80 years ago, the U.S. began the largest nuclear weapons testing program in the world in the Marshall Islands. The U.S. detonated over 67 weapons with some explosions more than 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. In fact, if the combined explosive power of the tests was evenly distributed over a 12-year period, it equals 1.6 Hiroshima-sized explosions per day. At least six islands were vaporized, and debris and radioactive fallout polluted the land, air, and sea across the northern Pacific region throughout the 12 years of testing. Following the nuclear tests, the U.S. used the Marshallese people for human radiation experiments. The U.S. prioritized obtaining data on radiation from the Marshallese people over their healthcare. Those who weren’t enrolled in human radiation experiments were either forced to relocate and/ or suffered the health effects long-term due to the fallout contamination of food and water sources. Previously classified details about the U.S. nuclear testing program were revealed in 1994 when the U.S. Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments (ACHRE) declassified a trove of documents. The 13,213 documents detail the horrific consequences of the nuclear tests and human radiation experimentation in the RMI. While the U.S. government released the documents in 1994, the size of the document set and the lack of searchability have made it difficult for advocates to systematically review them. In 2021, ICAAD and our partners created a searchable database for the documents. Now, Marshallese leaders, activists, researchers, and the general public can understand for themselves a critical part of the injustice that was the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program and advocate for nuclear justice. Explore the database here: https://rminucleardocs.icaad.ngo/ (fb)

Join us next week for an info session on our Advocacy Essentials Certificate Program to learn how to expand your impact. We’ve been asking the hard questions to deliver community-centered online courses that build participants’ systemic analysis, reflexive practice, and actionable skills. In the program, you’ll dive into practical tools, real world case studies, and join a community of change makers committed to expanding their impact in the world. Whether you're an activist, artist, or professional in a mission-driven organization, this program will leave you better equipped to disrupt unjust systems. Advocacy Academy Alumni have described their experiences as “life-changing,” “heart-warming,” and “full of things I thought I knew, but I really didn’t.” The info session will offer a taste of what the live sessions will feel like and plenty of space for Q&A. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/advocacy-academy-info-session-3avsan2v If you can’t join us live, no worries—register and we’ll send you the recording. (fb)