Castle Bravo Mural, Marshallese Youth, MEI, 2021
From 1946-1958 the United States tested 67 nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands in the North, Central Pacific. Today, nearly 2/3 of all Marshallese reside in the United States.
These paintings by Marshallese youth in Springdale, Arkansas, working with the nonprofit, Marshallese Educational Initiative, expose the trauma experienced by youth living in diaspora in the United States and who are learning about the ongoing biological, ecological, and cultural consequences of US nuclear testing on their homelands - a history not taught in US schools.
Joining MEI and other youth from affected communities and using art as activism, Marshallese youth are reversing the trend and engaging leaders and their communities to act on these twin threats.
Marshallese Youth Art Pieces
These art pieces were created by Marshallese youth who are working with MEI to learn about our nation’s history and the ongoing consequences of our shared nuclear legacy with the United States. I hope these beautiful pieces will encourage people to learn more about our nuclear and climate stories and help us achieve a nuclear-free and livable planet for all.
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- Benetick Kabua Maddison, MEI Executive Director