Journal 5/22/1986
P1 Sparks fly over disco Sparks have been flying since the opening of Uncle Sam’s restaurant/disco and they aren’t coming from the dancing feet of the many people who patronize the disco on Friday and Saturday nights. Since the Small Island disco opened in January, there have been complaints from church members, a flurry of letters from RepMar officials threatening closure, and a probationary one-month business license from Majuro Atoll Local Government. While the disco’s operation has generated controversy, it has had little impact on business which by all accounts is booming on the weekends.
Journal 5/22/1998
P6 Taka larger If you’re a big beer drinker, or even a drinker of big beer, then this one’s for you. Taka Lager just got larger. That’s right. The made-in-Majuro brew has added a 22oz bottle to its repertoire. It’s the same good stuff, just more of it.
P18 RMI basketball battles tall Americans The Marshall Islands national basketball team won three of four games played at Kwajalein over the weekend, gaining needed experience competing against teams with taller players in preparation for going to Palau in August. The games were part of a two-way exchange between Majuro and Kwajalein, as a Kwaj/Ebeye tennis team spent the weekend in Majuro for the Micronesian Cup competition, while softball and basketball teams went to Kwajalein.
P19 James doesn’t like tone of Robison’s radiation evaluation American scientist William Robison says that a combination plan of removing contaminated soil and using potassium fertilizer at Rongelap and in the northern islands of Enewetak will lower their radiation levels to be no different from most of the rest of the world. Mayor James Matayoshi, who is the prime mover behind nuclear clean up and resettlement work about to start at Rongelap, is not happy with information being provided by the US Department of Energy. While Matayoshi generally agrees with the combination scrape and fertilizer method for cleaning Rongelap recommended by the DOE, he raised questions about the appropriateness of other information that Dr. Robison provided during a recent visit. Robison, who is based at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California, has studied Bikini and Enewetak extensively, having done the research on which most of the resettlement plans for Bikini, Enewetak and Rongelap are based. But Matayoshi thinks a lot of the comparisons Robison makes — comparing, for example, expected radiation doses on Rongelap with those in the US — are inappropriate for the Marshalls and only confuse the situation. “Comparing to background radiation in the US or what you get when you fly on an airplane to Rongelap is not relevant,” said Matayoshi. These comparisons miss the point, he believes. The key issue is what does the exposure mean for the health and safety of the islanders, not what it compares to elsewhere.
Journal 5/22/2009
P21 Success starts and ends with education It’s the few weeks for seniors, some are ready and some feel a little worried. Some seniors feel like nervous on going to college. There are unclear and clear situations about college. I’ve talked to some graduates from colleges and universities. “High school is fun, but college is much more fun,” they told me. “More studying is given, which is good for a student who is very strong in their future. You can join any clubs that you want to join as long as you think you can fit and feel satisfied.” When I heard those works I feel like I can’t wait to be a college student. Speaking of “studying” and “future,” there were several senior students who got kicked out of school in their last year. Why now? Why the last year when you are about to graduate, such a shame. Shame on you! No offense but it was your choice for people to say these kinds of words or more to you. If I was you and I see that there’s still a chance for me to continue, I would go back to school or join GED. It’s a lot better than “no school.” You don’t want to spin your folks’ head right around when “you” go down. Lucky you and me that we are in a free country, which gives us the privilege to do anything we want. It gives us second chances. For the seniors that are graduating this year, I just want to congratulate you for your success. Keep it up and keep in mind: “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” —Selvenious Marvin
P26 RMI cops doing well in Solomons When it comes to supporting law and order in Solomon Islands, the contribution of Marshall. Islands police officers to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands is highly valued. Marshall Islands is celebrating its third anniversary of contributing to RAMSI and currently has two police officers serving with the mission. Tarry Tarkij and Banien Kelen are both serving 12-month deployments with RAMSI’s Participating Police Force where their community policing experiencing is highly valued. —Adele White, Participating Police Force Media, Solomon Islands.