Imagine an ancient range of volcanoes just beneath the waters of the Pacific Ocean. In the warm shallow water, coral grows on them over millions of years. As the mountain range is pushed up from beneath, the coral reef breaks the surface of the water, and is itself eroded, forming a coral atoll. Each ring of little islands typically has a large lagoon in the center. You’ve just imagined the Marshall Islands, with an average elevation of a foot above sea level. Around 60,000 people call this place home.
"U.S. nuclear testing took place between 1946 and 1958 on the islands of Bikini and Eniwetok. The people of Bikini were removed to another island, and a total of 23 U.S. atomic and hydrogen bomb tests were conducted. Despite clean-up attempts, the islands remain uninhabited today because of nuclear contamination." Source
The National Cancer Insititute in a report last year estimated that more than 530 additional cases of cancer that have been caused by this irradiation. Last month the president of the Marshall Islands went before the U.S. Congress to request additional compensation.
This problem of drifting nuclear fallout from U.S. nuclear testing is not unique to these tiny atolls. In Utah, the downwinders face similar health concerns. They live downwind of this madness.
These days, from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshalls, U.S. contractors launch tests of missiles designed to blow up other missiles at the edge of space. Many scientists have called this system unworkable, but the real risk is that it will eventually work, or be perceived to work.
Although promoted as a defensive weapon, the antiballistic missile program has been widely recognized as an offensive weapon, allowing a nation deploying such a system the capability of striking without fear of retribution. In other words, a missile defense system makes the use of nuclear weapons more likely. It’s simple really. Putting nuclear weapons in space means there’s a greater likelihood that those weapons will be used.
In addition to this, an arms race would result to defeat such defensive technology. Have you noticed any pop-ups getting through your pop-up blocker lately? The internet moves much faster, but the concept is the same.
In this image of an airport in the Marshalls you can see the holes where large chunks of coral were excavated to build out the runway.
The biggest issue for the long term survival of the islands is the rising sea. In the Marshalls, it’s risen nine inches since 1950. Regardless of what the cause is, the Marshall Islands are endangered along with other islands and coastal regions throughout the world.
Thank you for warning us about the U.S.’s dastardly plot to nuke the world. If we all band together, maybe we can stop this. And one day, if were lucky, North Korea will finally be able to nuke us in peace and quiet.
Nuclear weapons detonated by the US over civilian cities: 2
Nuclear weapons detonated by the US for weapons testing, 19245-1992: 1,149
Nuclear missiles built by the US since 1951: 67,500
Yeah, North Korea, the big, big threat.
So, you’re saying your more scared of the U.S. nuking its own cities than of North Korea launching a nuclear weapon at the U.S.?
Maybe you should put the possible number of American soldiers lives saved from the use of those bombs during WWII.
The prospect of North Korea going to war with the U.S. doesn’t really worry me, no. Maybe I need to watch more Fox News.
Frankly, I don’t buy the Estimated American Lives Saved by using nukes nonsense. Japan attacks one of our military bases in a colonially held territory. Just like with 9-11, we had warning but didn’t act on it. The US responds by interring Japanese-Americans and depopulating their islands. Aerial bombardment with incendiary bombs and resulting fire storms were doing the job just fine, there was no reason we had to invade.
overpopulation is the biggest problem we face on earth. Next to the upcomming WWIII
stupidity is the biggest problem. I suggest we solve all our difficulties by breeding for intelligence.
On Dec. 23 let’s drink a toast to the U.S. men and women who died at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. On Dec. 23, 1948, the U.S. hanged Premier Hideki Tojo the murderous thug who killed more than 2000 people at Pearl Harbor who had no part in U.S. foreign policy that some have blamed for WWII. Nukes saved perhaps a half-million more lives on both sides. Thus, all you anti-nuke experts get your facts straight before you begin spouting off!
Stop your evil propaganda, stop doubting the divine mission George Wanker Bush is on! It’s a crusade for world peace!
And the “Bush Administration” would never use atomic bombs, only depleted uranium which has little effect. Evidence: http://www.xs4all.nl/~stgvisie/VISIE/
extremedeformities.html
Don’t worry, it’s only about non-christian subhumans.
non-christian subhumans……hmmmm
the wicked man does type with a foward finger……
It is a well known fact that the Japanese would have defended their homeland to the death thereby incurring a massive quantity of human lives, both Japanese and American. Why else would it take TWO nuclear blasts destroying TWO cities before Japan surrendered. They had THREE days to think about the first blast and allowed another city to be destroyed.
As early as December of 1945, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, realized that bombing Japan had been unnecessary, and he said so in public speeches. By July of 1945 Japan was a defeated nation that was on the verge of collapsing internally. Do people who continue thinking that dropping the bomb was a good idea know more than Oppenheimer?
If they were so “defeated” why didn’t they surrender? The Japanese were continuing to fight to the death until the second of two atomic bombs were delivered. Oppenheimer was a gifted scientist, yes a genius, but to say there was no need for such drastic measures does not take into account the absolute fact that Japan was committed to making a last stand if conventional methods of war were had been used.
“Do people who continue thinking that dropping the bomb was a good idea know more than Oppenheimer?”
When it comes to nuclear physics: no.
When it comes to the issue of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, especially considering that I have at my disposal 60 years of hindsight and additional research: yes.
60 years of additional research? Maybe you should share some of this research with us.