Project 180 - deadline end year Veterans Enewetak Atoll spread message congress to pass critical leg
What is Project 180?
Who - Forgotten US Military “Atomic Veterans” having served in Armed Service performing Radiation Risk activities.
What - A media Blitz that will make our legislators’ heads spin. Praise those lawmakers who act. Punish those that don't.
Why - We have less than 180 days to force the law makers to do the right thing by passing legislation this session (ending Dec. 2016) to help “Atomic Veterans” and keep promises made to our Military Veterans or we have to start all over in the next session. These Veterans are dying daily, not from self-inflicted Suicide, but from “Invisible Bullets” of Radiation and toxic Heavy Metals and can’t wait.
These wounds can take 30, 40 and 50 or more years for the effect to be seen. They manifest themselves as Cancer, Autoimmune diseases, respiratory and digestive disorders, non-diabetic neuropathy, bone and muscle disorders to name a few. Most Atomic Veterans have lived their post service life with compounding health disorders manifesting soon after discharge from duties.
Where - One of these is the Radiation Risk activities of the Enewetak Atoll Radiological Cleanup Project from 1977 to 1980. Enewetak Atoll was part of the US Pacific Proving Ground (USPPG or PPG) in the chain of Marshal Islands. This was the site of 43 (successful) Atomic Nuclear Tests and various toxic waste (such as spills of Heavy metals like Beryllium) and debris left from WW II and other test activities.
What can I do? - We are not looking for a donation. We ask that you make a bigger sacrifice by, as a minimum: Make six Phone calls, Write six letters, Write six emails, Post this web site on all Social Media you use, Send the Web site to your email contact list.
Learn more at - Visit Website: www.Project180.Today
Write a Letter/Email to the Editor. Talk to the Media about it. We need to Make these legislators more uncomfortable than they have ever felt. Praise those that act, don’t reelect those that fail to act.
The forgotten Atomic Veterans
Enewetak Atoll was part of the US Pacific Proving Grounds (US PPG) where 43 Nuclear bombs were set off, Beryllium spills, other Heavy Metals and Toxic Waste existed. As a cost saving measure these Veterans were used to scape, load, transport and unload Radioactive/contaminated soil transporting more than 111,000 cubic yards via trucks, loaders, and ships to Runit (code name Yvonne) Island depositing the soil and other debris in to the ~ 30 ft deep crater, code named Cactus, entombing the waste in a 18 inch thick cement cap made of contaminated soil and Portland cement creating a dome. Some of the other contaminated soil was pushed into the lagoon and used to create a causeway between islands. Some islands were coated with potassium. The water was pulled from the lagoon and desalinated to create “potable water” for drinking and (limited) showers (smart huh?). Gray water was pulled from the lagoon and used for flushing the toilets, etc., where did that waste water go?
Little to no protective gear was provided. With solders wearing shorts and often using their t-shirt for a pseudo dust masks, The solders would beg for a dust mask being told they were on back order. Even if proper protective gear was available it would not have been practical in the 100+ degree temperatures. To date many of these Veterans that would be in their late 50s to early 60s are dead, fighting Cancer or other health issues more than likely caused by Ionization Radiation and other toxic substances.
The cost of this operation when completed is estimated at $239 million. A $150 million Trust Fund was created, intended to generate $18 million a year to cover Marshallese claims. Additionally, a compensation award to the people of Enewetak consisting of $107.8 million for environmental restoration; $244 million in damages to cover economic losses caused by loss of access and use of the atoll; and $34 million for hardship and suffering was awarded. Then at end of 2008, another $96.658 million in individual damage awards were made to the Marshallese. Meanwhile Veterans have not received the medical care promised or any service connected disability.
Project 180 is presently supporting efforts to promote Atomic Veteran friendly legislation
This Bill titled "Atomic Veteran Healthcare Parity Act" identifies Enewetak Atoll Radiological Cleanup Project Veterans as "Atomic Veterans" in CFR title 38Sec. 1112(c)(3)(B) USC.
This Bill titled "Atomic Veteran Service Medal Act" Creates and Awards members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances. A medal to the Veteran or Next-of-kin.
This Resolution designates July 16th as "National Atomic Veterans Day" every year. Correcting an oversight in Public Law 98-54 which was only effective July 16, 1983.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry of certain veterans who participated in a radiation cleanup mission.
Source: Project 180
