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More land crab tests
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Posted on Dec 12 2000
The Issue: US Environmental Protection Agency plans to conduct more tests on Tanapag land crabs.
Our View: It’s a good move in order to ascertain claims that this island delicacy in fact has low PCBs.
It’s good to know that the US Environmental Protection Agency plans to conduct more tests on land crabs found in and around the PCB contaminated areas in Tanapag Village.
Too, we strongly recommend that fish in the Tanapag lagoon be tested for the same purpose. Furthermore, critical test must be undertaken with the water source in the village located in upper Tanapag.
The tests should be reviewed by an independent group to verify findings of PCB levels in the food chain and water in Tanapag. In other words, we can’t leave everything to the experts. We must insist that these tests are examined by another set of independent experts for factual verification of findings.
We’re not suggesting suspicion in the work of EPA, but recent findings of the level of radiation in the Republic of the Marshalls is a tale of how certain tests may have been manipulated to show different set of facts, far from the truth. Thus, a religious group has intervened to assist islanders deal with suspect findings.
Meanwhile, it is really very unfortunate for the administration to say it would delay lawsuit to right the wrong of PCB affected villagers. It just doesn’t follow reasoning at all. In fact, it is because of it and the fact that it would take time to resolve this issue that work must begin forthwith to resolve this matter at some point in the future.
We cannot even come close to understanding what villagers had to endure over the last 30 years. Many may have died for having consumed PCBs when it was still in heavy dosage throughout the village. It is this wrong that must be corrected not that we want compensation for villagers, but the means to ascertain that all health costs associated with PCBs are defrayed by responsible US agencies. Si Yuus Maase` yan ghilisow!
