The Times Australia
The Times News

.

75 years after nuclear testing in the Pacific began, the fallout continues to wreak havoc

  • Written by Patricia A. O'Brien, Historian, Visiting Fellow in the School of History, Australian National University and Adjunct Professor in the Asian Studies Program, Georgetown University

This year marks 75 years since the United States launched its immense atomic testing program in the Pacific. The historical fallout from tests carried out over 12 years in the Marshall Islands, then a UN Trust Territory governed by the US, have framed seven decades of US relations with the Pacific nation.

Due to the dramatic effects of climate change, the legacies of this history are shaping the present in myriad ways.

This history has Australian dimensions too, though decades of diplomatic distance between Australia and the Marshall Islands have hidden an entangled atomic past.

Read more: 315 nuclear bombs and ongoing suffering: the shameful history of nuclear testing in Australia and the Pacific[1]

In 1946, the Marshall Islands seemed very close for many Australians. They feared the imminent launch of the US’s atomic testing program on Bikini Atoll might split the earth[2] in two, catastrophically change the earth’s climate, or produce earthquakes[3] and deadly tidal waves.

A map[4] accompanying one report noted Sydney was only 3,100 miles from ground zero. Residents as far away as Perth were warned if their houses shook on July 1, “it may be the atom bomb test[5]”.

75 years after nuclear testing in the Pacific began, the fallout continues to wreak havoc Observers on the USS Mount McKinley watch a huge cloud mushroom over Bikini atoll in the Marshall Islands July 1 1946. AAP/AP/Jack Rice

Australia was “included in the tests[6]” as a site for recording blast effects and monitoring for atom bombs detonated anywhere in the world by hostile nations. This Australian site served to keep enemies in check and achieve one of the Pacific testing program’s objectives: to deter future war. The other justification was the advancement of science[7].

The earth did not split in two after the initial test (unless you were Marshallese) so they continued; 66 others followed over the next 12 years. But the insidious and multiple harms to people and place, regularly covered up or denied publicly, became increasingly hard to hide[8].

Radiation poisoning, birth defects[9], leukaemia, thyroid and other cancers became prevalent in exposed Marshallese, at least four islands were “partially or completely vapourised”, the exposed Marshallese “became subjects of a medical research program” and atomic refugees. (Bikinians were allowed to return to their atoll for a decade before the US government removed them again when it was realised a careless error falsely claimed radiation levels were safe in 1968.)

In late 1947, the US moved its operations to Eniwetok Atoll, a decision, it was argued, to ensure additional safety. Eniwetok was more isolated and winds were less likely to carry radioactive particles to populated areas.

Australian reports noted this site was only 3,200 miles from Sydney[10]. Troubling reports of radioactive clouds as far away as the French Alps[11] and the known shocking health effects[12] appeared.

Dissenting voices were initially muted due to the steep escalation of the Cold War and Soviet atomic weapon tests beginning in 1949.

75 years after nuclear testing in the Pacific began, the fallout continues to wreak havoc Sir Robert Menzies, who became prime minister again in 1949, kept Australia in lock-step with the US. AAP/AP

Opinion in Australia split along political lines. Conservative Cold War warriors, chief among them Robert Menzies[13] who became prime minister again in 1949, kept Australia in lockstep with the US, and downplayed the ill-effects of testing. Left-wing elements in Australia continued to draw attention to the “horrors[14]” it unleashed.

The atomic question came home in 1952, when the first of 12 British atomic tests[15] began on the Montebello Islands, off Western Australia.

Australia’s involvement in atomic testing expanded again in 1954, when it began supplying South Australian-mined uranium[16] to the US and UK’s joint defence purchasing authority, the Combined Development Agency.

Australia’s economic stake in the atomic age from 1954 collided with the galvanisation of global public opinion against US testing in Eniwetok. The massive “Castle Bravo” hydrogen bomb test in March exposed Marshall Islanders and a Japanese fishing crew on The Lucky Dragon to catastrophic radiation levels “equal[17] to that received by Japanese people less than two miles from ground zero” in the 1945 Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic blasts. Graphic details of the fishermen’s suffering and deaths[18] and a Marshallese[19] petition to the United Nations followed.

