Reverse the Trend:Save Our People, Save Our Planet

Dear Friends,

Greetings! We had an exciting spring term as we continue to prepare for the international meeting on victim assistance and environmental remediation that will be held on September 1 in New York.

In late March, our Policy and Advocacy Director, Christian, and Maverick, who is affiliated with our youth initiative, traveled with Joanne, a funder, to Kiribati to raise awareness about the TPNW. On day 1, the team met with a group of religious leaders, who shared NAPF's activities on nuclear justice in Kiribati, a small Pacific Island State that suffered from 33 nuclear tests. 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. Heartbreaking, a survivor recounted the horrors of the test and urged for the international community to take action.

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.

With this renewed determination, we urge you to support our work as we gear up for the international meeting on victim assistance and environmental remediation. 

We would also like to thank the Ploughshares Fund for supporting this work as well as all of our donors.