Bikini Atoll Local Government Council Blog

For Marshallese, Hawaii Is The Only Home We Have Left

bikinijack — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:15:48 +0000

Bikinian Litha Joel Jorju

by Bikinian Litha Joel Jorju

I am Marshallese and today is the Republic of the Marshall Island’s Independence Day. I am one of the ladies you see with the handmade dresses that looks like a muumuu but not quite. Mine is one of three Pacific Island countries that the United States government signed an international agreement with inviting us to live and work legally in the United States. The other countries are the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. These are all different countries with different languages, cultures and institutions.

Many newspaper articles over the last year claim that the U.S. invited us to live and work here as a way to make up for the permanent and devastating damage that the United States did to our islands from 1946-1958 when they used my homelands for nuclear bombing tests. That is only part of the story. The United States also keeps this agreement with our countries so that our governments will continue to allow the U.S. military to build and operate massive military bases on our islands.

My family is from Bikini Atoll. This is where the United States concentrated most of its nuclear bomb testing. In fact, the largest nuclear explosions ever conducted by the U.S. military, much larger than the Hiroshima bomb, were tested in and around my family’s villages. These were mostly atmospheric tests, so the contaminated spread far and wide. Some of those nuclear tests were so powerful that entire islands were vaporized.

The U.S. military evacuated my family twice due to the nuclear bomb testing; the first evacuation came before the nuclear bomb tests started, the second evacuation came after the U.S. military realized that they had not moved our families far enough away to keep us safe. In 1968, the United States Atomic Energy Commission announced that it was safe to resettle parts of Marshall Islands, but the International Atomic Energy Commission disputed those findings in 1994 and the families that had moved back home had to be relocated once again. The IAEA provides a good account of this history on its website.

Even today, 55 years after the nuclear tests were stopped, many scientists and nuclear safety organizations report that it is unsafe to eat crops grown on the land there and fish from the local waters. More than a dozen of my aunties and sisters gave birth to deformed babies after the nuclear tests. This is heartbreaking for families. My family and I have given up our dream of ever returning to our ancestral village.

But we are working hard to make a home here in Hawaii. It is hard, because many of us, especially those who faced evacuations and the devastating effects of the nuclear tests, came here with nothing but medical conditions and the will to live. Luckily, I attended a church school when I was young, so I learned English from a young age. This has helped my family through the turmoil of moving to a new country, getting a good job and helping my kids with school work.

Like many of the immigrant groups in Hawaii, even those of us who were teachers and principals and government employees in our home country can only get the lowest, most entry level jobs when we get the United States.
Those of us from Marshall Islands, Micronesian and Palau know that we are not yet accepted in Hawaii. We know that some people don’t like our traditional dresses and skirts, call us all “Micros” and think that we don’t know how to fit in. We are trying. We are trying hard to get an education for our kids, get medical care for our elders, and jobs that will allow us to be self-sufficient.

So today I am celebrating my home country’s Independence Day, and on July 4 I will celebrate the U.S. Independence Day. Parts of the American National Anthem remind me a lot of home, “And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air” sound a lot like the stories my people tell of the bombings of our islands.
Many of our kids are born and raised here in Hawaii and as a mother and grandmother, I pray every day that our kids will be accepted here and be able to live healthy, productive lives. We are working hard to learn the language and cultures here, please also learn a little about us so that we can all understand and accept each other.

I hear people say sometimes, “why are there so many of them here? Why do they dress like that? Why don’t they just go home?” Many of us have no home left, so we are doing the best we can.

About the author: Litha Joel Jorju is a founding member of the Maui Marshallese Women’s Club, part of Faith Action for Community Equity Maui. Jorju works in nutrition services and has five children and three grandchildren.

Bikinian Lulani Ritok stars in West Side Story

bikinijack — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:36:37 +0000

Lulani Ritok in West Side Story

By Jack Niedenthal

Every year when Professor Garrod tells me what play he has decided to perform, I say to myself, Just how is he going to do this? Indeed, when he told me months ago that he was going to do West Side Story this year I honestly thought he was nuts: All that singing and dancing and intense racial drama on a stage… Here? And every year when I go to the dress rehearsal, as I did this year, I inevitably wind up thinking: No way, this is going to be such a mess, my friend Andrew may finally have to deal with a bit of failure. And every year I walk away after the last performance with my jaw scraping the ground in awe of how he manages to show us all just how deep the artistic talent runs within our own community. The 4 days of performances last week at the ICC were an overwhelming success and such a tremendous joy for our island.

