Students’ commemorate nuclear victims

Two kids holding a poster with a powerfull message.  Picture: Epeli Lalagavesi/Wansolwara

By REILEEN B. JOEL

The Marshall Islands Students’ Association (MISA) on Tuesday (March 2) organised a march commemorating the 32nd Nuclear Victim’s Remembrance Day at The University of the South Pacific’s, Laucala campus.

The march began at the USPSA Foyer along the main road to the Aus-Pac Lecture Theatre where a formal commemoration for victims and survivors of the nuclear testing was held.

Marshall Islands was the site of a series of nuclear testing program carried out by the United States of American between 1946-1958

Through the effects of the testing program, the Marshall Islands continue to suffer from radioactive contamination which has spread across entire regions within the country though the flow of the ocean.

Many Marshallese have been displaced and suffer from death and various illnesses as a result of exposure to the radiation.

Myra Leviticus, a descendant from both Enewetak and Bikini Atoll (Nuclear testing sites), told Wansolwara, she would not be silent about the issue and would never give up.

“We are sad that our dependents had to go through it for us to be who we are today. So we have made it known that we are not silent about this issue. We are speaking out and letting people know that we are resilient and more determined for a nuclear free world,” Ms Leviticus said.

“We are one ocean and one people, so let’s continue to work together to prevent future nuclear projects and remember those who are displaced in my country.”

Students from Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Norway, China, Japan, Taiwan, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and other international students also joined the march to show their solidarity.

 MISA also used the occasion to launch a hash tag “My Fish is Your Fish” on social media to support the campaign.

Ishael Ken, a Marshallese student, explained why the hash tag came about.

He said when the Americans left they built a nuclear waste storage on an island called Runit.

“Over time, the radiation within that whole containment would leak, and it is leaking out.

“It is leaking into our ocean, affecting the corals, fishes, and the livelihood of the people of the Marshall Islands”, he stressed.

He said the small fish along the coast may be contaminated and may spread the poison easily throughout the Pacific, and that is why the hash tag is entitled “My Fish is Your Fish”.

Meanwhile, MISA said the aim of the campaign is to bring awareness of the Nuclear Legacy here in the Pacific, especially on Marshall Islands.

“We stand for nuclear justice and in solidarity with our partners in the region.”

“My Fish Is Your Fish highlights the importance of fish and our connectivity through the ocean. MISA4thePacific argues that focus should be on SDG 14.1: Land-based contamination, because if the Runit dome is leaking, the Marshall Islands is not going to be the only place affected, but the entire Pacific Ocean. That is why My Fish is Your Fish because the ocean is ours together.”

A number of emotional chants and slogans were on display during the march with messages such as, “We walk hand in hand; we walk hand in hand some day. Deep in my heart, I believe. We will walk hand in hand, some day.”

One of those participant, Aqua Harris from Nauru said the event is one that should be supported by all communities.

“We are one people and we are all connected to the ocean. I was moved by the solidarity of Pacific Islanders gathering to support our brothers and sisters from Marshall Islands. We are certainly one ocean, one people so we should support each other,” Mr. Harris said.

MISA said the turnout at the march was as successful and overwhelming than last year, as more students from the region are standing in solidarity this year.

Edited by Wansolwara students Deputy Editor Brian Lezutuni (Solomon Islands) and student Online Editor Ben Bilua (Solomon Islands).