When a UN resolution to halt US testing was voted on in July, Australia voted[20] for its continuation. But the tide of public opinion was turning against testing. The events of 1954 dispelled the notion atomic waste was safe and could be contained. The problem of radioactive fish[21] travelling into Australian waters highlighted these new dangers, which spurred increasing world wide protests[22] until the US finally ceased testing in the Marshalls in 1958.

Read more: Sixty years on, two TV programs revisit Australia's nuclear history at Maralinga[23]

In the 1970s, US atomic waste was concentrated under the Runit Island[24] dome, part of Enewetak Atoll (about 3,200 miles from Sydney). Recent alarming descriptions of how precarious and dangerous this structure is due to age, sea water inundation and storm damage exacerbated by climate change were contested in a 2020 Trump-era report[25].

The Biden administration’s current renegotiation of the Compact of Free Association[26] with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and its prioritisation of action on climate change, will put Runit Island high on the agenda. There is an opportunity for historical redress for the US that is even more urgent given the upsurge in discrimination against US-based Pacific Islander[27] communities devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic[28]. Some are peoples displaced[29] by the tests.

Australia is also embarking on a new level of engagement with the Marshall Islands: it is due to open its first embassy[30] in the capital Majuro in 2021.

It should be remembered this bilateral relationship has an atomic history too. Australia supported the US testing program, assisted with data collection and voted in the UN for its continuation when Marshallese pleaded for it to be stopped. It is also likely Australian-sourced atomic waste lies within Runit Island, cementing Australia in this history.

References

  1. ^ 315 nuclear bombs and ongoing suffering: the shameful history of nuclear testing in Australia and the Pacific (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ split the earth (nla.gov.au)
  3. ^ earthquakes (nla.gov.au)
  4. ^ A map (trove.nla.gov.au)
  5. ^ it may be the atom bomb test (nla.gov.au)
  6. ^ included in the tests (nla.gov.au)
  7. ^ science (trove.nla.gov.au)
  8. ^ hide (www.govinfo.gov)
  9. ^ birth defects (www.kathyjetnilkijiner.com)
  10. ^ 3,200 miles from Sydney (nla.gov.au)
  11. ^ French Alps (trove.nla.gov.au)
  12. ^ health effects (nla.gov.au)
  13. ^ Robert Menzies (adb.anu.edu.au)
  14. ^ horrors (nla.gov.au)
  15. ^ British atomic tests (www.arpansa.gov.au)
  16. ^ uranium (www.aph.gov.au)
  17. ^ equal (www.govinfo.gov)
  18. ^ fishermen’s suffering and deaths (nla.gov.au)
  19. ^ Marshallese (history.state.gov)
  20. ^ Australia voted (trove.nla.gov.au)
  21. ^ radioactive fish (trove.nla.gov.au)
  22. ^ world wide protests (nla.gov.au)
  23. ^ Sixty years on, two TV programs revisit Australia's nuclear history at Maralinga (theconversation.com)
  24. ^ Runit Island (www.abc.net.au)
  25. ^ 2020 Trump-era report (www.energy.gov)
  26. ^ Compact of Free Association (www.doi.gov)
  27. ^ Pacific Islander (www.politico.com)
  28. ^ COVID-19 pandemic (www.civilbeat.org)
  29. ^ peoples displaced (www.washingtonpost.com)
  30. ^ first embassy (www.dfat.gov.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/75-years-after-nuclear-testing-in-the-pacific-began-the-fallout-continues-to-wreak-havoc-158208

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...

Troubleshooting Flickering Lights: A Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Effectively addressing flickering lights in your home is more than just a matter of convenience; it's a pivotal aspect of both home safety and en...

My shins hurt after running. Could it be shin splints?

If you’ve started running for the first time, started again after a break, or your workout is more intense, you might have felt it. A dull, nagging ache down your shins after...

Metal Roof Replacement Cost Per Square Metre in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Homeowners

In recent years, the trend of installing metal roofs has surged across Australia. With their reputation for being both robust and visually appealing, it's easy to understand thei...

Why You’re Always Adjusting Your Bra — and What to Do Instead

Image by freepik It starts with a gentle tug, then a subtle shift, and before you know it, you're adjusting your bra again — in the middle of work, at dinner, even on the couch. I...

How to Tell If Your Eyes Are Working Harder Than They Should Be

Image by freepik Most of us take our vision for granted—until it starts to let us down. Whether it's squinting at your phone, rubbing your eyes at the end of the day, or feeling ...