Marshallese activist and educator Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner uses the power of words and performance to explore the effects of nuclear testing and climate change on her beloved home, the Marshall Islands. She shares a piece on her teenage discovery of the racist nuclear testing program and the origin of the bikini swimsuit’s name.

Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow and Kokatha woman from South Australia, Sue Coleman-Haseldine, address the UN conference to negotiate a treaty banning nuclear weapons; invoking their experience of the bomb and demanding a strong treaty so there are “no new victims under a mushroom cloud”. The treaty under negotiation is a new chance to hasten the end of the nuclear age.

Image: Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner addresses the UN Climate Summit in 2014.

Earth Matters #1083 was produced by Gem Romuld. Thanks to KA for the interview with Kathy.