Senator: Compensate residents near site of atomic bomb test

[bananas]

Source: Associated Press

People who lived near the site of the first atomic bomb test in the New Mexico desert and later developed cancer and other health problems need to be compensated, a U.S. senator said Thursday.

The federal government neglected residents of the historic Hispanic village of Tularosa near the Trinity Site, where the weapon was detonated on July 16, 1945, Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said in a speech on the Senate floor on the 70th anniversary of the test.

"The rest of the world didn't know about the tragedies that happened in the Tularosa Basin. For a long time, the government denied that anything happened at all," Udall said. "Attention was not paid then. It must be paid now."

Udall met with residents and family members who lived near the test site and shared stories about relatives dying from cancer. He said he believes they should be included in the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act program, which could provide a $50,000 payout.

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Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TRINITY_TEST_70TH_ANNIVERSARY?SITE=NELIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Warpy]

1. They should be compensated. However, most of those affected are already dead.

None of the atomic warriors ever considered fallout as being one of the major killers of their various bombs. All they could see were the big bangs that would kill enough people to win wars. They didn't realize they were killing their own.

[closeupready]

2. Yes. There were SO many thousands of tests in the LA area,

I sometimes wonder if that's why cancer seems to be so pervasive in S. Cal.?

[tymorial]

4. That is crap.

The atomic energy commission ran experiments between 1944 to 1974. They admitted to intentionally exposing 16,000 people to radioactive material and radiation. There were forced to admit that some of those people NEVER consented. 100 Alaskan villagers were exposed in the 60s. 49 mentally retarded men and women were fed cereal with radioactive iron and calcium in their cereal in the late 50s. How can mentally retarded people give informed consent 7 newborns were injected with radioactive iodine. The testicles of more than 100 prisoners were exposed to cancer-causing doses of radiation. This experimentation continued into the early 1970s.

This was just 40 years ago. Do we honesty believe that it ended there? The CIA intentionally dosed people with LSD. Yes, some discovered the truth and sued the government but how many didn't know. How many people lived and died never knowing?

Whooping Cough sprayed on Tampa. Tuskegee. Please. America home of the free.

[For Freddie]

6. Down Winders

Utah,Arizona, New Mexico and S. Cal...
The high incidence of cancer in Utah has been attributed to this.
My husband died in 2011 because we could not get insurance due to "pre-existing condition" not related to the cancer but the cancer killed him in 3 months from diagnosis. He grew up in Utah and he was a "Down Winder" . Both his parents also had cancer.
There has been a bill waiting for a long time in congress about this. The money owed can be given to survivors effected by this.

There is also a well know theory that Utah was intentionally exposed because the Mormon population in southern Utah was relatively "clean" with no smoking/drinking or other exposures so the effects of radiation could better be observed. Like John Wayne and everyone on his set going out to watch the big bangs over in Nevada who all died of cancer. Of course they also all smoked and drank. But the locals did not.Nor did the Saints in Apache Co. and Navajo Co. Az.

When my husband died we lost our business, our home and went bankrupt. It would be nice to have some help now. Not holding our breath however.

They KNEW the effect of radiation at the time. Hello? Madame Curie? The history of the researchers at Los Alamos is well known.
I went to the U of New Mexico and knew nuclear engineers there
in the 1970's. The effect on domestic populations was accepted.

But the war came first. They didn't care.
The military is endowed to pollute and do what ever is needed
with out thought or consideration to side effects on domestic
populations. Acceptable casualties. This is the way of the world.
Still it would be helpful now to my family to get
a little consideration.

[tymorial]

3. Oh just This?

in 1995 the Atomic Energy Commission admitted that some 16,000 people were exposed to radioactive material and radiation between 1944 and 1974. They said "some" did not give consent. What is some? Many of these tests were conducted at hospitals and major universities around the country. The government fought tooth and nail to prevent exposure.

We complain about the NSA spying on us and it must end but it is nothing compared to MKUltra which the government fought tooth and nail to defend. How many were intentionally drugged with LSD and never knew? Yes, there was a lawsuit but how many never knew?

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

5. 2053 nuclear test around the world since July 16 1945

Watch this very powerful video of what that looks like.

[Helen Borg]

7. There is no compensation for this...

[Tikki]

8. Compensate those from Hanford who were residents there during the Green Run....

Especially those who were infants and youngsters.

The Tikkis
Children of the Radiant Glow