The U.S. government tested nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands already from 1946 to 1957, leaving a number of islands radioactive. Even today the U.S. continues to utilize the Marshalls as the testing site for nuclear war. Kwajalein Atoll is equipped to track intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It is now the testing site for the ballistic missile defense (BMD) system. Two thousand people live on Kwajalein Island, one of the islands of Kwajalein Atoll. The U.S. Army Command Kwajalein Atoll is in charge, but most of the residents are employees of Raytheon Corporation. Ten thousand Marshallese people live on the 66 acres of nearby Ebeye Island, a 20 minute ferry ride away. Those working on Kwajalein Island (performing the manual labor) arrive in the morning and must go back to Ebeye at night. Ebeye is covered with concrete. People live in plywood and corrugated tin shacks. The hospital is poorly equipped. Running water is scarce, and the power goes out frequently. Poor public health infrastructure led to a cholera outbreak in Dec. 2000. 331 cases and six deaths occurred.People are dependent on canned luncheon meats, which make them heavier and more diabetic. Over half the people over age 50 in Ebeye have diabetes. In Ebeye, diabetes is not simply a metabolic problem of elevated serum glucose. At its roots are militarism, racism, destruction of a culture, and destruction of an ecologic system.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will: 1. Describe the problem of diabetes among the Marsallese people; 2. Describe the past and present use of the Marshall Islands for US military purposes; 3. Recognize the relationships between militarism, racism, destruction of culture and the environment and diabetes among the Marshallese people.
Keywords: Diabetes, Environmental Justice
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.