Atomic Bomb Research Presentation Planning Worksheet Assignment- Due 2/24/19

Scientific and Technological Advances

Lubofsky’s (2017) article applies the political aspect of the impact of the atomic bomb on World War II. Therefore the article uses mainly a political lens. The authors primarily focus on the decision of the United States government to test nuclear weapons. Between 1946 and 1958, there was a wide hole that was created at the peak on Enewetak Atoll by an atomic bomb. Tests were conducted at the peak to ensure that the nuclear weapons do not harm anyone on the surface of the earth. The government attempted to determine the kind of radioactive reaction which took place, which made the hole to develop.

In the conquest to unearth the radioactivity that took place in the mountains, the United States also focused on gaining the power to itself. With nuclear weapons at hand, the US government could control the entire earth. Also, they wanted to find a way to dispose of nuclear waste to avoid harming people. If the government were malicious, they would deposit these materials in a rival country. Instead, they focused on how to carefully dispose of the wastes to ensure the safety of everyone in the world. Aside from the research conducted on the mountain peaks, the US government sent marine forces to conduct similar researches underwater. This government made sure that they capitalized every opportunity, thus ensuring that no other countries took part in the tests.

Also, the article also discusses the effects on the local people of Bikini and the environmental impact of that past five decades. Two quotes that I read in the article that reaffirms that that article uses a political lens is when it states "Before the first bomb was dropped in July 1946, U.S. Navy officials persuaded 167 residents of Bikini to be evacuated to another island “for the good of mankind” so that the military could conduct a mission known as Operation Crossroads." As well as the following statement, "As the Bikinians’ native land was being eroded by bomb blasts, so too was their lagoon-fishing culture and way of life. They longed for the ring-shaped cluster of islands they had called home and that they had assumed, based on loose assurances by the U.S. military, they could return to once the dust settled." The article showcases the U.S. military power over those who did not such as the Bikinians whose lives were influenced by the US for years to come as they had to relocate, change their way of lives and depend on the US government to survive for many years.

Reference

Lubofsky, E. (2017) "Back to bikini: scientists study lingering radioactivity at 'ground zero' for nuclear weapons testing after World War II." Oceanus. 52(2). 32. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A503310005/AONE?u=nhc_main&sid=AONE&xid=ca92ab96

REPLIES (2):

Hi Leah, Great post! I used the same article. I wrote about the political lense of the article while you wrote about the social lens . I agree with the social lens also being present, which did not come to mind before, as the Bikinians way of life was significantly affected due to the bombings. They were forced to move and then depend on the US to survive while desiring to return home. Overall I see that the article uses political, environmental, social and historical lenses.

Hi Melissa, Great post! I used the same article. I wrote about the political lens of the article while you wrote about the environmental lens. I agree with the environmental lens also being present, as the data that was collected gave insight into the lingering effects of the atomic bomb for years to come.