Greenpeace Report Highlights Ongoing Impact of US Nuclear Tests on the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean and home to approximately 50,000 residents, were the site of 67 nuclear tests conducted by the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. A recent study commissioned by Greenpeace reveals that the catastrophic effects of these tests, particularly on the Bikini and Enewetak Atolls, continue to be felt today. The organization asserts that the health, social, and environmental repercussions are far more severe than the U.S. government has acknowledged.

This comprehensive analysis, conducted by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER), marks the first time that official documents from U.S. military records, scientific studies, and medical sources dating from 1945 to the present have been systematically reviewed. The findings indicate that all inhabited atolls in the region were contaminated by radioactive materials, yet only three out of the 24 currently inhabited atolls received any form of medical assistance.

In an effort to honor the 40th anniversary of the evacuation of Rongelap Atoll, which lies approximately midway between Hawaii and Australia, Greenpeace has undertaken new research initiatives. Recently, a team comprised of environmental scientists and radiation experts returned to the region to collect soil samples over a six-week period to assess the long-term ecological and radiological data.

In May 1985, Greenpeace's vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, played a critical role in relocating around 300 individuals from Rongelap to a safer island after they had suffered for decades from health issues, including tumors, miscarriages, and birth defects linked to the nuclear tests.

Critics, including Greenpeace, argue that the residents were turned into unwitting subjects for medical experiments without their consent. The organization has criticized these nuclear tests as emblematic of a dehumanizing and imperialistic policy that sacrificed lives and disregarded Pacific cultures. They assert that the affected communities deserve recognition, reparations, and justice.

The implications of the nuclear tests extend beyond the Marshall Islands, with global consequences. Greenpeace reports that the atmospheric tests conducted on Bikini and Enewetak Atolls are among the most powerful recorded in history. Collectively, the explosive yield from these tests amounted to 108 megatons, equating to detonating a Hiroshima-sized bomb each day for over two decades.

According to the study, approximately 25% of the total radiation exposure from all atmospheric nuclear tests worldwide can be attributed to this series of tests. This has resulted in an estimated additional 100,000 cancer-related fatalities, many of which may not manifest until well into the 21st century. Greenpeace emphasizes that the legacy of these nuclear tests is far from a closed chapter, as their effects persist to this day. The organization calls for overdue acknowledgment and a formal apology from the U.S. government.