*t was too hot, they dumped into this lagoon. . .
We know for a fact that a lot
of that copra was indeed rejected as being too hot.
Not rejected and burned, but
rejected and dumped.
It is really important.
It entered our food chain.
fish eat the copra and fish liver around the Marshalls is a delicacy.
The
Kids gather
fish and grab the liver and chew on it, or heart or other parts of the entrails."
ll.
Family Integration
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs maintains that different systems of health
delivery in the Marshalls, with obvious differential
levels of efficiency and
excellence, would hit at the very heart of the family and thus the social fabric.
“We are saying that that would be so disruptive. . .--it would not sit sell
socially.
hospital
It would be difficult to justify people on one island going to this
and the people of another island going to that one. . .
Morally,
ethically, it would be a slow destruction of this society. . . A family with a
father from Bikini and a mother from Mili, and adopted child. . .If you have a
family that
could conceivably have three or four people from three or four
different atolls living in the one house, you go to see that doctor and go to that
medical facility because you are from here and you to see that one because you are
from there.
12.
Essentially, it doesn't work.
Simply doesn't."
The Economic Aspects
In a special meeting with several government officials in the senate chamber
on October 16, 1980, Dr. Jeton Anjain, who is the senator representing Rongelap
Atoll, and also the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, voiced his
concern that parallel systems of health delivery service would be “a terrible
waste of money in this economy."
Another official said, “Our people would never
understand this way of doing things.
We don't think that the Burton Bill should
be administered
or
by an
organization
an
entity other
than
that which
the
government utilizes for its general delivery of health services."
13.
Disruption of Social Values and Customs: Adoption
“Adoptions are very, very common in our society, very common.
It is not
uncommon for a family of 8 or 9 to have at least one or two adopted children in
that family.
Not in the strict legal adoption sense that you are familiar with in
the United States, but where I have a sister who has a son and I say,
your son to grow up with my family.'
She says, 'Fine.'
of my family, just as if he were my own.
Or vice versa.
‘I'd like
The son becomes a member
I might have a daughter
or a son, and a sister might want that son or daughter to live with her and become
her son or daughter.
same
household
acceptable. . .
form
ll
to
15.
household. . .
to
That still happens today.
receive
help
from
Sending different members of the
different
systems
would
not
be
You take the average household in Ebeye or Majuro--it is upwards
You
are
bound
to
have
multi-island
It could destroy the social fabric."
people
in
the
one