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

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