Page 12 - CAMPAIGN Spring 2021

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CAMPAIGN Spring 2021
When I surfaced, I was sweating for it was so hot, much like being in front of a hot oven with its door being opened! There were noisy children crying in protest, refusing to be held during the eyes blackening session and consequently, Aren Atiriano’s eyes were affected for she managed to get out from under her covers during the blast! I almost regretted the same fate for I was also protesting hard and wished to escape but I was thankful to my Papa for holding on to me tightly!
How inconveniencing and discomforting this exercise was for me! Falling into the oily seawater, being woken up from my sleep in the middle of the night, being rushed to the assembly place in the darkness of the night, the overbearing heat from the brilliance lighting resulting from the bomb blasting and so many more unfavourable related moments! If the tests had carried on much longer than they were, I felt, we would have all been in such sorry states!
It is regrettable for everyone involved and got exposed to those bomb tests because I witnessed and believed that we have all been affected. I wore the special dark glasses, I had my hands over my eyes and my Papa also covered my eyes with his hands and we were all covered up with layers of the p rovided army black blankets and I could still see the light from the blast and furthermore, the discomfort of the heat related to the bomb that I felt was extreme. I believe it was more extreme in comparison to the X-ray as three of my Mum’s children died during these tests.
My children and I have also been affected from during the tests up till nowadays and we have had various ailments that doctors have confirmed
to have been tests’ related. My eldest daughter died from her cancer and the rest have ailments which our doctors have sadly confirmed, they have nothing they can help with. I’m not alone with my children, suffering from unexplained ailments but all the families that were here on the island during the tests are all suffering too in various forms. We have cases of leukaemia, and various other cancer related illnesses.
Evidence exists till now of the burnt-out strip near Poland.
I was very surprised to learn of the different colours that the bomb
just too happy to get back to bed and get warmed up again after being out in the cool night air!
It was sad for the school children and copra cutters too not having enough sleep. The tests proved too disruptive and discomforting,
There were more than 20 bomb tests that I could remember.
There were British tests followed by the Americans. It would have been better to send the islanders home to their home lands in the Gilberts Islands group but they just carried on with the tests regardless.
There had been University students who came to conduct their studies
produced! I’ve also witnessed an aeroplane entering the bomb cloud. My Papa told me the aeroplane was sucking and collecting dust particles for further testing and to be buried because it is poisonous.
When we finally got back home after the test, I remembered the photo frames that were on the walls had been smashed and bottles of oils smashed as the result from the bomb test or the earthquake or tremor that just happened. I was
and investigations and explained they were scientists and expressed their concerns about the implications of the damages to the population resulting from being exposed to the bomb tests and the related radiation effects. It is sad that the governments responsible for poisoning our land are denying responsibility and denying the tests have anything to do with the unexplained illnesses now untreatable by our local hospital. We have an Association dedicated in trying to look for compensation