Seeking Nuclear Justice - Support NVRD & MEI's work

MEI is raising funds to support nuclear justice efforts and to host Nuclear Victims' Remembrance Day in New York City at the Riverside Church on March 1, 2025, from 1:00-4:30 PM. This will be the first time the event is held in NYC and in conjunction with nuclear nonproliferation efforts at the 3MSP at the United Nations. A Seeking Nuclear Justice panel with experts and government officials will follow the event.

Funds will go toward offsetting costs for the event and to support our year-long awareness efforts and our work to mitigate the ongoing consequences of the nuclear legacy in areas of health, culture, and education.

Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day (NVRD) is a national holiday commemorated in the Marshall Islands on March 1st each year to honor the victims and survivors of the nuclear testing conducted by the United States in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. The tests, which included the detonation of 67 high yield nuclear weapons, left behind devastating effects on Marshallese lands and bodies.

Removal of inhabitants from Bikini Atoll, March, 1946.

The 2025 commemorative event in NYC will include a traditional memorial ceremony and also bring together other frontline, nuclear-affected community members to educate about the consequences of nuclear weapons development, use, and testing around the world, as well as promote ongoing dialogue about disarmament and human rights for impacted communities.

The event will be followed by a panel/side event, Seeking Nuclear Justice, with experts to discuss the history of nuclear testing and Marshallese advocacy efforts, the impact of the Compact of Free Association, possibilities under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and recent efforts at the UN Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization. There will also be a art/history exhibit and refreshments will be served.

Held just before the 3rd Meeting of States Parties for the TPNW at the United Nations, NVRD 2025 will memorialize nuclear testing, foster healing, and enhance global awareness of the nuclear legacy within the United Nations community.

Funds will 1) help offset costs for hosting the event - specifically venue rental, food, and speakers, and 2) go toward MEI's year-round efforts to mitigate the ongoing health, environmental, and cultural consequences of the nuclear legacy through our outreach and advocacy work.

Photos: MEI's Nuclear Legacy Week in 2024 in Arkansas (above), and MEI's ED, Benetick Kabua Maddison, receiving the Nuclear-Free Future Award for his work toward nuclear justice (below). MEI helps Marshallese in diaspora navigate the system in the United States so they can access public benefits as well as access education, employment, and healthcare.

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