Marshall Islands, Republic of

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For the Good of Mankind: A History of the People of Bikini and their Islands by Jack Niedenthal. Published by Micronitor Publishing. Recommended retail price $12.00.

This is a fascinating book and one that should be read by everyone. Jack Niedenthal outlines a brief history of Bikini Atoll and then goes on to discuss the events that made Bikini Atoll famous: a long series of American nuclear weapons tests - 67 in all.

Interviews of former inhabitants of Bikini Atoll make for sobering reading. They are now settled on Kili Island some 425 miles south of their original home. An attempt to resettle Bikini in the 1970s failed when high levels of radiation were detected in the new settlers and in 1978 Bikini was evaucated once more. Clean up of these contanimated islands has continued and one, Eneu, was conisdered safe for habitation by 1995. More recently Bikini has been opened up for diving and includes a dive on the USS Saratoga, at 880 feet in length, the largest divable wreck in the world.

For more information about Bikini Atoll please check out www.bikiniatoll.com.

Soft cover, 164 pages. Published in 2001.

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Marshall Islands Legends and Stories collected and adapted by Daniel A. Kelin II,
illustrated by Nashton T. Nashon. ISBN 1573061409. Published by Bess Press. Recommended retail price $14.95.

From exploits of Letao the trickster to spirits from invisible islands, this rare collection features stories celebrating the cultural uniqueness of the Marshall Islands. In Marshall Islands Legends and Stories, Daniel A. Kelin II preserves the qualities of oral storytelling in 50 stories recorded from 18 storytellers on 8 islands and atolls. This lively collection includes something for everyone: origin stories, tales of mejenkwaad and other demons, tricksters, disobedient children, wronged husbands, foolish suitors, and reunited families – all relaying the importance of traditional Marshallese values and customs. Profiles of the storytellers, a glossary, and a pronunciation guide enrich the collection.

Daniel A. Kelin II, an award-winning educator, director, actor, storyteller, and playwright, is the Director of Drama education with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth. In his work with the youth group Jodrikdrik Nan Jodrikdrik Ilo Ejmour in the Marshall Islands, he uses dramatizations of Marshallese folklore to explore social issues.

Nashton T. Nashon, of Majuro, Marshall Islands, consulted elders and researched traditional Marshallese history and culture to create the drawings and tattoo design for Marshall Islands Legends and Stories. Soft cover, 160 pages. Published in 2003.

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Marshall Islands, The - Living Atolls Amidst the Living Sea by The National Biodiversity Team of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ISBN 9829045021. Recommended retail price $45.

Animals and plants, and their ecosystems throughout the world are under stress. The increase of human population and all that comes with it are causing many of the components of the natural world to disappear. Yet, there are also some types of animals and plants which are aggressively causing the demise of others. In order to address these and other problems, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (or popularly called the “Earth Summit”) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. Representatives from countries all around the world attended, including a delegation from the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).

As part of that conference, the Convention on Biodiversity was presented and opened for signatures. The Republic of the Marshall Islands was among the first to sign. Eventually, 175 countries ratified this agreement.

This began the slow process that has produced this report, a step which may be a major milestone, but hopefully is only the beginning of public awareness of the various aspects of biodiversity. A major part of this report is based on biological information that had been previously written and published by scientists and other knowledgeable and observant persons in times past. Yet much of this information was tucked away in various institutions throughout the world, and not easily available to the people of the Marshall Islands. This product is the result of The National Biodiversity Report of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and contains numerous keys, lists and tables. Soft cover, 345 pages. Published in 2000.

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Last modified on Thursday, 24 May, 2007