Marshall Islands: Nuclear Testing Legacy

The Marshall Islands, consisting of 29 coral atolls with over 1,000 islands in the central Pacific, has a troubled history as US nuclear testing site. Between 1946-1958, 67 nuclear tests were conducted, leaving lasting health and environmental impacts.

Bikini and Enewetak atolls were nuclear testing sites, with Bikini remaining too radioactive for habitation. The Runit Dome, called the "Tomb," contains radioactive waste but is threatened by rising seas. Majuro Atoll houses the capital. Traditional Marshallese navigation using stick charts represented wave patterns.

The US provides financial support through Compact of Free Association. Many Marshallese emigrate to the US, particularly Arkansas. Climate change threatens the low-lying atolls severely. Marshallese people maintain culture despite nuclear legacy and seek justice for testing impacts while facing existential climate threats.