Recorded presentation

Alice A. Furumoto-Dawson, PhD, Dept. Society, Human Dvlpmt. and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Dr., Rm. 403-U, Boston, MA 02115, 617-384-8733, afurumot@hsph.harvard.edu

A history of Pacific Islands civilian population and environmental abuses by US military nuclear, chemical and biological weapons testing programs will be presented, along with issues of sovereignty, “genes vs. environment” racism and current health disparities. Between the first and second Gulf wars, activist veteran and environmentalist groups aided by extensive press coverage gained public support for investigating US military veterans’ exposures to nuclear weapon tests, Agent Orange and “Gulf War Syndrome.” Patterns of official deception, cover-up and denial to veterans’ claims of the impact of these exposures on veterans’ health and the environment prompted open congressional hearings and public disclosures of internal military investigations. Among these were public disclosures of nuclear weapons tests and Project SHAD (Shipboard Hazard and Defense) chemical and biological weapons exposures, conducted from the 1950s into the 60s. While veterans were the main focus, the investigations secondarily provided some information about Pacific Island civilian population exposures. The US military’s disregard for veterans’ health and the Pacific environment will be shown to be consequences of America’s history of disrespect for the human rights of non-white people and native sovereignty. In the Pacific these connections become compelling and instructive – from the US Navy threat to bombard Honolulu in support of the 1893 coup d’etat by American business interests, to ascribing causes of current Pacific Island health disparities, unfulfilled promises left by the 2003 dissolution of the Nuclear Claims Tribunal for Marshall Islanders, and the unfinished agendas of movements for Hawaiian sovereignty, human rights and health equity.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop an understanding of the history of US military interventions in the Pacific, nuclear and CBW testing programs, and their broader impact on the health of the peoples and islands of the Pacific
• Discuss the relationship between Pacific Island sovereignty issues, environmental justice demands and current health disparities
• Apply this background in evaluating literature and programs addressing causes of and cures for Pacific Island health disparities

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Environmental Justice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.

Recorded presentation