For The Good of Mankind

A Feature Documentary

"For the Good of Mankind” examines the devastating effects of the 67 nuclear explosive tests that took place in the Marshall Islands from 1946-1958 that continue to impact the Marshall Islanders, American citizens and veterans, and the entire global community.

The legacy of these tests include:

-The near total destruction of an island people, their land and culture.

-Repeated, deadly tests that became a major precursor to atmospheric climate changes for the entire world that reverberate today.

-The devastating effects on the 4000 American participants who were sent to the Marshall Islands from 1977-1980 to clean up and encapsulate a highly-radioactive area - of which less than 300 survive today.

The Story

Our feature documentary will be enriched by experiencing the evolution of the Marshall Islands through the eyes of Erine Jitiam - who was born in the mid-30’s - an era where science made incredible but potentially destructive breakthroughs in: Splitting the Atom, Cracking the Oil Molecule, and Creating DDT.

In 1946 US Navy Commodore Ben Wyatt explained to the Marshall Islanders they had to abandon Enewetak in order to allow the US to conduct nuclear tests there - because it would be “For the Good of Mankind”.

Some of the islanders were moved to an uninhabitable island 23 miles away.

Between 1946 and 1958, the US conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands.

The Marshallese were still way too close to these explosions.

These tests would expose them to the side effects and radioactive intensity of having a Hiroshima-sized explosion over the islands EVERY DAY for 19 years.

Many islanders suffered from cancer, miscarriages, etc.

“For the Good of Mankind” accompanies and explores the history of the Marshall Islanders through Erine (88) - the Matriarch of the islands - who has lived with other Islanders through the destruction of their paradise in the Pacific - and face the total loss of their land if ocean levels continue to rise.

In 1977, the US government sent over 4000 soldiers and sailors to clean up the radioactive mess.

They built a concrete sarcophagus on Runit Island.

3.1 million cubic feet of radioactive material were entombed in an 18 inch thick concrete dome.

However, the bottom was never sealed properly and has been leaking radioactive waste.

Runit Dome is sinking, and endangers one of the largest, most pristine fishing sites in the world.

Today less than 300 “Atomic Veterans” survive.

Many are still denied US Government health care and benefits (this was classified by the government as an “unofficial” operation).

The Marshall Islands have been the “canary in the coal mine” for the evolution of our global climate for over 75 years.

Our feature documentary will convey this history through intimate portrayals of the Marshall Islanders, US Atomic Veterans, and Scientists and Thinkers who struggle “For the Good of Mankind”.