Perhaps the reason West Side Story connected so well with the community here is that the actors on the stage were playing characters that were so close to their own age. When they sung the refrain from the song “Somewhere,” I couldn’t help but wonder how many of those young people on stage haven’t had that same set of feelings about finding their place in the world.

The main characters of Maria and Tony, played by Lulani Ritok and John Riklon, were outstanding. I must admit a bias here for Lulani because she has sung in each of our 4 films. Her voice has always had a way of just taking me places. I am beyond thrilled that so many people were able to experience her singing live as I have for the past 5 years, and I know I was not alone as I sat in awe of her performance. John Riklon was equally astounding. To be able to sing solo, not once but twice, in front of those huge crowds makes him one of the bravest people in the Marshall Islands. His rendition of Maria was superb and captivating and was one of the show’s best moments. The manikin scene with just John and Lulani was also one of my favorites; indeed, their interaction was intriguingly passionate and dynamic throughout the play.

The supporting roles of Anita, Riff and Bernardo, played by Jennifer Andrike, Nitan Anni and Vahid Pedro, made the play what it was. Any production is only as good as your supporting cast, and these three were so powerful. Jennifer has a stage voice and presence that is as good as I have seen in any of these plays. She has an incredible ability to show her emotion by throwing her voice and contorting her body; she mesmerized the audience with the immense amount of personality she brought to her character. Nitan has always been one of my favorites and is a veteran actor: I expect him to be brilliant, and he did not disappoint. His graceful dancing movements, his bodylines reminiscent of a talented figure skater, were downright eye candy. Nitan has learned to use the stage as an effective tool in communicating what his character is all about. Vahid Pedro gave the role of Bernardo a biting-though-entertaining nasty edge. It was nice to see Vahid get a chance to take center stage in a production like this because I have known him for a quite a while, i.e., he is a CHARACTER.

The gang members were wonderful and well cast. Chino, played by Yoda Mewa, and Action, played by Rickson Katwon, were fun to watch as they interacted with the rest of their gang. I particularly liked the performance—the dialog, singing and dancing–of the song “America,” and the scene where Brittany Johnson sings the song “Somewhere” as the cast surrounds Maria and Tony sitting on the stage. Brittany has a nice deep tone and range to her singing voice. Ann Abija as Anybodys created an instant buzz and then a laugh each time she darted onto the stage, putting her in that role was a stroke of genius as it seemed to be made just for her.

One reason I enjoy these plays is that we always get to see some “outsiders” on the stage mixing it up with the local islanders. This allows everyone in the audience to connect with the play, which is always an important goal of any production. This time, however, it was intriguing to see how the outsiders were solely cast to play the “Adult” roles in the play. The reason I say this is that universally, to a teenager, any adult IS an outsider (I have raised 6 of them, I know). Joe Naeem as Doc was perfect, and when Joe wasn’t masterfully playing his role on stage, he was over at the side working the music… I am not sure how he did this, but he did. Tom Armbruster as Shrank and Jovilisi Fotofili as Krupke livened the production with their gravity (and at times, their comedy) as officers of the law. Andrew Shanahan’s role as the nerdy-looking-Buddy-Holly-lookalike Gladhand was well played as he looked so profoundly out of place on stage—just like any adult would at a teen dance.

The two most important people that we never saw on the stage were Mona Levy-Strauss, who each year has been tasked with assembling what has been at times some enormously complicated wardrobes, and Alson Kelen, who has translated all of the plays from English to Marshallese: Imagine the powerful mind of a person who has the capability to translate 8 Shakespeare dialogues and West Side Story from English to Marshallese. Sigh.

Choreographer Marisa Clementi, Producer Max Mucenic, and Assistant Choreographer and Music Director Kristan Thatcher, and the other people from Dartmouth all have our sincere thanks for helping make this play such a marvelous experience for all of us. Bonny and Ken Taggert, who helped build the props and sets, and Scott Stege, who helped with the audio, were also essential in helping get this production off the ground and up and running.

When you think of what was accomplished with this herculean amount of effort by our small community in just two months, it makes you wonder what we could do if we actually had a permanent facility to encourage and accommodate the seemingly unquenchable desire for the performing arts that we have here in the Marshall Islands: Imagine having various forms of live entertainment in a professional venue every weekend instead of one or two weeks a year. Somehow. Some day.

The 29th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival to Showcase Bikinian Film

bikinijack — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:07:12 +0000

Microwave Films of the Marshall Islands announced the screening date for its latest film at the 29th annual ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL in Los Angeles.

The Sound of Crickets at Night (Ainikien Jidjid ilo Boñ), the fourth Marshallese feature film directed and produced by the Majuro team of Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro that features a story about the people of Bikini Atoll, will be showcased on Wednesday, May 8, 7 p.m., at the CVG theaters in L.A. (Koreatown).

“If you have friends and family in the LA area, tell them to come: We want to fill the theater like we managed to do in Hawaii, Guam and New York: The more people in the theater, the more fun it is to watch!” said Niedenthal.

The Sound of Crickets at Night, which premiered at the Marshall Islands Resort in Majuro on September 7, 2012, will also be featured at the 2013 Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii on Sunday May 26th. Niedenthal, who wrote all the original screenplays, said they are ready to shoot the next feature film, JILEL (The Shell).

The mission of Microwave Films, according to its website, is:

To encourage residents of the Marshall Islands to explore the Marshallese culture and life in the Marshall Islands through the medium of film.
To help support the educational, cultural and other institutions of the Marshall Islands via feature-length and short films, commercial, news and infomercial production.
To develop, encourage and promote the culture of the Marshall Islands through the medium of film.

“To date, Microwave Films has donated over $25,000 to the Majuro Cooperative School in the Marshall Islands from our film endeavors, which has helped the school with everything from general expenses to graduations and college entrance test exam fees,“ said Niedenthal.
(Note: Parts of the above story taken from Yokwe Online post of March 21, 2013)

*Information for the Los Angeles showing:
THE SOUND OF CRICKETS AT NIGHT
Screening AT 7 PM ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 8th, 2013 AT THE CVG THEATERS
621 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005

TICKETS:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/the_sound_of_crickets_at_night_2013

Ainikien Jidjid ilo Boñ (The Sound of Crickets at Night) is the story of a family displaced as a result of nuclear testing on Bikini Atoll and now living in exile on Ejit Island on Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

Kali, a darling-though-curious 10-year-old Bikinian girl, watches in dismay as her mother and father argue bitterly, then finally separate and leave the island.

Left alone to care for her elderly grandfather, Jebuki, who has been hiding a life-threatening illness, Kali deteriorates, refusing to eat, work or play. Fearing for his granddaughter’s wellbeing, Jebuki makes a desperate decision to summon Worejabato, an ancient deity from Bikini Atoll. Appearing in the form of an unshaven American stranger, Worejabato washes up on the beach on Ejit Island, and is discovered by Kali. The deity immediately begins to weave his way into Kali’s life, but wishes from Worejabato do not come for free.

What will Jebuki promise to Worejabato to ensure Kali’s happiness?

The 80 minute feature film in the Marshallese language (with English subtitles) stars numerous Bikinians including:
*Former Mayor of Bikini Atoll Alson Kelen (Lead character)
*Executive Council Member Banjo Joel (Lead character)
*Trust Liaison for the people of Bikini Jack Niedenthal (Lead character, C0-director, Co-Producer, Writer)
*Salome Fakatou (10 years old, Lead character)
*Lulani Ritok (17 years old, Supporting actor and lead singer in much of the music)
*Over 20 other Bikinians star in various minor roles

AWARDS:
-Guam International Film Festival, WINNER, GRAND JURY AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTING, September 2012
-Moondance International Film Festival, WINNER, ATLANTIS AWARD FOR FOREIGN FILMS, September 2012
-Hawaii International Film Festival, OFFICIAL SELECTION, October 2012
-Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, OFFICIAL SELECTION, May 2013
-Northern California International Film Festival, OFFICIAL SELECTION, February 2013
-Asia Pacific Screen Awards, IN COMPETITION, November 2012

Here is the website for the film:
http://www.microwavefilms.org/Crickets.html
Here is the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJl2a26b1vM&feature=share

Facebook page for Microwave Films of the Marshall Islands

OTHER REVIEWS:

The new film by Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro, The Sound of Crickets at Night, marks a new chapter in the history of Marshallese film. This meditation on loss and emotional deprivation represents the first attempt to articulate on the screen the pain the Marshallese have endured for generations and continue to endure in the 21^st century. It is also a movie that is both beautifully imagined and sensitively composed: attributes that make it the first cinematic poem to come out of the Marshall Islands, and the single most ambitious film originating in this country to date... What both domestic and foreign audiences will come to recognize by the end of this film is that the history of Marshallese exile is not merely history; it is also the present.

