Marshall Islands civil society statements

Atomic science and nuclear militarism gave birth to an absolutely unique ecology, artificially creating elements that, through their radiogenic and mutagenic behavior, have fundamentally altered the physical nature of local and planetary systems and the varied life that these systems support. For communities colonized by nuclear militarism – an ecosystem of radiogenic communities located near uranium mines, mills, and enrichment plants; weapons production facilities; military “proving” grounds; battlefields; and nuclear waste dumps — decolonization not only involves coming to terms with the ulcerating consequences of nuclear disaster, it necessarily demands recognition of inequitable relationship, self-serving agendas and contortions in the goals and loci of power in governance.

Even in contexts of immense inequity the power of lived experience can, in certain times and places, make visible hidden truths and encourage transformative change. The experience of Marshallese nuclear survivors is a case in point. Their petitions to the UN Nations detailing their experience with nuclear fallout, the loss of tradiational lands, and the many radiogenic health issues endured helped to inspire the movement to adopt a ban on atmospheric weapons testing. Nuclear activist and Rongelap survivor Lijon Eknilang‘s account for the Marshall Islands story project gives first person voice to this history. Her 1995 testimony to the International Court of Justice was part of the body of evidence that moved that court to declare that the threat or use of nuclear weapons was a violation of international humanitarian law, a ruling that continues to influence and encourage the movement for a total ban on nuclear militarism.

These experiences and commitment to achieve a truly meaningful reparation – remedy that assures never again –  has led Marshallese leaders like Tony DeBrum to file Nuclear Zero petitions at the International Court of Justice and in US Federal District Court against the eight nuclear nations of the world, with the argument that the nuclear nations have failed to comply with their obligations under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and customary international to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Human rights advocacy at the UN

In a continued effort to secure rights-protective responsible governance, a coalition of Marshallese and international civil society prepared statements in support of the UN Human RIghts Commission Universal Periodic Review of the Marshall Islands and the United States (April – May 2015). Submitted on September 15, 2014 by the Center for Political Ecology on behalf of this coalition, these statements can be accessed here:

UPR statement on RMI nuclear issues

UPR Statement on United States – nuclear issues in RMI

One of the primary recommendations – the United States and Marshall Islands must fully embrace and implement the 2012 recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances.

This UN human rights report and recommendations can be accessed here: A/HRC/21/48/Add.1