Right on the indentation line of the International Dateline, there lies a remote Pacific country called the Republic of Kiribati. Most Americans do not know that this country exists, or even the dark legacy of nuclear testing. During the height of the Cold War, Kiribati experienced 33 nuclear tests by both the United Kingdom and the United States. These horrific tests damaged the ecosystems and severely impacted the 500 citizens who were living on Kiritimati Island. As a result of the legacy of nuclear weapons, Kiribati has been spearheading nuclear justice initiatives with Kazakhstan through the TPNW and First Committee resolution. NAPF collaborates closely with them.

At NAPF, we have heard stories from the survivors, whom we have sponsored to international meetings at the UN, about the humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear weapons. However, we had never traveled to Kiribati until March this year.

In late March, our Policy and Advocacy Director, Christian N. Ciobanu, and Maverick Peter Seda, who is affiliated with our youth initiative, traveled with a funder to Kiribati to lay the foundation for a nuclear justice center.  On day 1, the team met with a group of religious leaders, who shared NAPF’s activities on nuclear justice in Kiribati. The religious communities warmly received them and encouraged them to continue with their advocacy.

Inspired by the religious communities, the team met with government officials from New Zealand and Kiribati. The officials shared their interest in supporting a nuclear justice center and encouraged them to travel to Kiritimati to meet with the survivors. Significantly, the team met with the former President of Kiribati and Ambassador to the UN, who told them, “What matters the most is to make a difference in the lives of the survivors. We must help them as they have suffered so much.”

As they prepared to travel to Kiritimati, a nun urged them to hold the Nuclear Weapon States accountable for their actions, including reparations for the harm that they caused to the citizens.

On Kiritimati Island, the team engaged in a series of heartbreaking Talanoas/meetings with the mayor, council members, and affected communities. All three groups shared their concerns about the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons.  They heard stories about the potentially poisoned fish and the need for scientists to conduct radiological assessments. A survivor approached them and conveyed her family’s tragic experience with the nuclear tests.

Returning from Kiritimati Island, the team met with the Secretary of the Line and Phoenix Islands and met with the Vicar of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kiribati. These discussions focused on the urgent need to provide support to the survivors and the need for an ecumenical coalition to engage with the government.

The team departed from Kiribati with inspiration to help the survivors. This is why we are supporting the international meeting on victim assistance and environmental remediation, where we expect the international community to produce a series of recommendations to help the victims.

We would like to thank the Ploughshares Fund, Horizon 2045, and private donors for supporting this trip.