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PART 5: We Were Considered Expendable

From: Claes Andreasson
Series: Downwinder Diaries
Length: 02:39

Downwinder about experiences of radioactive fallout in the 1950s Read the full description.
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PART 5: We Were Considered Expendable
From
Claes Andreasson

Nts_small Michelle Thomas, is a St. George, Utah downwinder. What bothers her the most about the tests is that the people living downwind from the test site, were never asked to participate in the Cold War, but rather used as guinea pigs. And she recalls how the school children in St. George were examined to find out if they were having enlarged thyroids:

PART 5: We Were Considered Expendable | 02:39

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Piece Description

Michelle Thomas, is a St. George, Utah downwinder. What bothers her the most about the tests is that the people living downwind from the test site, were never asked to participate in the Cold War, but rather used as guinea pigs. And she recalls how the school children in St. George were examined to find out if they were having enlarged thyroids:

2 Comments Atom Feed

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Rocky McCulloch

Posted on December 10, 2012 at 10:41 AM | Permalink

I Remember Duck and Cove in Grade School

I was in Oklahoma not Nevada.
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Deborah Astley

Posted on September 15, 2004 at 12:03 PM | Permalink

Review of PART 5: We Were Considered Expendable

The five segments of The Downwinder Diaries available on PRX are powerful pieces. They are short, to the point and consist of first person interviews, along with audio from original newscasts. These are rich, moving, informative pieces, made even more powerful by their brevity.
When one reads a book, the author doesn't stand over one's shoulder, explaining each nuance. The reader is respected. The presentation of the Downwinder Diaries respects the listeners' intelligence. Mr. Andreasson stands back and allows the stories to tell themselves. A courageous move and one that makes these pieces even more powerful.

Broadcast History

The interview has never aired on American public radio, but was part of a documentary for Swedish NPR

Timing and Cues

Running time: 2:26, plus 0:03 intro and 0:17 outtro (ambience/music)

Musical Works

"Jeux d´eau" (Benoit Jutras) from Cirque du Soleil´s "O"

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