Nuclear Futures

In George’s truck about to leave for the ceremony. / Photo Jessie Boylan

Today’s session, on the ethics and practice of informed consent, began with Mick and Jessie performing the roles of terrible unethical interview techniques and respectful considered interview techniques. Interestingly, Jessie was outstanding as the evil unethical intrusive interviewer.

George very kindly drove most of us in his truck to the Nuclear Victims’ Remembrance Day ceremonies. We listened to the powerful and moving speeches by local and visiting dignitaries. Mayors and Senators from the four atolls,  Mr. Yasuyoshi Komizo, Chair of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation and Mr. Oishi Matashichi, survivor of the Lucky Dragon Number Five fishing boat, and the President of the Marshall Islands, His Excellency Christopher Loeak, spoke about the historical and continuing effects of nuclear fallout.

Between 1946 and 1958, sixty-seven bombs were detonated in the Marshall Islands. The Bravo test, commemorated today, was over 1,000 times more powerful than the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. [1]

Oishi San speaking about his experiences on Lucky Dragon Number 5 fishing boat that was near Bikini when the Bravo test took place. / Photo Jessie Boylan

After lunch in the big thatched hut,  the students each spoke about the effects of radiation in their own homelands and for their own families.  They then took off into the hotel gardens to record interviews with each other, discovering differences and similarities, learning about video techniques and about each others countries.

Students interview each other about their experiences. / Photo Jessie Boylan

[1] http://www.nuclearclaimstribunal.com