The Congolese Civil Society of South Africa hosted an event on nuclear and its legacy!
The theme was the “Missing Link” highlighting the triangle of Shinnkolobwe’s uranium tragedy and the 79th anniversary of Japan’s bombing.
Isaiha Mongombe Mombilio presentation shared:
“ The nuclear burden originated from DRC to USA, where uranium waste of the Manhattan Project site has been a major health and environmental concern. It it has caused birth defects, and increased cases of prostate, and lung cancer and the radioactive particles were spread in the air and in nature. However, this waste contains only 4 Pico curies/gram, and the seriousness of the matter is taken in high consideration. The waste in Shinkolobwe represents 520000 Pico curies /gram, (i.e 1 3000 times higher). So, understandably, the level of radiation in The Congo is huge and yet to be considered seriously. As the tragedy of Shinkolobwe was created, a triangle connected the humanity in the DRC, in the manufacturing area of the bombs in the USA, people in Japan who survived the horrific incident and back to the people in New Mexico, where waste is buried”.
Nuclear is forever – the effects of the radiation from mining, use, transport and waste continue to affect millions of people for their entire lifetime and for those still to come.
In the pursuit of nuclear military dominance and revolutionizing the military industry, the Congolese people became the first victims of advanced atomic bomb technology. The advent of the nuclear era left the Congolese population with a permanent nuclear death sentence. Over 3,000 tons of uranium were exploited using their bare hands, transferring uncalculated quantities of nuclear material across three generations in absolute silence.
This nuclear death sentence was imposed by American decisions during the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the first atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This judgment aimed to secure global power and control, while simultaneously destabilizing Congolese leadership through the assassination of Lumumba and continuous political manipulation.
The unlawful treatment of the Congolese people during the Manhattan Project needs to be addressed in solidarity with those who believe that nuclear technology should not be used for power or energy. The suffering of the Congolese people provides clear evidence that nuclear technology, as a burden on humanity, should not be part of our advanced technological pursuits
