The Pacific Proving Grounds

Whāinga ako: Lesson Goals

We are learning to understand the impact of nuclear testing in the Pacific on people and places.

Kupu matua - Keywords

Keyword matching task

Nuclear testing

Pacific

Wellbeing

Radiation

Protest

A. A large ocean where many nuclear tests were done

B. The testing of powerful bombs (nuclear weapons)

C. A public way of showing disagreement

D. A form of energy released in nuclear explosions that can harm people and the environment

E. The state of being healthy in body, mind, and spirit

Mahi

What was going on in the Pacific?!

Google "The Pacific Proving Grounds" and learn more about what was going on in the Pacific at the time NZ was protesting nuclear testing.

The Pacific Proving Grounds was a name given to the Marshall Islands when a large number of nuclear weapons were tested in the area from 1946 to 1962.

The pacific was a popular place to test nuclear weapons. We have learned that the French were doing this in Mururoa Attol in 1966 and Greenpeace was protesting this. Before this happened both the USA and UK were already doing testing in the pacific. Some tests were still being carried out in 1996.

What are your feelings/thoughts about nuclear testing that happened in the pacific?

Ever wonder why Bikini Bottom is named Bikini Bottom?

Bikini Bottom in SpongeBob SquarePants, is named after Bikini Atoll, a real-world coral atoll in the Marshall Islands. Bikini Atoll is infamous for being a site where the United States conducted nuclear bomb tests between 1946 and 1958.

The name is likely a play on the idea that Bikini Bottom is "under" Bikini Atoll (since it's at the bottom of the sea). Some fans speculate that the show's quirky underwater world is a nod to the effects of radiation from the nuclear tests, though this has never been confirmed by the creators.

I spy...

Follow this link to Google Earth and find the Mururoa Atoll. Zoom out and see how far it is from our pacific neighbours, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji.
Follow this link to Google Earth... look around and see if you can spot four (or more) craters which were caused by nuclear detonations. One of them has been filled in with nuclear waste and covered by a concrete "cover" to keep it contained.

Find out who was responsible for making these craters.

The ongoing impact of the concrete domes in the pacific...

Those concrete circles you spotted? One of them is leaking nuclear waste.

Watch this video and then answer these questions:

How do you now feel about nuclear testing in the Pacific?
Has your opinion changed or become more/less stronger?
How has it had ongoing impact for the people and their culture in this area?

Perspective Planning

Writing prompts using images.

Torohanga - Extension

Perspective Writing

You are going to put yourself in the shoes of one of these people:

A person who was evacuated from the atolls
A member of the military sent to clean up

You need to

Explain what has happened to you. Use who, what, when, how.
Explain how has this affected you and your family (Haoura- mental, physical, spiritual, social wellbeing)
Explain what you would like to see happen to solve the problem
Explain what you are doing to try help the problem