oklahomans,
and
Colorado
that have
rebuild
farms,
homes in areas frequently hit by tornados.
a
and
Floods, tornados, earthquakes and mine cave-ins are visible and
real hazards.
People can see the effects almost immediately after
they occur.
Radioactive contamination produces slow changes in
metabolism, cell growth and respiratory areas Of humans.
There are
exceptions to the nature of the effects, of course.
Nevertheless,
the Marshall Islanders, like many underdeveloped societies, need to
experience and visualize a risk before norms and mores can be built
into their culture.
That hasn't happened and until effective proce-~
dures are developed to realistically communicate the risks,
cipate
communication and educational
In itself,
group
1s
problems
to persist.
I anti-
communicating technology to an underdeveloped cultural
a complicated and delicate process;
perhaps
more
thought
and planning should be devoted to communicating the nature of
energy-related technologies to groups of this kind.
In addition
to this immediate problem, an assortment of related issues comes
to igind
as
follows:
1.
Potential conflicts and adjustment problems of inhabi-
2.
Consequence of possible radioactive contamination;
3.
Agency commitment to monitor and assess rehabilitation.
tants
generated by
Thirty years ago,
atolls and islands
nuclear munitions.
the
rehabilitation process;
and
certain Marshall Islanders were relocated to other
to make room for federal government testing of
Most of the Enewetakese were relocated to Kili,
located approximately 650 miles southeast of Enewetak.
Kili is an
island without beaches or reefs where the local economy is based on
limited agriculture.
Hence, fishing skills of the Mnewetakese were
not necessary.
As a result most Enewetakese, have all but lost these
skills because of generation gaps and disuse.
Moreover, many relocated
Enewetakese
a
have
intermarried with Kilians
5 U | | ? |
and other
island