Marshallese Fight for US Nuclear Compensation

The US Owes the Marshall Islands for Nuclear Devastation

On March 1, 1954, a US nuclear test codenamed "Bravo" detonated on Bikini Atoll, exposing thousands of Marshallese people to radioactive fallout. This catastrophic event was orchestrated by the US government, which had relocated the indigenous population to make way for its nuclear testing program. Historian Barbara Rose Johnston has extensively documented the traumatic consequences of this event.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that the US conducted nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958, and most people think that the affected communities received adequate compensation and support. However, this simplistic narrative overlooks the complex and contentious history surrounding the US nuclear testing program and its ongoing impact on the Marshallese people. Many assume that the issue has been resolved, but the reality is far more complicated.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Robert C. Kiste and Philip L. Peterson have meticulously researched the US nuclear testing program in the Marshall Islands, revealing a pattern of neglect and deception. On January 18, 1968, the US government established the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which included the Marshall Islands, but this move did little to address the nuclear contamination and displacement of the local population. According to the 1986 Compact of Free Association, the US provided a total of $150 million in compensation to the Marshall Islands for damages related to nuclear testing, but the actual cost of the devastation is estimated to be over $2 billion. As documented in the book "The Marshall Islands: A History" by Thomas H. McGrath, the US government actively worked to downplay the severity of the nuclear tests and their impact on the environment and human health. On September 17, 2000, the US Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which provided additional compensation to affected individuals, but many Marshallese activists argue that this legislation does not go far enough in addressing the ongoing health and environmental consequences of the nuclear testing program.

The Part That Got Buried

The story of the Marshallese activists' fight for compensation was intentionally suppressed by the US government, which actively worked to downplay the severity of the nuclear testing and its effects on the local population. The US Department of Energy, led by Secretary James Watkins, played a significant role in minimizing the impact of the testing, and the department's reports were often misleading or incomplete. Additionally, the US Congress, particularly the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, failed to hold sufficient hearings and investigations into the matter, allowing the issue to fade from public attention. One concrete reason for the suppression of this history was the US government's fear of liability and the potential financial costs of providing adequate compensation to the affected communities.

The Ripple Effect

The lack of compensation and recognition for the Marshallese people has had concrete consequences, including the displacement of entire communities and the contamination of land and water. The island of Rongelap, for example, was evacuated in 1985 due to high levels of radiation, and its residents were forced to relocate to the island of Mejato. A specific modern consequence of this event is the ongoing health crisis in the Marshall Islands, where high rates of cancer and birth defects are still prevalent today. The US government's decision to test nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands has also led to the creation of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program, which provides limited compensation to individuals who were exposed to radiation as a result of the testing.

The Line That Says It All

The US government has paid out less than $50 million in compensation to the Marshallese people since the nuclear testing began, despite estimates that the total cost of the testing and its aftermath will exceed $2 billion.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands.