War & Paradise: The Territories Of The U.S.

The Recovery And Resettling Of The Islands

In 1998, the International Atomic Energy Agency recommended that Bikini Island and its surrounding regions not be permanently resettled. Since then, the potential to make the island inhabitable again has risen considerably. A 2012 report from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory found that radioactive isotope levels were dropping faster than expected. Marine life diversity has also bounced back to almost pre-nuclear health. However, the rising problem nowadays is the cultural disconnect. Most of the young descendants of former natives have never set foot in the Marshall Islands. Most have emigrated to the United States to seek more opportunities, and they see little incentive in coming back.