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After World War II, the United
States was working on improving nuclear weapons. As part of
this development process, the United States wanted to test
new bombs. Bikini and Enewetak were chosen as test sites
because they were far from the United States and difficult
for other countries to spy on. The Marshallese people were
moved from these atolls, and the tests affected people on
several other atolls, including Rongelap and Utrik. More
people have to be moved from their homes. There have been
many other bad effects of the tests. For example, some
islands in Enewetak can never be visited again because of
dangerous radiation. This nuclear testing and the movement
of people from one island to another, away from their land (weto),
are among the most critical events in the history of the
Marshalls. 1946
Bikinians ask to return home because of poor resources on
Rongerik, such as low quality coconuts, bad well water, and
poisonous fish. They are not allowed to return.
Enewetak people are
temporarily moved to Kwajalein and Rongelap during Operation
Crossroads. Wotho people are moved to Lae.
The first nuclear bomb test
occurs on Bikini in July. Bikinians continue to ask to
return home.
1947 A fire destroys 30
percent of the coconut trees on Rongerik making life for the
Bikinians there even more difficult. (1947)
The United States announces
that Enewetak will be used for, a second series of nuclear
tests. Operation Sand Stone. The 145 Enewetak people are
moved to uninhabited Ujelang.
1948 An expert says
conditions on Rongerik are serious. The Bikinians are moved
to a temporary camp in Kwajalein.
Operation Sandstone an
Enewetak beings with three atomic blasts in April and May.
Bikinians vote on whether
to move to Kili or Wotho. The move to Kili.
1951 Operation Greenhouse begins, including four atomic
tests on Enewetak in April and May.
Bikinians experience
regular problems in receiving food supplies on Kili because
of rough seas and not enough ships.
The United States
Department of the Interior takes over from the United States
Navy as the administrator of the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands.
1952 During the first hydrogen bomb test, Operation Ivy, on
Enewetak, the Enewetak people who live on Ujelang
temporarily stay on a US Navy ship. The ship takes them to a
point 100 miles farther away from Enewetak.
Operation Ivy contaminates
Ujelang with radioactive fallout. A blast from Operation Ivy
also completely destroys Elugelab islet in Enewetak.
1954 The Bravo hydrogen bomb test sends radioactive fallout
to Rongelap Utrik, and Rongerik. Contamination spreads to
Ailingnae, Ailuk, Bakaar, Likiep, Toke, Wotho, Jemo, and
Mejit.
Rongelap and Utrik people
who received fallout from the Bravo test experience severe
health symptoms of vomiting, itching skin, nausea, and
diarrhea.
Marshallese on Rongelap, Ailingnae, and Utrik and Americans
on Rongerik are taken to Kwajalein after being exposed to
the fallout from Bravo.
Utrik people return home from Kwajalein.
More than 100 elected and
traditional Marshallese leaders petition the United Nations
Trusteeship Council to have the United States end nuclear
testing in the Marshalls. Trusteeship Council continues to
support American nuclear testing but asks the United States
to add more safety measures and urges the United States to
pay the Marshallese for loss land.
1955 Rongelap women
experience more than twice as many stillbirths and
miscarriages as other Marshallese women.
1956 As payment for losing
their home atoll, Enewetak people accept the American offer
of $25,000 in cash and a trust fund of $150,000 with
semiannual interest payments at 3 and 1/3 percent.
Bikinians agree to allow
the U.S. government to continue to use Bikini. In return,
Bikinians receive use of Kili and several islets in Jaluit,
$25,000 in cash and interest payments of about $15 per
person per year.
Bikinians continue having
trouble receiving supplies on Kili. TT PI locates a place on
Jaluit where Bikinians can move. Three Bikini families move
to Jaluit.
Marshallese leaders again petition the United Nations
Trusteeship Council to have the United States end nuclear
testing and pay the Marshallese for destroyed land.
1957 Typhoon Lola hits Kili,
damaging crops and sinking a supply ship.
Rongelap people are allowed to return home.
1958 Jaluit is struck by
Typhoon Ophelia. Sixteen people die, and the Bikinians
living on Jaluit lose their homes and have to move back to
Kili.
The United States ends
nuclear testing after 23 tests at Bikini and 43 on Enewetak.
Each atoll has lost three complete islets.
1959 American scientists
tell Rongelap people not to eat coconut crabs because of
high radiation levels.
1963 U.S. President John F.
Kennedy tells the American government to do more to assist
the Marshallese people.
1966 Ujelang leaders
petition the United Nations Trusteeship Council to help them
set a time for returning Enewetak to their people.
1967 Enewetak people on
Ujelang experience severe problems, such as inadequate food
supply, lack of materials for repairs, and rats destroying
the copra.
The US High Commissioner
sets up a Rehabilitation Committee to assist with the crisis
on Ujelang.
Enewetak people thank the
members of an Ebeye Protestant church and the Rongelap
people for sending them clothing during the crisis on
Ujelang.
1969 The United States
begins a food distribution program for Bikinians on Kili.
1973 Runit islet in
Enewetak is quarantined after 18 nuclear tests. People
cannot safely live on Runit for 240,000 years.
About 600 Marshallese work
at the Kwajalein missile range. The population on Ebeye is
5,263.
1978 Americans test soil on
Bikini and find it contaminated. Some Bikinians move back to
Kili, while others go to Ejit islet on Majuro.
1980 About 500 Enewetak
people return home from Ujelang after the US government
cleans up the southern islands in Enewetak.
1981 About 100 Enewetak
people return to Ujelang after living an Enewetak for about
six months. They say that Enewetak lacks coconuts and fruit
and that they are afraid of radiation.
1985 Because of the fear of
radioactive contamination on Rongelap, the Greenpeace ship
Rainbow Warrior moves the Rongelap people to a new home on
Mejatto in Kwajalein. |
