Nuclear Crisis in Hawaii
From 1946 to 1958 the government was testing nuclear bombs in Hawaii. The United States of course promise to treat any victims hurt from this incident. Henry from the Marshall Island was a diabetic and received free dialysis treatment. Due to the testing of the nuclear bombs in Hawaii Henry has develop the disease diabetes and the money strapped Hawaii is threatening to cut off free treatments to him and many others. Like thousand of legal migrant from Pacific Nations believes the government should be liable for their health care obligations. They should compensate for them for the radioactive 67 nuclear bombs released there. Luckily on September 1st the federal judge of Hawaii gave an order to halt Hawaii from stopping the dialysis treatment and chemotherapy to the Pacific islanders. The left behind residue of the bomb made the rate of cancer go up by 9 %. The common cancers found in the people are skin, Leukemia, thyroid, lung, stomach, and brain cancer. The cancer institute said it’s a monstrous increase. Also they believe it will take 2000 years to get rid of the nuclear bomb after affects.
Many are blaming the United States and say they can’t run away from this problem because it will take awhile to go away. Many of the islanders moved to Hawaii to seek better health care because it can’t be provided for them in their country. The islanders are having a difficult time adjusting to the American culture and the homes they have to live in. Many of them aren’t wealthy they live in shelter and work at the fast food restaurants but the jobs they have still pay better than the jobs they would have had back at home. While someone interviewed Kiki a father from Micronesia said “We are the last immigrants...
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However, some generalizations can be made to help provide culturally competent care to this group of people. One of the most significant factors of culture for Pacific Islanders is family. Family help care for each other and the family should be included in health care decisions. Health is viewed as being in balance and harmony, and illness viewed as an imbalance. Prayer is important aspect of health and healing. Traditionally, in the Pacific Islander culture having a very large body was a sign of health, wealth, and prestige. Just like many cultures food is used in ceremonies and social function. Certain foods are associated with the ethnic identity of the Pacific Islander cultures, these include: breadfruit, green bananas, yams, fruit, fish and coconuts to name a few (Sobralske, 2006, p.
Captain James Cook and his crew came to Hawaii in 1778. Bringing along many diseases such as, syphilis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis.(Blaisdell, p.44) Native Hawaiians were not immune to these diseases, they were unable to be cured therefore died and a massive depopulation occurred. An estimated 500,000 Hawaiians were living in Hawaii before Western Contact, and in 1878 less than 45,000 Hawaiians remained.(Trask, p.10). With the rapid decrease of Hawaiians, also came the fact that their culture was in danger.
People without the black plague fled the countryside just as the Japanese who were not affected by the bomb disfavored the Hiroshima survivors. These people never received help from their own country and the one who caused this to happen to them. The United States is praised for the so-called “victory” but does not show the long-term effects these people experienced.
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There are significant health disparities that exist between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. Being an Indigenous Australian means the person is and identifies as an Indigenous Australian, acknowledges their Indigenous heritage and is accepted as such in the community they live in (Daly, Speedy, & Jackson, 2010). Compared with Non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal people die at much younger ages, have more disability and experience a reduced quality of life because of ill health. This difference in health status is why Indigenous Australians health is often described as “Third World health in a First World nation” (Carson, Dunbar, Chenhall, & Bailie, 2007, p.xxi). Aboriginal health care in the present and future should encompass a holistic approach which includes social, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing in order to be culturally suitable to improve Indigenous Health. There are three dimensions of health- physical, social and mental- that all interrelate to determine an individual’s overall health. If one of these dimensions is compromised, it affects how the other two dimensions function, and overall affects an individual’s health status. The social determinants of health are conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age which includes education, economics, social gradient, stress, early life, social inclusion, employment, transport, food, and social supports (Gruis, 2014). The social determinants that are specifically negatively impacting on Indigenous Australians health include poverty, social class, racism, education, employment, country/land and housing (Isaacs, 2014). If these social determinants inequalities are remedied, Indigenous Australians will have the same opportunities as Non-Ind...
