Book Review by Laura Lynch – 14/07/01
Indigenous women from Australia, Bougainville, East Timor, French Polynesia, Hawaii, West Papua, Marshall Islands, New Zealand and Palau have overcome incredible odds to tell their stories of survival in a joint publication, Pacific Women Speak Out for Independence and Denuclearisation by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom in New Zealand, the Disarmament and Security Centre in New Zealand, and Australia’s Pacific Connections. The editor, Zohl de Ishtar, says "This book is a contribution to the Hague Appeal for Peace, a global campaign to delegitimise war. It arises from our concern that indigenous Pacific women are rarely heard in the wider international arena and is an attempt to make their wisdom more available."
The impact of oppression in many forms These women of the Pacific share their personal testimonials of suffering from the impact of invasion and war, nuclear weapons systems, nuclear testing, militarisation, human rights abuses, mining and all the manifestations of colonisation. They speak out about their personal strife in the hope that people around the world will learn about what is happening in the Pacific – their home of 32 countries and many more nations. They have united here in their determination to recreate an independent and nuclear-free Pacific.
Lijon Eknilang of the Marshall Islands tells of her own experience and the experiences of other women who have been exposed to the radiation from the nuclear testing: "The most common birth defects on Rongelap and other atolls in the Marshall Islands have been ‘jellyfish’ babies. These babies are born with transparent skin. There are no legs, no arms, no head! Many women die from abnormal pregnancies and those who survive give birth to what looks like strands of purple grapes which we quickly hide away and bury."
Darlene Keju-Johnson of the Marshall Islands states, "We are only a very few thousand people out there on tiny islands, but we are doing our part to stop this nuclear madness…. But we need your support. We must come together to save this world for our children and for the future generations to come."
A historical notation alongside of Keju-Johnson’s story reads: "In 1947, the U.S. became administrator of the Marshall Islands, promising to protect the Marshallese people and their lands, and lead them to independence. But nuclear testing had already begun in 1946, detonating 66 nuclear bombs, and in 1958 the U.S. developed a missile base (the world’s largest missile range) at Kwajalein which has contributed more to the nuclear arms race than any other place on earth. Imposed economic dependency resulted in the Marshallese accepting a Compact of Free Association. Implemented in 1983, it gave the U.S. sole military rights, a veto over foreign affairs, and excused it of any responsibility for the future impacts of its nuclear activities."
These women share their powerful stories with honesty and clarity in an effort to do their part to ensure a safer world for future generations to come.
Profits from the sale of this book will go into a trust fund to help support the work of Pacific women.
Pacific Women Speak Out ISBN 0-473-05666-6 can be ordered from: NZ: The Disarmament and Security Centre P.O. Box 8390 Christchurch Aotearoa/New Zealand Email: kate@chch.planet.org.nz
Cost: $15 + $2 postage (NZ) + $5 overseas Bulk orders $10 for 10 or more + $20 postage
UK:Women for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific c/o 89 Great Russell St London WCIB 3PS Email: corinne@zetnet.co.uk
Australia:Pacific Connections (Zohl de Ishtar) P.O. Box 17 Annandale, NSW 2038 Email: pacific@rainbow.net.au Cost A$15 + $2p+p
US:Felicity Hill Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom 777 United Nations Plaza 6th Floor New York, NY 10017