-Peter Sutoris, Filmmaker (The Undiscovered Country), August 2012
Read full review

THE SOUND OF CRICKETS AT NIGHT skillfully balances deadly radiation with the supernatural, family dysfunction with innocence, and isolation with inner peace. The results are oddly charming yet shadowed by darkness so that it never becomes cloying. It recalls the restrained wonder of renowned Thai director Apichatpong Weerasthakul, as further tempered by the darkness of David Lynch. The fantastic, arty, and appeal is further carried out by a cast of local, nonprofessional actors playing themselves. A priest plays the priest, while city workers and council people take on similar roles… What really makes the movie work is kids acting like kids— a miracle even in films with big budgets… THE SOUND OF CRICKETS AT NIGHT is rich with culture, heart, and intelligence.

-Martin Wong, Co-founder of Giant Robot Magazine, May 2013
Read full review

Marshall Islands-based filmmakers Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro have created a provocative and moving drama that weaves three stories of loss and rue into a memorable work of art… They brush across profound emotional issues – family disintegration, isolation, loss of self-identity and homeland, and the embrace of faith when man-made solutions fail – and plumb their territory with a low-keyed sensitivity that echoes the classic works of Satyajit Ray… Although the cast is made up of nonprofessionals, the ensemble is first-rate… This small and remarkable film is one of the year’s most engaging under-the-radar gems.

-Phil Hall, Film Threat, October 2012
Read entire review

“The Sound of Crickets at Night is part folk tale, part history lesson and part spiritual parable… Charming… Very well done… Pretty amazing… I give it high marks both for the impact it makes as a narrative and its use of a history that’s quickly falling towards the way of myth.”

-Misty Layne, Rogue Cinema, December 2012
Read entire review

The Sound of Crickets at Night at the Hawaii International Film Festival last week… Beautiful local music, skilled photography and a great supporting cast made this film a total delight while addressing serious issues of life in the Marshall Islands today.”

-Caroline Yacoe, Hawaii, October 2012
read full review

Bikini Islander Johnny Johnson joined the 2012 Hapcheon Anti-Nuclear and Peace Festival in S. Korea

bikinijack — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:55:35 +0000

Johnny Johnson speaking in Korea.

Marshall Islands Journal, April 5, 2012: Bikini Islander Johnny Johnson joined the 2012 Hapcheon Anti-Nuclear and Peace Festival in S. Korea last month, speaking about the Bikinians’ situation today.
Hapcheon is home to people who were in Hiroshima at the end of World War II when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city, and many were exposed to radiation from the blast. They were sent home soon after the war, and did not receive medical follow up as a result of their exposure. In early 2010, the Hapcheon Peace House was established in Hapcheon, the “Hiroshima of Korea,” to aid and support the offspring of nuclear victims.
Johnson was one of many international speakers at the gathering in Hapcheon.
“For the last 29 years,” Johnson said in a speech in S. Korea, “the US government has played a game with us, switching forums for our claims and postponing again and again the payment of fair compensation that is req uired by the Compact and the US Constitution. We sought relief from the courts, then from the Nuclear Claims Tribunal, then from Congress under the changed circumstances petition, and then again from the courts.”
Johnson said the Bikinians “have done everything that the courts, the Congress and the Executive Branch have asked of us. I regret to say that the Bikinians have not been awarded the justice they seek with the US.”
He said Bikini people have persevered despite numerous relocations. “The hopeful side of me sees this as a true mark of strong people,” he said. “The more cynical side feels as though the injustice brought about by nuclear testing should never have been done.”