Racism in Hawaii has caused various issues, and one of them is racial tension. It states that “ some say…”[there are]”...racial tensions between the islands white community and native hawaiians” (Hansen, paragraph 3). Well, in history, it was quite difficult for most of the
The United States’ population is currently rising exponentially and with growth comes demographic shifts. Some of the demographics shifts include the population growth of Hispanics, increase in senior citizens especially minority elderly, increase in number of residents who do not speak English, increase in foreign-born residents, population trends of people from different sexual orientation, and trends of people with disabilities (Perez & Luquis, 2009). As a public health practitioner, the only way to effectively eliminate health disparities among Americans, one must explore and embrace the demographic shifts of the United States population because differences exist among ethnic groups (Perez, 2009). We must be cognizant of the adverse health conditions for each population and the types of socioeconomic factors that affect them. Culture helps shape an individual’s health related beliefs, values, and behaviors. It is more than ethnicity and race; culture involves economic, political, religious, psychological, and biological aspects (Kleinman & Benson, 2006). All of these conditions take on an emotional tone and moral meaning for participants (Kleinman & Benson, 2006). As a health professional, it is one’s duty to have adequate knowledge and awareness of various cultures to effectively promote health behavior change. Cultural and linguistic competencies through cultural humility are two important aspects of working in the field of public health. Cultural competency is having a sense of understanding and respect for different cultural groups, while linguistic competency is the complete awareness of the language barriers that impact the health of individuals. These concepts are used to then work effectively work with various pop...
Spector, R. E. (2009). Health and illness in the American Indian and Alaska native population. Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness (7th ed.). (pp. 204-228). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Bikini Atoll is one of 29 atolls and five islands that make up the Marshall Islands (“A Short History”). Located in Micronesia, Bikini Atoll played a major role in World War II. Originally taken by the Japanese and used as a lookout point, it was later captured by U.S. forces in a battle that took place in its neighboring Kwajalein Atoll (“A Short History”). This would crush the Japanese hold on the Marshall Islands. After the war, President Truman recognized the importance of the Marshall Islands and its location in the Pacific. The Truman Administration wanted to enhance the countries knowledge on the effects of nuclear weapons on its ships and equipment. Until that point, nuclear testing was done on the behavior of nuclear weapons.
It’s because when they lost their land, they lost their voice. There were several instances in which the people were stripped of their political power as in the Constitution of 1864, as it required citizens to own land in order to vote. “It required that a man own property to be allowed to vote and that voters born after 1840 be literate-able to read and write- in either English or Hawaiian” (A History of Hawaii 20). What does the right to vote mean? In today’s society, the right to vote is guaranteed for all American Citizens. It lets citizens chose their leaders and laws. However, back then, only certain people were allowed to vote, varying by different constitutions. Since majority of Hawaiians lost their land, they all could not vote. They couldn’t vote for laws that would have helped them restore their land. They couldn’t vote for leaders who believed Hawaiians were just as important as foreigners. (whites) This impacted the government severely. The Bayonet Constitution of 1887 required that civilians own land, as well as being productive, in order to own land. This constitution also gave foreigners more political power as suffrage was extended to them. As the voice of Hawaiians faded away, all of the political voices were mostly whites. They favored foreigners and made sure they kept their power. All of the laws that were written during this period, were laws that gave foreigners advantages and power. This also triggered the annexation
Hawaii’s population is diverse and unique. The islands are the most racially diverse state in the Unites States; in fact there are, no racial majorities in the Hawaii. 38.3% of the population is Asian while only 26.1% is Caucasian. Because of the diversity of citizens and the mix of Western idea with Hawaiian traditions, Hawaii has a varied and ethnically assorted culture. However, many citizens still practice the religion and traditions of their ancestors through their music and dance. The most important infl...
This research paper is going to study and analyze health related issues among the American Indian and Alaska Native population in the United States. The report will start by presenting an overview of this racial group, and then it will go more into depth about specific health aspects. It will examine concerning chronic diseases, health disparities, smoking- related mortality, the relation between poverty and health problems of the children, the effects of grandparents raising their grandchildren, and suicide. This research paper will conclude by explaining some recommendations for health planning and promotion for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
In summary, this independent project has just begun my study of Medical Anthropology and has established a solid background to further my progress toward reaching one of my professional goals: to be a collaborative healthcare provider. This goal will be further developed as I begin the nursing program at St. Olaf's College next fall.