Pacific Island Times July 2018 Vol 3 No. 6 | Page 5

Brief Chat
Robert Celestial
The fight for RECA
A
fter over 17 years of extensive research and
active lobbying with local leaders, US Con-
gress, and the Office of the U.S. President,
the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors
(PARS) achieved a significant accomplishment in
its fight to advocate for radiation exposure compen-
sation for Guam residents. when 66 Nuclear and Hydrogen bombs were
detonated. “It was without their knowl-
edge and consent that throughout
those years they were exposed
to ionizing radiation such as
Iodine 131, Strontium 90, and
Cesium 137,” Celestial said.
Robert N. Celestial, PARS founder and presi-
dent, had been advocating for Guam’s inclusion,
as “downwinders” under Pacific test sites, in the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. On July 10, 2000,
Congress passed the Radi-
ation Exposure Compen-
sation Act Amendments
(PL 106-245) and in
September 2002, in re-
sponse to a congressional
mandate (PL 107-206),
the Health Resources and
Services Administration
(HRSA) asked the Na-
tional Research Council’s
Board on Radiation Ef-
fects Research to convene
a committee.
He built a case and provided testimony to the
U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary today as
part of a panel along with other advocates from
New Mexico, Arizona, and Idaho to discuss Senate
Bill 197, also known as Radiation Exposure Com-
pensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2017.
The Act would allow those who resided in Guam
between 1946 and 1962 and who suffered from
cancer or other listed radiation-related illnesses,
to apply for compensation that would include free
medical care and up to $150,000 from the remain-
ing funds in the RECA Trust Fund.
Celestial, who founded PARS in 2002, has
compiled compelling evidence that Guam and its
inhabitants not only received exposure to ionizing
radiation from nuclear fallout due to the multiple
nuclear bombs testings’ in the Marshall Islands, but
also due to the contamination of U.S. Naval vessels
which were decontaminated in Guam’s waters off
Apra Harbor and Cocos Islands Lagoon, from 1946
to 1958. Those present at the wash- down of Naval
Vessels in Guam are included in RECA as onsite
participants.
“I am here by the grace of God and the help of
many along the way. Many of our members have
passed without seeing any recognition or compen-
sation. We will continue our efforts to honor those
who have passed and to advocate for our remaining
members,” Celestial said at the culmination of the
hearing.
In his testimony, Celestial reminded the Judi-
ciary Committee that the people of Guam were
exposed to nuclear fallout from the Pacific nuclear
testing in the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1962
Under congressional
mandate, HRSA charged
the committee to consider
the issues and make rec-
ommendations, regarding
three mandates which one of them being item C.
“Whether other groups of people or additional geo-
graphic areas should be covered under the RECA
Program.”
“In 2004, I was invited by Dr. Isaf Al Nabulsi,
senior director for the Board on Radiation Effects
Research Committee, to present oral and written
testimony here in Washington D.C. at the National
Academies of Science. I presented evidence and
oral testimony before Dr. Preston, Dr. Evan Dou-
ple and other scientists on the BRER committee,”
Celestial said.
He also included sworn statements from Navy Lt.
Bert Schreiber who was the chemical, biological,
radiological officer on Guam in 1952. Schreiber
testified that “the Geiger counters were off the
scale” in November 1952. On Oct. 31, 1952, the
first thermonuclear device, with the code name
Mike, was detonated. It had a total yield of 10.4
Mt. On Nov. 3, 1952 radiation was detected on
Guam.”
In 2005, National Research council’s final report
was published “Assessment of the Scientific Infor-
mation for the Radiation Exposure screening and
Education Program.”
The committee initiated an independent assess-
ment of the radiologic consequences related to the
weapons an independent assessment of the radio-
logic consequences related to the weapons test in
the Pacific to people living on Guam. “This was
their conclusion: As a result of its analysis, the
committee concludes that Guam did receive mea-
surable fallout from atmospheric testing of nuclear
weapons in the Pacific. Residents of Guam during
that period should be eligible for compensation
under RECA in a way similar to that of persons
considered to be downwinders.” (PARS)
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