DELEGATION FROM BIKINI ATOLL IN WASHINGTON, DC.

bikinijack — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:28:08 +0000

L to R: Bikini Senator Tomaki Juda, US Senator Jeff Bingaman, Bikini Mayor Nishma Jamore, Trust Liaison Jack Niedenthal

March 31, 2012, Washington, DC- A delegation from Bikini Atoll of the Marshall Islands was in Washington, DC for 4 days this past week to meet with various US government officials regarding resettlement and financial issues related to Bikini Atoll. The delegation, led by Bikini Mayor Nishma Jamore and Bikini Senator Tomaki Juda and also included Trust Liaison Jack Niedenthal, met with US Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, who is the Chairman of the powerful Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee , and US Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who is the ranking Republican of the same committee, to discuss the status of the resettlement of the people of Bikini. The Bikinians were awarded $563 million by the Nuclear Claims Tribunal in the Marshall Islands in 2001, but because of a lack of funding this claim has yet to be paid. The Bikinians’ lawsuit against the United States that attempted to enforce the Tribunal award was thrown out by the US Supreme Court in 2011.

L to R: Bikini Trust Liaison Jack Niedenthal, US Senator Lisa Murkowski, Bikini Senator Tomaki Juda, Bikini Mayor Nishma Jamore

The delegation also met with US Interior Department officials regarding a number of potential grants and development projects and they met with their money advisors from UBS and their trustees from M & T Bank regarding the status of their two trust funds. They also held a series of meetings with their attorney, Jonathan Weisgall, regarding numerous outstanding issues the Bikinians have with the US government.

New KBE Mayor Nishma Jamore and Local Government Council Members Take Oath of Office

bikinijack — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:29:21 +0000

Mayor and KBE Council members preparing for the swearing in ceremony

On January 23rd, 2012: The Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Mayor and Council were officially sworn in to begin public service to the people of Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The elections were held in November of 2011. The ceremony was well attended, including the newly elected President of the Marshall Islands, Christopher Loeak, many government ministers, senators and ambassadors and other dignitaries. The ceremony was held at the International Convention Center (ICC) in Majuro, Marshall Islands and began at 3 PM and lasted well into the night with a celebration honoring the newly elected leaders. Chief Justice Carl B. Ingram administered the oaths of office to the Mayor and the Council.

The following are the Bikinians who will now hold the positions of Mayor and Council:

Mayor
Nishma Jamore

Council:

Alap (traditional leaders)

Season Leviticus
Ricky Jamore
Matthew Joash

Chief Justice Carl B. Ingram (left) giving the oath of office to newly elected Bikinian Mayor Nishma Jamore

Ejit Island

Banjo Joel
Boaz Kilon
Jason Aitap

Kili Island

Charity Balos
Ketruth Juda
Rufina Antari
Lani Kramer
Jaja Joe
Biten Leer
Typhoon Jamore
Quincy Calep
Wilson Note
Roger Joel
Urantha Jibas
Mishimori Jamore

Honor Debrum helps prepare the food for after the ceremony

The Uliga Choir at the inauguration of the KBE local government Council

Councilwomen Charity Balos, Ketruth Juda and Lani Kramer (not pictured Rubina Attari).

Bikini Senator Tomaki Juda with RMI President Christopher Loeak and First Lady Anono

Bikini Senator Tomaki Juda makes his remarks

Mayor Nishma Jamore being sworn in by Chief Justice Carl B. Ingram

RMI President Christopher Loeak makes his remarks at the ceremony

Councilmen Urantha Jibas, Wilson Note and Mishimore Jamore swearing in.

Waan Aelõñ in Majel (WAM) Wins 2011 Global Vision Award

bikinijack — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:21:23 +0000

Global Vision Awards 2011

Wan Aelon Majol is a Global Vision Award Winner

Preservation Artisan Revival: Waan Aelõñ in Majel (WAM), the Marshall Islands The traditional Marshallese outrigger canoe was once considered among the finest sailing vessels in the world, until modern boats arrived and canoe construction became a dying art form. But thanks to the foresight of an American boat enthusiast and a few remaining experts, WAM emerged with hopes to revive the craft—and inspire a new generation. The program provides life-skills training and instruction in canoe-building to local youth, offering them marketable expertise in a place where more than 70 percent of young people are without jobs. Take the Trip: The WAM Visitors Center, on Majuro Island, lets travelers tour the workshops and sail in a canoe. Bikinian Mayor Alson Kelen has been the Executive Director of this program for many years.

http://www.wamprogram.org/

Bikini Atoll Local Gov. Audit: A+

bikinijack — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:15:26 +0000

From the Marshall Islands Journal: The local governments of the four nuclear affected atolls and Kwajalein were recognized in the latest RMI Auditor General’s report to Nitijela.

