Giff Johnson

Voice of forgotten fishermen

Voice of forgotten fishermen

GIFF JOHNSON Setsuko Shimomoto is an unusual advocate for a little known nuclear exposure problem. She didn’t discover that her father had been exposed to Bravo hydrogen bomb test fallout while fishing in the waters of the Marshall Islands until over 30 years after the 1954 Bravo test, and then only because a high school […]

APIC visits, hosts reunion

APIC visits, hosts reunion

The President of Japan’s Association for Promotion of International Cooperation led a delegation to Majuro in late February, hosting Marshall Islands participants of APIC programs to a reunion dinner. Japan Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie, APIC’s president, presided over a dinner at Won Hai Shien for a mixed group of local people who had attended various APIC-sponsored […]

Nuclear art impresses

Nuclear art impresses

An impressive array of works of art were on display at Marshall Islands Resort last week as part of the week of activities leading up to Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day last Friday. The Nuclear Arts show was organized by the youth organization Jo-Jikum. It featured multiple paintings and poems by young people, as well as […]

Fixing the cell network

Fixing the cell network

GIFF JOHNSON Dropped calls and calls that don’t go through. That’s been a way of life for cell phone users in the Marshall Islands. The upcoming Micronesian Games is not only improving and expanding sports facilities that people here will enjoy long after the games, but it is leading to what is hoped to be […]

Storm surge forces Roi-Namur evacuation

Storm surge forces Roi-Namur evacuation

GIFF JOHNSON  Offshore storm surges supercharged waves Saturday night, causing flooding and some damage at Roi-Namur Island in Kwajalein Atoll, resulting in evacuation of 80 people from the island. Flooding caused by the waves also hit an airport at Ailinglaplap Atoll, leaving rocks, coral and debris in their wake that will keep the runway closed […]

Emergencies to be declared

Emergencies to be declared

GIFF JOHNSON The first order of business for President Hilda Heine’s new government is expected to be declaring not one, but two states of emergency: One for Kili Island, where “people are starving,” according to one Cabinet minister; the other order to put focus on Majuro’s power crisis. These moves were in the discussion stage […]

Vote 2023: 4 women in Nitijela

Vote 2023: 4 women in Nitijela

GIFF JOHNSON The final unofficial election results were issued by the Electoral Administration Tuesday December 12 this week, confirming that 13 Nitijela seats will change hands. Most postal absentee votes either didn’t arrive in time or were rejected for technical reasons, muting their impact. It appeared that only one Nitijela race — Likiep — was […]

Youth proud to vote

Youth proud to vote

WILMER JOEL Election day in the Marshall Islands saw a varied turnout of voters. From seven in the morning until seven in the evening on Monday, young and old Marshallese voters waited at the polling stations. Throughout the day, there were fluctuations in voter turnout, but some polling stations, such as Maloelap, Namo, Aur, Arno, […]

Mayor Ladie back for third term

Mayor Ladie back for third term

GIFF JOHNSON In the still preliminary and unofficial vote tabulation, Majuro Mayor Ladie Jack was outpolling main challenger Margaret Alee Bigler by more than two-to-one and three of the four incumbent Majuro Nitijela members were showing the highest numbers. Incumbent Stephen Phillip and candidates David Kramer and Yolanda Lodge-Ned were locked in a battle for […]