80 years ago this year, as the world was recovering from the devastation of World War Two, the United States turned to the Pacific to start testing nuclear weapons.

Over the course of twelve years, 67 nuclear bombs were exploded on the lands and waters of the Marshallese People, including the largest ever nuclear weapons tests the United States conducted.

For our March session with Reclaim Community Fellowship, the Nuclear Truth project is honoured to have Benetick Kabua Maddison, Executive Director, Marshallese Educational Initiative join us.

Benetick will share his knowledge of the impacts these nuclear weapons explosions had on their lands and Peoples.

The session aims to learn about the beginning of the ‘testing’ era in the Pacific, sharing knowledge with Marshall Island advocates for nuclear justice and expand on this with stories of nuclear testing and resistance in each of our regions.

With Fellows and Advisors from the Marshall Islands, Ma’ohi Nui/Tahiti, Qazaqstan, Australia and the United Kingdom, there is much knowledge to share.

These sessions are not open to the public. But you can help spread the word about some key anniversaries nuclear justice advocates are marking this year, including:

🗓️ 80 years since nuclear testing began in the Marshall Islands (1 July 1946)

🗓️ 60 years since testing began in Tahiti (2 July 1966)

🗓️ 40 years since the entry into force of the Rarotonga Treaty (South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty) (11 December 1986)

🗓️ 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk (29 August 1991)

🗓️ 20 years since the signing of the Central Asian Nuclear weapon Free Zone treaty signed in Semipalatinsk on 8th September 2006