Auditor Junior Patrick said it has been difficult to audit the majority of local governments because most do not keep financial records. Patrick said the only local governments that have been audited in recent years are:

• Rongelap Atoll Local Government, FY2009 final audit issued

• Utrik Atoll Local Government, FY2009 draft audit issued

• Kwajalein Atoll Local Government, FY2007/2008/2009 draft audits issued

• Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Governments (Claims Trust and Resettlement Trust

Fund only), FY2010 final audit issued

• Enewetak Atoll Local Government (food program only), FY2009 final audit

issued.

Aside from these five, no other audits of local governments were reported. The combination of the “inability of local governments to maintain appropriate accounting records and supporting documentation” and the lack of auditors prevented most from being audited. “Most local governments have ignored the established system of accounting that was previously developed,” he added.

An audit of Jaluit Atoll Local Government “was terminated due to inadequate documentation/records,” Patrick said. A planned audit of Likiep Atoll Local Government was not carried out “due to lack of staff and lack of reliable transportation.”

Looking ahead, Patrick said he wants to work closely with the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Finance to get local governments to comply with audit requirements. He also recommended looking at ways to centralize accounting for outer island local governments that cut costs and improve record keeping.

Bikinians Meet to Discuss Proposed KBE Constitution

bikinijack — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:43:04 +0000

Mayor Kelen reads the proposed KBE Local gov. Constitution.

The people of Bikini met in a public forum held at the Marshall Islands Resort on Wednesday, October 12, at 2 PM to discuss the referendum of their new Constitution that will be part of the November 2011 RMI election. About 50 people were in attendance including Mayor Alson Kelen, Senator Tomaki Juda, former Mayor Eldon Note, Mayoral candidates Hinton Johnson and Luman Benjamin, Bikini Consultant Johnny Johnson and many other Bikinians.

Mayor Kelen read through the entire proposed Constitution and then held a question and answer forum afterwards that went on for over an hour. Most of the questions surrounded one of the new amendments that provides for the Council choosing a new Mayor in the event that the seat is vacated during his or her term of office. The reason for this is that the national government no longer has the funds to provide for special elections should a Mayor vacate his or her office. In the proposed Constitution all of the people of Bikini will continue to vote for Mayor in the general elections just as it has been done in the past.

The ratification of the proposed Constitution is also important because the previous KBE Constitution referred to the head of the local government as “Governor” and there were also several conflicting provisions in the previous Constitution that led to confusion in the RMI Court system. If the Constitution gets ratified by a simple majority of the people of Bikini it will be come law once the election is certified.

Bikinians discussing their proposed Constitution

Below are Specimen ballots for the upcoming November 2011 election. You will notice at the bottom of the ballots there is the following language regarding our Constitutional referendum:

MARSHALLESE:
Ilo S. Ct. Appeal No. 2010-001, Supreme Court eo an Marshall Islands ear ebebe im drepdrep wot im jab kommane jemlok eo an ilo an kotlok bwe armij in Bikini (“K/B/E”) ren kelet Jemen E eo aer ekaal ilo juon referendum eo enaj komman ilo November 2011. Jemen E eo im armij in Bikini rar mour iumin ejanin kar weppen jen kajojo armij in Bikini im ear bareinwot wor jet idaaptok ko ilowan.

( ) Aet, elane kwoj erra ilo Jemen E in.

( ) Jab, elane kwojjab erra ilo Jemen E in.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ENGLISH:
In S. Ct. Appeal No. 2010-001, the Marshall Islands Supreme Court held the appeal in abeyance to allow the people of Bikini (“K/B/E”) to approve of a new Constitution at a referendum to be held in November 2011. The Constitution under which the people of Bikini were operating had never been approved by the people of Bikini and had several conflicting provisions.

( ) Yes, indicates a voter’s approval of the proposed Constitution.

