nuclear-news

Nuke site seeks world heritage status

Herald Sun February 20, 2009

BIKINI Atoll, the site of the United States’ largest hydrogen bomb test and the place that lends its name to the skimpy two-piece swimsuit, is seeking recognition as a world heritage site.

“Nuclear bomb tests at Bikini Atoll shaped the history of the people of Bikini, the history of the Marshall Islands and the history of the entire world,” according to the Bikini proposal released today.

The 86-page document, to be presented to UNESCO’s World Heritage program, has been drawn up by Bikini liaison official Jack Niedenthal and Australian-based consultant Nicole Baker. A world heritage nomination involves a multi-level review and a decision is unlikely to be made before June next year, Ms Baker said…………………………”There are only a few 20th century sites, few are in the Pacific and few have confronting values,” she said, referring to Bikini’s status as a nuclear test ground zero as “nuclear colonialism”.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25081441-5012752,00.html

February 20, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | OCEANIA, politics