Consequential Damages of Nuclear War by Barbara Rose Johnston Holly M Barker

Author:Barbara Rose Johnston, Holly M Barker [Barbara Rose Johnston, Holly M Barker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781598743456
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2008-07-31T00:00:00+00:00

SUMMARY OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

The loss of customary lands and the means to sustain community cohesion, coupled with degenerative disease associated with radiation exposure, has produced distinct effects on diet, health, and household economy. Extremely dense residential patterns created by communities of exiles living on rented land have created or exacerbated terrestrial and marine pollution. The impoverished condition of the Rongelap community has intensified local resource use, and the ecosystemic viability of host island environs has been degraded. Restricted access to critical resources inhibits the ability to teach younger generations about the means to sustain a self-sufficient way of life. Loss of access to customary lands further inhibits efforts to transmit key information across the generations—knowledge that is essential to the survival of the community if it is ever to return to customary lands. Some hardships are endured by individuals, such as the many Rongelapese who experienced physical pain and suffering as a result of having their thyroid glands removed or treated, continue to endure the discomforts and side effects of taking lifelong thyroid medication (nausea, lethargy or hyperactivity, hot and cold flashes), or mourn throughout their life the loss of a unique part of their personal and social identity: their ability to sing. Other hardships are endured by families, the community, and the nation, as they also struggle to care for children who were born retarded or handicapped and an elderly population with severe degenerative health care needs. These social, cultural, economic, and environmental problems are linked to exposure and the loss of lands and are consequential damages from nuclear testing. These hardships are exacerbated by the fact that virtually all of the Rongelapese community—including those alive during the testing program, those who lived in the highly contaminated environment, and their offspring—have significant health care needs related to their exposure and struggle with inadequate access to meaningful health care. Yet there is no medical program to adequately address these needs. Patients are frustrated and angry that the U.S. government has failed to provide for them and has ping-ponged them back and forth between inadequate programs.

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