Title: New Mexico’s Dark History in Atomic Bomb Development Highlighted in New Film “Oppenheimer”
Subtitle: Downwinders fight for recognition as Hollywood glosses over the devastating consequences
Date: [current date]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The harrowing tale of the first atomic bomb is being brought to the silver screen, with New Mexico playing a significant role in the production. The state was chosen as the site for the bomb’s development and testing due to its remote location in the 1940s. However, the decision came at a cost, as New Mexico’s residents became unwitting victims of the devastating consequences.
“The legacy of atomic weapons production in New Mexico extends far beyond the national labs; it’s a human legacy,” warned Dylan Spaulding, senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists. He emphasized the impact on people’s lives, stating, “There are individuals who have been affected.”
To ensure that moviegoers are not oblivious to the serious repercussions of the atomic bomb, the Union of Concerned Scientists produced a 15-second advertisement that will be shown before screenings of “Oppenheimer” throughout New Mexico.
New Mexico has borne the brunt of atomic development, including uranium mining, proximity to the Trinity test site, and contamination stemming from the labs. Tina Cordova, the co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, knows this devastation firsthand. She revealed, “I’m the fourth generation in my family to have cancer since 1945. Downwinders always wonder when it will be their turn because everyone around them has fallen ill.”
Cordova has become an advocate for New Mexicans still suffering from the aftermath of the first atomic bomb test at the Trinity Site. She shed light on the Trinity explosion, noting, “Trinity was actually a very dirty bomb and produced significant fallout. The fallout was so extensive that they never again tested a bomb 100 feet off the ground.”
A recent study from Princeton University discovered that the radioactive particles from the Trinity explosion spread to 46 states, Canada, and Mexico in the days following the blast. Cordova highlighted the lack of action on the part of the U.S. government, stating, “Unlike other nuclear disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima, they never declared the affected areas dead zones or assessed the damage in New Mexico.”
Downwinders have been engaged in a longstanding battle with the U.S. government to be included in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. Despite their efforts, this ongoing struggle will not be depicted in “Oppenheimer,” leaving viewers unaware of the injustice faced by impacted New Mexicans.
Cordova expressed her frustration with the film production, saying, “When they came here to film the ‘Oppenheimer’ movie, it felt like another invasion of our lands and our lives. They took advantage of our tax incentives, developed this blockbuster Hollywood movie that will generate immense profits, and then they simply walked away. They are deliberately avoiding the inconvenient truth of our incomplete history.”
As “Oppenheimer” prepares to captivate audiences, it is crucial not to forget the people and communities who continue to suffer from the consequences of atomic bomb development in New Mexico. The fight for recognition and justice for the Downwinders remains a pressing issue, despite the omission from the film.