Jan. 17

We are “streaking” across the South Pacific to get our medical emergency to Tahiti. Evidently, top speed is 19-20 knots (23 mph.) It’s a steady 80-81 degrees with 15-20 mph winds. The sun is interrupted by occasional thunderstorms. Easy day.

Natural and Unnatural Disasters.

What could go wrong in the peaceful islands of Polynesia?  I’ll deal with several threats: (1) Merchants and missionaries; testing atomic weapons and climate change. I’ll use the Marshall Islands to touch on all three.

The Marshall Islands are comprised of 5 main islands, 1225 islets, and 24 atolls. About 37,000 people live on the islands; fewer people than in previous years for reasons to be explained. They were settled by Polynesians around 50-30 BCE. For centuries, they led a comfortable island existence, living on fishing and the coconuts, taro, breadfruit and chickens the early settlers brought with them. Not many records exist prior to the arrival of Spaniards in the mid-1500’s. The British came in the late 1700’s. Missionaries and business enterprises arrived in the 1850’s. German copra traders emerged in the 1870’s and 80’s. European countries competed for business opportunities throughout the islands. These commercial and religious interests brought with them influenza, measles, typhoid fever, and syphilis Additionally they provided access to alcohol. Those “gifts” were threat #1. (The United Church of Christ and Assemblies of God are the major religions today.)

Germany annexed the islands in 1885, Japan took them over in 1914 and controlled them with a South Seas Mandate until WWll. The United States assumed control after the War. Following their use for nuclear tests, the Marshall Islands became independent in 1979..

There were 67 nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958. The first A-bomb test was on Bikini atoll in 1946. In 1952 the first hydrogen bomb was exploded on Eniwetok. The 67 tests represented the equivalent explosive power to 1.6 Hiroshima bombings every day for 12 years. While citizens were moved off of Bikini, a number of neighboring island were not warned of the explosions. Radiation was measured over 7000 square miles. The Atomic Energy Commission  acknowledged that 3 islands were contaminated. According to documents revealed later they knew of 12. On the island of Rongelap, islanders experienced burns, lesions, and hair loss. A third of the population had thyroid abnormalities. Ninety per cent of the children had thyroid tumors. One “scientific project” extracted teeth for study. In 1956 the AEC Director of Health and Safety sent scientists to the island to study “the natives”…comparing them to mice.

Bikini was resettled and then evacuated again. An International Nuclear Claims Tribunal suggested compensation to Marshall Islanders of $2.3 billion. The Us has paid $150 million as a final settlement. There obviously has been cultural dislocation and there are higher cancer rates….even reports of “jellyfish babies” born without bones.

One other “gift” was, the Runit Dome on an atoll. It’s a nuclear waste site in an unlined crater covered by non- load bearing concrete. It contains radioactive soil and debris, some plutonium, and nuclear waste shipped from the US. This is relevant as we look at climate change. Increasing sea levels,storm surges, and an increased number of typhoons is causing relocations in a number of islands beyond just the Marshalls. It is not just a problem with flooding or covering islands and atolls. Drinking water is frequently accumulated below the island. Increased saltwater levels can destroy these reservoirs There are a number of South Sea Islands examining what happens to their identity if their island goes underwater.

The only saving grace is that president elect trump says that climate change isn’t a problem….so what,  if the sea level increases 1/3 inch over 500 years….and  maybe it will create more waterfront property. He actually said all those things..I don’t think that will make the islanders feel better.