Cult A: Nuclear Colonialism

Tues/Thurs/Sat  July 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24
10:30-11:50 am (NY) / 5:30-6:50 pm (St. Pete/Kyiv)

This course will explore the ways in which nuclearity is based in the colonization of indigenous, black, and brown peoples.

Nuclear technology began with the extraction of uranium from the Congo, Nigers, Australian Aboriginal lands, and the Navajo Nation (among others). The nuclear cycle has continued with "test" bombing and nuclear disasters that have taken place on indigenous lands in the U.S. Southwest, Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands, Australia and much more. All this has remained shrouded in cover-ups and silence. Of course the legacy of nuclear dangers has spread beyond nonwhite territories--radioactive catastrophe and pollution know no bounds and remain with us for millions of years. Still, the dirtiest "secret" of nuclear technology is environmental racism. Our course will examine nuclear colonialism through the lens of films, essays, art, and poetry. We will focus primarily on two significant locations of nuclear racism: The Navajo Nation and the Marshall Islands