Pacific Isles and Their Buried Riches - Sequel
Challenges Surrounding Nuclear Waste Sites and Dangerous Diving in the Chatham Islands
In two separate yet significant stories, the world is faced with concerns over nuclear waste and the dangers of diving for abalone in the remote Chatham Islands.
The Runit Dome and Nuclear Waste in the Marshall Islands
Located on Runit Island in the Marshall Islands, the Runit Dome houses one of the world's largest nuclear waste sites. Built in 1980, the concrete structure encloses over 111,000 cubic yards (85,000 cubic meters) of radioactive waste from U.S. nuclear testing. However, the dome's design, constructed in the 1970s without modern environmental safeguards or waterproofing, leaves it vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Current concerns focus on the structural integrity of the dome, particularly in the face of rising sea levels and tropical storms. The dome was not designed to withstand accelerated sea-level rise or intensifying storms, creating erosion and physical damage risks that could compromise the dome's containment. This raises long-term environmental risks not only locally but also for the wider Pacific due to possible radioactive dispersion.
Diving for Abalone in the Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands, located in the south Pacific, offer a unique treasure prized by gourmets: abalone. However, diving for this prized delicacy comes with significant risks. The waters surrounding the islands are home to great white sharks, making diving a dangerous endeavour. Divers in the Chatham Islands regularly suffer injuries or even fatalities while harvesting abalone.
Jade Kahukore-Dixon, a 24-year-old diver from the Chatham Islands, was one such victim. She was killed by a great white shark just two months after a documentary team filmed her diving for abalone. The documentary, dedicated to Jade, will be broadcast on various time zones starting from August 18, 2025.
Loneliness is another daily challenge on the Chatham Islands due to its remote location surrounded by much water. A supply ship failing to arrive on time can lead to food prices rising quickly and diesel becoming scarce. Despite these challenges, divers like Jade Kahukore-Dixon earn around 2,000 to 2,500 New Zealand dollars on a good day diving for abalone.
Broadcasting Schedule for the Documentary
- Monday, August 18, 2025, at 12:15 UTC
- Thursday, August 14, 2025, from 01:15 to 04:15 UTC
- Friday, August 15, 2025, from 09:15 to 16:15 UTC, and 21:15 UTC
- Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 19:15 UTC
- Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 02:15 UTC
- Monday, August 18, 2025, in various time zones:
- San Francisco UTC -7
- Edmonton UTC -6
- New York UTC -4
References
[1] The Guardian. (2018, February 19). Marshall Islands nuclear waste: 'It's only a matter of time' before disaster, says activist. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/19/marshall-islands-nuclear-waste-its-only-a-matter-of-time-before-disaster-says-activist
[4] The Conversation. (2018, February 20). The Marshall Islands' nuclear legacy: a ticking time bomb? Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/the-marshall-islands-nuclear-legacy-a-ticking-time-bomb-92261
- The environmental implications of the vulnerability of the Runit Dome, one of the world's largest nuclear waste sites located in the Marshall Islands, stretch beyond its local vicinity, as climate change may lead to its structural compromise, potentially causing radioactive dispersion that could pose a threat to the wider world, particularly the Pacific region.
- In addition to the concern over nuclear waste, the Chatham Islands, another remote location in the south Pacific, present unique lifestyle challenges, such as loneliness due to isolation and the danger posed by great white sharks during abalone diving, a popular activity among locals and a coveted delicacy for gourmets worldwide.
- In an effort to raise awareness about the risks associated with diving for abalone in the Chatham Islands, a documentary dedicated to Jade Kahukore-Dixon, a 24-year-old diver who was killed by a great white shark, will be broadcast across various time zones starting from August 18, 2025, allowing viewers from different regions of the world to gain insight into the lifestyle and challenges faced by the inhabitants of these remote islands.
