70 Years On: The Dome at Enewetak – A Monument to Sacrifice and Resilience

Love that protective gear the servicemen are wearing.

70 Years On: The Dome at Enewetak – A Monument to Sacrifice and Resilience

The Dome at Enewetak, a haunting crater filled with contaminated debris from decades of nuclear testing, stands as a grim monument to the men whose lives were sacrificed to build it in the late 1970s, and to those servicemen contaminated during the era of above-ground testing. Radioactive and leaking, the Dome serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of nuclear weapons, both on the environment and on the countless lives irrevocably altered by their fallout.

Even today, the Marshall Islands bear the scars of this dark chapter in history. Bikini Atoll, along with other atolls in the region, remains contaminated with hazardous levels of radioactive isotopes and high gamma radiation, more than six decades after the cessation of nuclear testing. The settled islands of Enewetak and Rongelap continue to experience low levels of gamma radiation, a lingering testament to the long-lasting consequences of nuclear activity.

Victoria Moore's Radiate Hope (30x40" oil on canvas) from the Atomic Babylon Collection encapsulates the enduring legacy of these events. The artwork, now showing at the Woods Cove Art Studio and Gallery, invites reflection on the sacrifices made and the hope for a future free from such devastation. Through her work, Moore seeks to shed light on the ongoing struggles of atomic veterans, their descendants, and the affected communities. The Dome at Enewetak, and the ongoing radiation in the Marshall Islands, serve as powerful symbols of the need for remembrance, accountability, and change.

This piece of art, and the stories it represents, urges us to remember not just the past, but to advocate for a safer, more just future. It is a call to honor those who were sacrificed and to work tirelessly to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. The Dome may stand as a monument to the past, but it also radiates a hope for the future—one where the lessons learned from Enewetak lead to a world without nuclear weapons and the suffering they bring.