From: SV Rainbow Warrior http://www.greenpeace.org
The Pacific is finally beginning to live up to its name; sea and
wind are slowly subsiding to the conditions we know and love.
While the South Pacific can have its hurricane rages, for the
most part it is a pleasant, sunny place.
The people of the islands of the South Pacific are, for the
most part, of a similar temperament. Their values are intensely
human; their relationships with others genuine; and what counts
is the person you are, not your position in life or the way you
dress. These are the last people in the world who would have use
for nuclear weapons, yet they have borne the brunt of the nuclear
states' weapons tests for the past 50 years.
Still today, in the Marshall Islands, at Christmas Island in
Kiribati, in Australia and in French Polynesia, the arrogance of
those who seek power through the most abominable means ever
conceived must be suffered. That such a gentle, peaceful part
of the world should be subjected to the fancies of some of the
most misguided - yet clever - minds on the planet would be
farcical if the consequences were not so horrendous. All in the
name of "civilisation". All in all, a rather strange idea if you
look at some of the governments who claim to be civilised!
Still, soon the Pacific will really regain its peace, and the
bombers will be sent on their way home. The power of the will
of the world's people cannot be stopped by a tiny coterie of
megalomaniacs - surely? If you agree, make sure they know:
protests, letters, boycotts, whatever you thing best. Every
little thing counts! (Editor's note--send an E-mail to the
French and Chinese governments and let them know that their
nuclear testing program are unacceptable!)
More later.
--Alice (Richard) Leney, August 21 on board the Rainbow Warrior
We will be arriving in Tahiti tomorrow, will meet up with co-
workers on the ground there and will hold a press conference at
11:30 to let everyone there know our plans.
The Greenpeace yacht Vega has just arrived off the 12-mile
exclusion zone at Moruroa, to re-join the Danish vessel Bifrost
which remains out there. The vessels are monitoring the
situation at the test site, alert for any sign of an early
nuclear test by the French at the atoll. Media reports have
speculated that France might test earlier than the September
timetable set by President Chirac, to ignore possible disruptions
from an international flotilla of peace vessels which will arrive
there in early September.
Meanwhile, between 25-30 vessels are en route to Moruroa, while
a European flotilla plans to sail up the Seine to Paris, arriving
on September 1st in solidarity with the Moruroa fleet.
In Tahiti, activists are preparing for a major demonstration on
Saturday August 26th, which has been called by the main
Protestant church, the Eglise Evangelique, and is supported by
the coalition of anti-nuclear groups there, Te Ihutai No te Hau.
In further international protests against France's proposed
testing programme, the head of UNESCO, Director General Federico
Mayor, has criticised France and urged it to join a global
moratorium. In Norway, anti-nuclear activists from the group
Green Warriors, staged a protest outside the French Embassy,
while the French cosmetics group Yves Rocher took out full page
advertisements in Germany on August 19, declaring itself against
nuclear testing.
In Australia, trade unions have widened their industrial action
against services to French embassies and consulates to include
the Chinese embassy, after last week's test. Meanwhile, New
Zealand has lodged its case against France in the International
Court of justice in the Hague, while French Greens protested
against President Chirac outside his holiday retreat on the
French Riviera yesterday.
More as we make our way to the test site.
--Steph
Date: Monday 21st August 1995.
Subject: internet updateUpdate from Stephanie Mills, Anti-nuclear campaigner on the
Rainbow Warrior: