On March 7th, 1946, the US forced 167 people living in the Bikini atoll, Marshall Islands to move out from their homeland, for preparation of their nuclear testing. 78 years later from this immigration, Bikinian has been evacuated even now. And they call the 7th of March “Bikini Day”.
Originally, ”Bikini” means “many coconut trees” in Marshallese. People who lived in the atoll retrospected; Bikini was such a beautiful place. There were many fish, birds and sea turtles, and it had coconut trees and a widespread lagoon. Islanders moved freely by their canoes. They also made canoes and houses, and handicrafts were also their proud work.
Bikini is known as the name of a swimming costume, but this name is actually derived from the atoll which once had abundant nature, and where the US conducted 23 nuclear tests.
We introduce a message from Tommy Irugiman, the current mayor of Bikini atoll and the leader of people who evacuated in Kili island, Ejit island and other parts of the world. He told us that the name “Bikini” doesn’t mean swimming costume, the word is actually Marshallese.
In those days, the US military person persuaded Bikinians by justifying their nuclear tests with the words, “for the good of mankind and to end all world wars”.
67 nuclear tests in Marshall Islands had affected not only Bikini atoll, but many other atolls over the country. And there are people who have suffered until today in various ways. We have to see what nuclear weapons are, and what nuclear legacy is. Please listen to their voices.