( ) No, indicates a voter’s disapproval of the proposed Constitution.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Copies of the KBE Constitutions in both English and Marshallese and the Ejit and Kili election ballots can be picked up at the Bikini Atoll Town Hall, or they can be downloaded at this link or downloaded in PDF from the links below:
http://www.bikiniatoll.com/govt.html

If there are any questions please email Jack Niedenthal at bikinijack@gmail.com

REFERENDUM DOCUMENTS

KBE Proposed Constitution in Marshallese for November 2011 referendum

KBE Proposed Constitution in English for November 2011 referendum

KBE ballot for Kili Island for November 2011 election

KBE ballot for Ejit Island for November 2011 election

Lañinbwil’s Gift “Best of Fest” in Guam International FIlm Festival

bikinijack — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:29:17 +0000

The award for Best of Fest

From the October 7, 2011 Marshall Islands Journal: Lañinbwil’s Gift producers sat dumbfounded in the Micronesian Mall theaters as Guam International Film Festival organizers on Sunday called out their film as the winner of the “Best in the Fest” — the top award of the program. Based on comments earlier in the day, they figured a Taiwan film was headed for glory as best film. Co-producers Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro throught after the first few awards were announced and Laninbwil’s Gift wasn’t among them that “that was it” and they would have to be satisfied with being a “finalist,” said Chutaro. Then the announcer said it was time to award the best film of the festival. “…And the winner is…Lañinbwil’s Gift.” “The air rushed out of my lungs and I just sat there,” said Niedenthal. “My wife elbowed me in the ribs and said, ‘go up to the stage.’”

Chutaro said she was stunned by the announcement. Both made speeches after receiving the award. Of the 130 films from 24 countries at the Guam International Film Festival, Lañinbwil’s Gift won the best film award. “Over the three days of the festival, everyone kept talking about ‘Night Market Hero,’ a film from Taiwan,” said Niedenthal. “It was really well done.” He figured this was the film that would get the top award. But on Sunday afternoon, before the awards ceremony, every seat in the 250-seat cinema was filled for the showing of Lañinbwil’s Gift — a mix of Marshallese and other Guam residents. “People kept commenting on how natural the acting in the film (Lañinbwil’s Gift) was,” Niedenthal said. Chutaro, Niedenthal, and actor and local attorney Philip Okney, who joined with the co-producers at the film festival, were welcomed home Monday night at Amata Kabua International Airport by banner-carrying Majuro Co-op School students who were involved in the film and relatives who congratulated them on the big win, the latest award that the “made in Majuro” film has garnered. The film stars over a dozen Bikinian people and Niedenthal works as the Trust Liaison for the people of Bikini Atoll.

Directors and Producers Bikini Liaison Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro accept award, also pictured, Phil Okney

The Guam Legislature in a resolution last week recognized Jack Niedenthal for his contribution to the Marshall Islands. “Jack Niedenthal wears several hats and has proven to be a true asset to the Marshall Islands and Micronesia,” said the Guam Legislature’s resolution signed by Acting Speaker Benjamin JF Cruz, Committee on Rules Chairperson Rory J. Respicio, Senator and sponsor Sam A. Mabini and Legislative Secretary Tina Rosemuna Barnes. The resolution was presented to him during the Guam International Film Festival last weekend by Senator Mabini. “Among several roles, today he is Chairman of the Board for the Marshall Islands Social Security Administration, Presidnet of the Majuro Cooperative School, Board of Director Bank of Marshall Islands, Regent on the Board of Directors for the College of the Marshall Islands, Founder of Microwave Films, Filmmaker, Author, Community Advocate, Loving Husband and Devoted Father,” the resolution said. “For this, we recognize and commend Jack Niedenthal and for all his work and his participation in the Guam International Film Festival 2011.” The resolution from the Committee on Rules of the Guam Legislature offered its official expression of recognition “on behalf of the Guam Legislature and the people of Guam.”

Lañinbwil’s Gift chalked up more international recognition by winning the “best film” award at the Guam International Film Festival last weekend.

It has already won:
• Best foreign language film in the Hawaii Ocean Film Festival.
• The International Award for Feature Films at the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival in Washington state. And the film was a “finalist” at the Moondance International Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado. It is also in competition for the Asia/Pacific Screen Awards, which will be issued later this month. It has been sent to big film festivals in Seattle, Cleveland, Atlanta and Alaska.

http://www.microwavefilms.org/Laninbwil.html